The best Japanese starting pitcher on the market is no longer available.
Free agent right-hander Tatsuya Imai and the Houston Astros have agreed on a three-year contract with opt outs that could be worth up to $63 million, multiple news outlets reported on Thursday, Jan. 1.
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The agreement comes one day before Imai’s 45-day window to sign with an MLB team was set to expire on Friday, Jan. 2.
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Top 25 MLB players from 2000-2025 ranked by Wins Above Replacement
Since 2000, future Hall of Famer Albert Pujols’ 101.3 Wins Above Replacement (WAR) leads all players, with Alex Rodriguez tied for second ways back at 89.7 WAR. See the rest of the top 25.
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Top 25 MLB players from 2000-2025 ranked by Wins Above Replacement
Since 2000, future Hall of Famer Albert Pujols’ 101.3 Wins Above Replacement (WAR) leads all players, with Alex Rodriguez tied for second ways back at 89.7 WAR. See the rest of the top 25.
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Top 25 MLB players from 2000-2025 ranked by Wins Above Replacement
2. Alex Rodriguez – 89.7
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Top 25 MLB players from 2000-2025 ranked by Wins Above Replacement
3. Adrian Beltre – 89.7
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Top 25 MLB players from 2000-2025 ranked by Wins Above Replacement
4. Mike Trout – 87.5
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Top 25 MLB players from 2000-2025 ranked by Wins Above Replacement
5. Justin Verlander – 82.2
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Top 25 MLB players from 2000-2025 ranked by Wins Above Replacement
6. Clayton Kershaw – 78.1
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Top 25 MLB players from 2000-2025 ranked by Wins Above Replacement
7. Mookie Betts – 75.2
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Top 25 MLB players from 2000-2025 ranked by Wins Above Replacement
8. Max Scherzer – 74.7
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Top 25 MLB players from 2000-2025 ranked by Wins Above Replacement
9. Zack Greinke – 72.4
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Top 25 MLB players from 2000-2025 ranked by Wins Above Replacement
10. Robinson Cano – 68.7
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Top 25 MLB players from 2000-2025 ranked by Wins Above Replacement
11. Miguel Cabrera – 67.2
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Top 25 MLB players from 2000-2025 ranked by Wins Above Replacement
12. Carlos Beltran – 65.1
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Top 25 MLB players from 2000-2025 ranked by Wins Above Replacement
13. Chase Utley – 64.6
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Top 25 MLB players from 2000-2025 ranked by Wins Above Replacement
14. Freddie Freeman – 64.2
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Top 25 MLB players from 2000-2025 ranked by Wins Above Replacement
15. Paul Goldschmidt – 63.8
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Top 25 MLB players from 2000-2025 ranked by Wins Above Replacement
16. Joey Votto – 63.6
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Top 25 MLB players from 2000-2025 ranked by Wins Above Replacement
17. Roy Halladay – 62.4
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Top 25 MLB players from 2000-2025 ranked by Wins Above Replacement
18. Aaron Judge – 62.3
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Top 25 MLB players from 2000-2025 ranked by Wins Above Replacement
19. CC Sabathia – 61.8
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Top 25 MLB players from 2000-2025 ranked by Wins Above Replacement
20. Manny Machado – 61.7
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Top 25 MLB players from 2000-2025 ranked by Wins Above Replacement
21. Ichiro Suzuki – 60
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Top 25 MLB players from 2000-2025 ranked by Wins Above Replacement
22. Mark Buehrle – 60
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Top 25 MLB players from 2000-2025 ranked by Wins Above Replacement
23. Barry Bonds – 59.1
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Top 25 MLB players from 2000-2025 ranked by Wins Above Replacement
24. Evan Longoria – 58.9
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Top 25 MLB players from 2000-2025 ranked by Wins Above Replacement
25. Chipper Jones – 58.3
ANTHONY RENDON CONTRACT: What we know about Angels move to restructure deal
The deal includes $54 million guaranteed and will pay the former Nippon Professional Baseball star $18 million a year with $3 million in performance bonuses that could make the total $21 million per year, MLB reporter Jon Heyman reported.
Imai had longer-term deals with a lower annual salary on the table, according to MLB.com, but chose to go to Houston on a shorter-term deal with a higher average annual value and opt outs. The 27-year-old was 10-5 with a 1.92 ERA, 178 strikeouts and 45 walks in 163â…” innings with the Seibu Lions in 2025. He went 58-45 with a 3.15 ERA in eight seasons with Seibu, with 907 strikeouts in 963â…” innings.
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Imai’s agent, Scott Boras, recently compared him to 2025 World Series MVP Yoshinobu Yamamoto, who signed a 12-year, $325-million contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers before the 2024 season.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Houston Astros sign Tatsuya Imai: Contract, salary for Japanese ace