Houston Astros general manager Dana Brown managed to have an ace up his sleeve with the signing of Tatsuya Imai. Imai's market wasn't as strong as many believed it was going to be at the start of the offseason, allowing the Astros to sneak in and sign him to a creative three-year deal that is heavy on incentives and also features opt-outs after each year.
On one hand, Brown deserves credit. Given the parameters that had been set with what Houston could do this offseason, considering their payroll situation, Brown found a way to land a 27-year-old starting pitcher who, with the right development, could turn into a top-of-the-rotation starting pitcher.