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

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Tatsuya Imai stats at Baseball Reference

https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=imai--000tat&utm_medium=linker&utm_source=www.mlbtraderumors.com&utm_campaign=2026-01-01_br

Imai was one of the top starters available in free agency and coming off a career-best 1.92 ERA season with the Saitama Seibu Lions of Japan’s Nippon Professional Baseball. It was reported several days ago that he was meeting with teams in-person in advance of his January 2 signing deadline. The Yankees, Mets, Cubs, Phillies, and Orioles were among the clubs interested in signing him, so the Astros are a bit of a surprise destination.

https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2026/01/astros-to-sign-tatsuya-imai.html