The Houston Astros finally made a splash this winter in free agency. According to Chandler Rome of The Athletic, the Astros are signing top Japanese free agent Tatsuya Imai to a $63 million max deal for the next three years.
This is a huge move for the Astros, as it gives them a strong member of the rotation to replace Framber Valdez, who's a free agent and not likely to return.
The new-look rotation in Houston after the Imai signing is a much better one than it was just a few weeks ago. Underdog MLB shared some of the rotation depth in Houston, which only scratches the surface of what the Astros can put on the mound in 2026.
Astros projected rotation for 2026 after Tatsuya Imai's signing
Hunter Brown would be the Astros' number one starter, with Imai second, Cristian Javier third, Mike Burrows fourth, A.J. Blubaugh fifth, and Lance McCullers Jr. And Spencer Arrighetti as depth pieces for the rotation.
Brown was one of the best pitchers in MLB last season and is the clear ace of the Astros' rotation. Imai is coming off a 1.92 ERA, 24-start season in Japan with 178 strikeouts and a 0.892 WHIP. Both are the clear top starters for Houston in 2026.
Javier, Burrows, Blubaugh, McCullers Jr., and Arrighetti are the next crop of starters, but even that group only scratches the surface of the potential rotation arms for the 2026 season for the Astros.
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Brandon Walter, Jason Alexander, J.P. France, Nate Pearson, Ryan Weiss, Colton Gordon, and Miguel Ollola are all potential rotation options in 2026.
Houston has plenty of depth options for the rotation, which was needed after their rotation in 2025 went through a series of injuries throughout the year.
Now, with Imai and Brown leading the charge, along with Blubaugh, Burrows, and Javier among others, the rotation is in a much, much better spot than it was not long ago.
The Astros starting rotation, a year after some major injuries and struggles in the starting rotation, and Valdez likely departing in free agency, have build a strong rotation thanks to the additions of Burrows, and especially Imai this offseason.
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