The Houston Astros have reached an agreement with Japanese right-handed pitcher Tatsuya Imai. This deal, reportedly for three years, comes shortly before his posting window from Nippon Professional Baseball was set to expire.
The contract for Imai, who will turn 28 in May, has a maximum value of $63 million and includes opt-out clauses after each season. This contract is reported to have the second-highest average annual value for a Japanese-born pitcher, trailing only Yoshinobu Yamamoto.
Over his eight-year career in NPB, Imai compiled a record of 58-45 with a 3.15 ERA and 907 strikeouts, pitching 963 and two-thirds innings. He is expected to make an immediate impact on the Astros' starting rotation.