On its face, Tatsuya Imai’s three-year, up-to-$63 million contract with the Houston Astros seemed like a deal the Phillies could’ve beat. Especially given their interest in establishing themselves in the Japanese market and finding a player to get the ball rolling. Especially given their reported interest in Imai himself.
But if you take the club at general manager Preston Mattingly’s word, one detail about Imai’s deal instantly implied that the Phillies weren’t contenders at all once push came to shove.
That detail is Imai’s two opt-outs.
“You try and separate yourself in different ways.