The Chicago Cubs won’t be getting their offseason pitching “splash” in Japan.
Japanese right-hander Tatsuya Imai has agreed to a three-year deal with the Houston Astros that includes opt-outs after each season, according to MLB.com and ESPN reporting on Thursday, January 1, 2026.
Chicago was one of the clubs tied to Imai throughout the posting window, making the Astros’ agreement a clear “player off the board” moment for a Cubs team that still has rotation questions heading into 2026.
Key details on the Imai deal (and why it stings for the Cubs)
- Deal: Three years, opt-outs after every season; pact reportedly maxes out at $63 million.
- Age: 27, right-handed starter (Seibu Lions, NPB).
- Why he was so coveted: A mid-to-upper-90s fastball and a bat-missing slider were part of the selling point, with MLB.com noting his swing-and-miss rates on key pitches.
- Cubs connection: The Cubs were among teams publicly tied to Imai during the process.
Astros Land Tatsuya Imai After Cubs Buzz Built for Weeks
Imai’s market had a built-in clock. He was posted by the Seibu Lions, creating a narrow negotiating window that was set to expire in early January.
That timeline helped fuel daily speculation, and the Cubs were repeatedly mentioned as a logical fit, given their recent history with Japanese stars and their obvious need for stable, top-end innings.
Instead, the Astros swooped in late. And for Cubs fans who tracked the rumors (or hoped the front office was positioning for a big add), it’s the kind of development that instantly shifts the offseason pressure onto Chicago’s next move.
Why Missing on Imai Matters for Chicago’s Rotation Plan
This isn’t just about “missing out” on a shiny name. It’s about roster math.
MLB.com recently laid out why the Cubs’ 2026 rotation picture remains unsettled: Justin Steele is recovering from Tommy John surgery, and Chicago also has older arms and performance volatility baked into the group.
That context is what made Imai so attractive. At 27, he fit the “add a potential top-of-the-rotation arm without waiting on a perfect rehab timeline” concept, and he would have given the Cubs another high-upside option as they navigate a season where every win in a tight NL picture matters.
What the Cubs Do Next After Imai Picks Houston
The Cubs have been pretty transparent that pitching help is still on the shopping list.
In November, president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer said the team expects to explore trades and free agency, and MLB.com specifically listed a group of “top of the market” starters (including Dylan Cease, Michael King, Framber Valdez, Ranger Suárez and Zac Gallen) as names in the mix this winter.
So where does that leave the Cubs now?
- Trade routes get louder, especially if Chicago decides it needs a more certain No. 2/No. 3 type behind the current core.
- Top free agents become more relevant — even with draft-pick compensation attached in some cases — because the Cubs still have to solve the same problem Imai was supposed to address.
- Internal arms matter more if Chicago opts for a “depth + flexibility” approach rather than one headline signing, with Hoyer noting multiple in-house options alongside the need to add more.
Either way, Imai choosing Houston creates an immediate consequence: the Cubs can’t keep waiting for the “perfect” pitching fit if they expect to contend in 2026.
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