The strange offseason draw for Tatsuya Imai is finally over, as the Japanese right-hander is joining the Astros on a three-year deal, according to multiple reports.
According to Chandler Rome of the Athletic, the deal maxes out at $63 million with annual opt-outs.
Advertisement
With a salary of $18 million that could rise to $21 million, based on innings recorded, Imai receives the third-highest AAV of any Japanese-born pitcher.
Imai’s window for a major league contract was quickly closing. His deadline to officially sign with a club was January 2, and The Athletic reported earlier this week that the 27-year-old was still taking meetings with interested suitors.
Conversations between Dishes and Imai were never serious, according to Jon Heyman of the New York Post. Not surprising news, as highlighted by SNY MLB Insider Andy Martino noted earlier this winter that a “full pursuit” for the former Nippon League star was not in the cards.
This was also the case for the Mets starter with the Dodgers Yoshinobu Yamamoto – which currently holds the AAV record mark for a Japanese branch – two offseasons ago.
Advertisement
There wasn’t much noise from the Mets’ crosstown rival, either. Jack Curry of YES mentioned last week that the Yankees They weren’t expected to sign Imai, who has been outspoken about his desire to beat the defending champion Dodgers.
Imai was terrific in 24 starts for the Seibu Lions last season, recording a 1.92 ERA and 0.89 WHIP in 163.2 innings. He also allowed just 101 hits and struck out 178, producing a strikeout rate of 9.8 per nine.
In eight seasons at NPB, Imai recorded a 3.15 ERA and 1.26 WHIP, but his final four years on the mound attracted attention from MLB. With an above-average four-pitch mix that includes a mid-90s fastball, he posted ERAs of 2.04, 2.45, 2.34 and 1.92, respectively.
