Huge news:
09/06/26 Houston Astros claimed CF Jorge Barrosa off waivers from Arizona Diamondbacks.
Great news. They’re cornering the market on diminutive Venezuelans. He’s a switch hitter! I bet you a box of kolaches Espada leads this guy off Tuesday. If he gets really hot he might could raise his career average to .200, who knows.
Of course they turned out horrible but at the time of their signings, I don’t know anyone who expected Abreu or Walker to fail as spectacularly as they did/have.
Barrosa would be ineligible for the postseason, I guess?
My uncle, who is a huge Saints fan, recently had his 80th birthday. His kids got him a cameo from Mora. Yes, at 91 he is doing cameos.
And yes, it included “BIRTHDAYS? Were talking about BIRTH-DAYS”.
Can anyone explain to me why Imai hasn’t been sent to Sugar Land?
He clearly doesn’t have a place with this team.
He would have to give his permission to be optioned
I doubt Imai is going to fix anything by the 20th when the AAA season is over. I also have doubts that the Astros are going to pay someone $18 million to pitch in AAA.
So, does he choose to go back to Japan or does he stick around and exercise his option for next year? Inquiring minds want to know. It’s not a mutual option, right?
Claude says the Astros are stuck with him.
No mutual option in Imai’s deal — it’s opt-outs, not a mutual option, and only for him, not the team.
His contract is a three-year, $54 million deal with Imai holding the right to opt out after both the 2026 and 2027 seasons. A mutual option would require both the team and player to agree to continue; here, only Imai has the unilateral choice to leave early.
It’s entirely his option. If he declines the option, my guess would be that the upcoming lockout and the possibility of missing substantial time next season (and not getting paid for that time) is a big reason why. He has zero financial reason to decline. But if he just wants to head back to Japan where he’d get paid less but be more comfortable, he can certainly do that.
Here’s something fun: a rotation-mate of Imai’s from the Seibu Lions is going to be posted this winter. That pitcher, RHP Kaima Taira, is listed at 5’8" 220lb and reportedly throws 100mph. I know nothing else about him but on that description alone I’d be thrilled if he became an Astro.
To be fair…I was thrilled Imai became an Astro. My enthusiasm quickly faded, however.
I was too. I don’t think it was clear to anyone he was a head case. His contract came in way below expectations but I think the tepid interest was teams doubting the stuff and the durability, not them thinking he’d be… whatever he’s been. He’s underperformed in a very different way from what teams were worried about.
But hey, signing his buddy might help get him right. That’s what I’m telling myself.
This Imai clarification is most unwelcome.
Like getting blockbuster gift cards for Christmas.
I recall reading some chatter that the evaluations of Imai were all over the shop. Some orgs thought he’d be the next Japanese All Star in MLB. Others thought his stuff wouldn’t work in MLB. I think we know how that debate worked out.
Every indication is his stuff is just fine. Novel and confounding. It’s his application of his stuff. That’s the problem, it appears. Tim Redding all over again.
Imai’s problems are almost entirely between his ears and probably have a lot to do with culture shock and being homesick.
The Astros must figure out a way to make him a useful pitcher this offseason because there is zero chance he opts out of his contract.
Thinking about this more seriously: if Imai is going to be on the roster, I think it makes sense to pursue another Japanese player, at whatever range in the market. IIRC, when Crane was discussing his pivot to Asia after the Imai signing, he mentioned that they’d be interested in all sorts of players—not just the big names but fourth outfielders, relievers, what have you.
If he’s serious about staying in the Asian market, he has to keep going. You can’t let the Imai disaster define the Astros in Japan. Keep bringing Japanese players over, put them in a position to succeed, and build the reputation that makes you an attractive destination for the impact players. And if Imai is really suffering from bad culture shock, bringing in one or two of his countrymen (ideally someone he already has a good relationship with) might really be good for him and help salvage something from that investment.
What about Teng?
