[Passan] Star Japanese right-hander Tatsuya Imai and the Houston Astros are in agreement on a free agent contract, sources tell ESPN.

40 comments

1. I used to dream of times like this

2. Happy freaking New Year!

3. Holy shit man

4. i screamed when i got the notif

5. 3/63 with opt outs. So, basically a one year deal. Very reasonable AAV.

6. Great way to start the year!

7. LFGGG!! HAPPY NEW YEARRRRRR

8. Oh shit what a way to start 2026

9. Isint he the one that said he didn’t wanna join the dodgers and wants to beat them?

10. 

11. Can’t believe we did it 😭 crane said the golden age isn’t over yet 😭😭😭

12. Would love to see more Japanese talent on our team !! Hell yeah boiiii

13. How good is this on a scale of Yamamoto to Ohtani?

14. Talk about news I wasn’t expecting

15. Hey this is the guy that said he wants to beat the dodgers. Say less

16. Happy New Year! We finally got another starting pitcher.

    Hopefully he beats the projections, but he’s still projected as a mid-rotation guy.

17. What the fuck i didn’t even know we were in on him

18. The best FA pitcher from Japan.

19. Love this. We couldn’t keep ignoring the Asian market for talent so hopefully this is a signal going forward

20. Please let this start a Japan to Houston pipeline

21. I wonder if he spoke to Kikuchi beforehand about his experience on the Astros.

22. Who needs Framber amirite?

23. What an amazing new Year’s present! At least he’s not a dodger

24. The power of the Daikin sponsor

25. Man he’s like a really cool rockstar Japanese guy too with blonde highlights.

26. Oh shit

27. Didn’t expect that. Love the move!

28. Brown, Imai, Arrighetti, Javier, Burrows is actually a pretty nasty rotation

29. What’s the scoop on him? Also that Daikin connection working lol

30. We need to get this guy in the Postseason, the anti-Dodger storylines will be incredible

31. How is his anus? #KazMatsui

32. [Gentlemen… ](https://youtu.be/IkLGos3WsEQ?si=_UggU6IiHHbvuY5G)

33. As an Astros fan in Japan this was the one thing I wanted most this offseason. I can’t believe it actually happened. I would scream in excitement but it’s 2:30am here.

34. Actually LOVE this! Just lived abroad in Japan for 3 months and love Japan so I’m glad to see us finally get a top Japanese prospect. Love his competitive mentality too! He wants to compete and beat Ohtani, not join him, that’s what we need.

35. This it right here bois we got a legend already

36. Wow. That’s surprising.

37. Am I dreaming?

    https://preview.redd.it/cq44fukzyrag1.jpeg?width=680&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=b3caf3c04b31917360d5bc846ed588c5f60da4fd

38. 2026 starting off right!

    Welcome to the H, Tatsuya!

39. https://preview.redd.it/enka1x2j0sag1.jpeg?width=3277&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=d2b83fc2955c2cbdd3fa7f66e16e833216f0ed8f

40. This is a nice surprise. The way all the Japanese players were staying in LA and NY had me feeling like none would touch middle America. Houston has one of the best pitching labs and even more diversity. Welcome Tatsuya Imai!