The Houston Astros surprised the baseball world on New Year's Day after signing Japanese pitching sensation Tatsuya Imai to a three-year, $63 million contract. The Astros had been in search of a frontline starter throughout the offseason, and adding Imai certainly fills that need and should provide Houston with a compliment to their ace, Hunter Brown.
Additionally, the Astros were able to keep their expected payroll for 2026 under the dreaded Competitive Balance Tax threshold. Astros fans know all too well that owner Jim Crane does not want to go beyond the luxury tax, and Imai's deal has Houston sitting approximately $5 million under the CBT threshold according to Cot's Baseball Contracts.