New Delhi, Jan. 1 -- The Houston Astros have made a major splash in the MLB free agency market by agreeing to terms with star Japanese pitcher Tatsuya Imai on a three-year contract. According to a report by ESPN, the deal guarantees $54 million and could reach $63 million with incentives, positioning it as one of the richest for a posted Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) pitcher.

Reported first by MLB Network and confirmed by ESPN, the agreement includes opt-outs after each season, giving the 27-year-old right-hander flexibility. The structure features a base of $18 million annually, with potential bonuses pushing it to $21 million per year based on innings pitched.

This will mark the second-highest average annual value for a Japanese ...