Right-hander Tatsuya Imai has signed a three-year, $54 million contract with the Houston Astros, including a $2 million signing bonus and salaries of $16 million in 2024 and $18 million in 2025 and 2026. He can earn up to $3 million in performance bonuses this year and has the option to opt out after the 2026 and 2027 seasons. Imai, a 27-year-old All-Star, posted a 1.92 ERA with 178 strikeouts in 163 2/3 innings for the Seibu Lions. The Astros will pay Seibu a posting fee of $9.675 million under MLB’s agreement with NPB.
