The Houston Astros and star Japanese right-hander Tatsuya Imai are in agreement on a free agent contract, ESPN reported Thursday.
It is a three-year deal with opt-outs that includes $54 million in guarantees and could be worth up to $63 million, per the report.
It would be the third-largest deal ever in terms of average annual value for a Japanese pitcher behind Yoshinobu Yamamoto, who signed a 12-year, $325 million deal (for an average annual value of $27.1 million) with the Los Angeles Dodgers in late 2023, and Masahiro Tanaka, who signed a seven-year, $155 million deal (average of $22.1 million) with the New York Yankees in 2014.
Imai, 27, was a three-time All-Star in eight seasons with the Pacific League’s Seibu Lions.
He finished 10-5 with a 1.92 ERA in 24 games in 2025, striking out 178 batters in 163⅔ innings.
Imai, who is listed at 180 centimeters and 70 kilograms, was routinely clocked around 93-95 mph (150-153 kph) with his fastball last season. Identifiable by his flowing brown hair, Imai also throws a sinker and slider and was projected to be a No. 2 or No. 3 starter at the MLB level.
The New York Yankees, Seattle Mariners, San Francisco Giants, Toronto Blue Jays, Chicago Cubs and Atlanta Braves were said to be among teams interested in signing Imai.