MLB insider confident in $45M Astros star's fit in Houston

The Houston Astros ended Japanese starting pitcher Tatsuya Imai's free agency ahead of his signing deadline of Friday by signing a three-year, $54 million deal on Thursday.

Imai was posted by the Saitama Seibu Lions of the Nippon Professional Baseball on Nov. 19 and was linked with several teams during his signing window before agreeing to terms with the Astros.

In his final season for the Lions in 2025, Imai posted a 10-5 record with a career-best 1.92 ERA and 178 strikeouts in 163 2/3 innings and pitched in a combined no-hitter for the Lions.

MLB insider Jon Morosi reflected on Imai's move to Houston in a conversation with MLB Network.

"I think it's important to point out and we heard different comparisons to other Japanese pitchers in that montage that began our conversation here," Morosi said. "The numbers on a per year basis are much more comparable to a Kodai Senga than a Yoshinobu Yamamoto. As we saw in October and early November, he is in a different realm. I think that the Senga comparison for Imai is much more apt, and in the end, if you look at this commitment, it's actually more in line with what the top end relievers received guys like Devin Williams or a Robert Suarez.

Imai joins Kaz Matsui, Nori Aoki and Yusei Kikuchi as the only other Japanese players to have played for the AL franchise.

MLB insider outlines Tatsuya Imai's desire to win

During the conversation, Jon Morosi also talked about the Japanese pitcher's desire to play for a contending team and not joining the Los Angeles Dodgers.

"The reality is in terms of NPB and his numbers there, Imai did miss a lot of bats, and that is something that's very important. In Houston, of course, more of a hitter-friendly environment. I do love it, though. He goes right to pitch for a contending team in the American League. "In her hitter-friendly ballpark, you think about some of the things he said, coming over. Remember, he said, 'I don't want to play for the Dodgers.' I'm paraphrasing there, but that was basically what he said that he wants to beat the Dodgers."

The Astros' rotation was ravaged by injuries last season as Ronel Blanco, Hayden Wesneski and Brandon Walter underwent Tommy John surgeries. Imai's singing provides a much-needed depth to the rotation

Edited by Chaitanya Prakash