On one hand, Tatsuya Imai made perfect sense for the New York Mets. On the other, the deal he signed with the Houston Astros is strangely unsatisfying. If he pi

Many Chicago Cubs fans were not happy to hear the news that Tatsuya Imai signed a three-year deal with the Houston Astros, which was announced on January 1. Th

While with the Atlanta Braves for the final few months of the season, Kinley used his breaking balls more. From August on, the batting average against his slider was .222, per Tru Media, while the batting average against his curveball stood at .000.

Contract wrinkle: The $1M escalators are triggered for all 3 years on each level (80/90/100 IP) hit, even just once. So $63M likely (if he stays). Imai had longer deals offered (but with lower AAVs). https://t.co/rlT57FTjoJ

Astros predicted to totally cut ties with $199 million 2022 World Series champion, two-time All-Star after signing Tatsuya Imai originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

It may be a new year, but as we enter 2026, the Philadelphia Phillies just put their fans through a familiar test of faith with another failed offseason pursuit of a star Japanese player. Any hope that fans might have had about their chances of landing right-hander Tatsuya Imai ahead of his negotiating window closing was quickly squashed on New Year's Day.

It turns out signing Japanese slugger Munetaka Murakami was the exception, and not a permanent change of the unwritten rule stating that the Chicago White Sox never win free-agent sweepstakes.

Hello folks! As we get this Friday started, here are the baseball news items you may have missed. In Mariners news… Around the