Tatsuya Imai Remains with Astros for 2027 and 2028

Tatsuya Imai, a right-handed pitcher, will continue his contract with the Houston Astros, opting not to leave the deal, as reported by Jon Heyman of The New York Post. He is set to earn $18 million in both 2027 and 2028, although he retains the option to opt out after the upcoming season.

After moving from Japan to North America last winter, Imai had a challenging first season in Major League Baseball. Despite a strong track record in Nippon Professional Baseball, where he maintained an earned run average around 2.00, he struggled with control in the MLB, leading to a 4.93 ERA over 76 2/3 innings pitched, which included 15 starts and eight relief appearances.

Given his performance, Imai's decision to stay with the Astros is not unexpected, as he would likely face a limited market after a difficult season. He will compete for a spot in the rotation alongside other pitchers, while the Astros may also seek external additions to bolster their lineup.