{"id":134340,"date":"2026-01-04T15:57:03","date_gmt":"2026-01-04T15:57:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/?p=134340"},"modified":"2026-01-04T15:57:03","modified_gmt":"2026-01-04T15:57:03","slug":"right-hander-tatsuya-imai-and-houston-astros-finalize-54-million-3-year-contract","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/?p=134340","title":{"rendered":"Right-hander Tatsuya Imai and Houston Astros finalize $54 million, 3-year contract"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n

HOUSTON (AP) – Right-hander Tatsuya Imai and the Houston Astros finalized their $54 million, three-year contract on Friday.<\/p>\n

\n

Houston opened a roster spot by designating right-hander Kaleb Ort for assignment.<\/p>\n

Imai gets a $2 million signing bonus and salaries of $16 million this year and $18 million in each of the next two seasons.<\/p>\n

Based on his 2026 performance, his 2027 salary would escalate by $2 million each for 80, 90 and 100 innings, and his 2028 salary by $1 million for each level.<\/p>\n

If he doesn\u00b4t pitch 80 innings in 2026 and does in 2027, his 2028 salary would rise by $1 million. If he doesn\u00b4t pitch 90 innings in 2026 and does in 2027, his 2028 salary would increase by another $1 million. And if he doesn\u00b4t pitch 100 innings in 2026 and does in 2027, his 2028 salary also would increase by another $1 million.<\/p>\n

Imai can opt out after the 2026 and 2027 seasons.<\/p>\n

\"FILE<\/p>\n

\n

FILE – Tatsuya Imai wears Seibu Lions’ jersey during a news conference in Tokorozawa, Saitama prefecture, Japan, on Dec. 9, 2016. (Kyodo News via AP, File)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Imai receives the third-highest average annual value for a Japanese pitcher entering Major League Baseball behind Yoshinobu Yamamoto\u00b4s $27.08 million with the Los Angeles Dodgers in a deal that started in 2024 and Masahiro Tanaka\u00b4s $22.14 million with the New York Yankees in a contract that ran from 2014-20.<\/p>\n

A 27-year-old righty, Imai went 10-5 with a 1.92 ERA last season for the Pacific League\u00b4s Seibu Lions. He struck out 178 batters in 163 2\/3 innings.<\/p>\n

Imai is 58-45 with a 3.15 ERA in eight seasons with Seibu, with 907 strikeouts in 963 2\/3 innings. He is a three-time All-Star.<\/p>\n

Imai pitched eight innings of a combined no-hitter against Fukuoka on April 18. He struck out 17 against Yokohama on June 17, breaking Daisuke Matsuzaka\u00b4s previous team record of 16 from 2004.<\/p>\n

Under MLB\u00b4s posting agreement with Nippon Professional Baseball, Seibu will get a posting fee of $9.675 million from the Astros and a supplemental fee of 15% of any earned bonuses, salary escalators and exercised options.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

HOUSTON (AP) – Right-hander Tatsuya Imai and the Houston Astros finalized their $54 million, three-year contract on Friday. 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