Around Baseball 2026

[John_Havok]

As is tradition around here, out with old 2025 thread and in with new 2026 version. 

Lets run it to the World Series again this year boys!

[Spanky__99]

23 minutes ago, John_Havok said:

As is tradition around here, out with old 2025 thread and in with new 2026 version. 

Lets run it to the World Series again this year boys!

Fight me!

 

[John_Havok]

1 hour ago, Spanky__99 said:

Fight me!

 

Yonge and Bloor? Just name the time ya bike

[Spanky__99]

13 hours ago, John_Havok said:

Yonge and Bloor? Just name the time ya bike

South West corner John, always midnight.

 

[Perfect Game]

Imai to the Astros.

 

[Laika]

Similar to Murakami, the league must not think he's that great 

Astros To Sign Tatsuya Imai

January 1st, 2026 at 11:10am CST • By AJ Eustace

The Astros and Japanese right-hander Tatsuya Imai are in agreement on a free agent contract, according to Jon Heyman of the New York Post. It is a three-year contract with opt-outs after every year, per Jesse Rogers of ESPN. The deal maxes out at $63MM, per Chandler Rome of the Athletic. Heyman adds that Imai will receive an $18MM annual salary plus incentives that can bring that to $21MM if he reaches 80, 90, and 100 innings

[glory]

At least Japanese talent have chosen Chicago and Houston as their destinations so far rather than the Dodgers. It's likely because the league doesn't believe they are that good, but whatever. 

[xposbrad]

Great deal for Astros, not too long either. Thought he’d get more.

[Jimcanuck]

If the Jays FO didn't sign him, its cuz he sucks.

[sliderguy35]

i think the concerns with imai are about the viability of a 2nd or 3rd pitch. The fastball is going to be a plus pitch because of the velo and angles at which he throws but teams are (understandably) skeptical of the slider or change/split performing.

imai is a low slot guy with a lower spin capacity who spins the ball very efficiently. typically these kinds of pitchers are limited in how they expand their pitch mix so they end up being elite fastball guys without much else. (also known as: the kyle harrison problem)

this kind of profile can still be elite (see: skenes, paul & duran, jhoan) but theyre really gonna have to push the velo. id be curious to see if the astros try to see if he can splink it like the 2 guys i mentioned above as well

[Jonn]

Well atleast he's not going to the Yankees which was my biggest fear. But Houston just added an absolute Superstar on the mound. I do think the Jays will regret not being more aggressive in his market. He will strike out everybody.

[Jonn]

10 hours ago, Spanky__99 said:

Soth West cotner John, always midnight.

 

f*** I wish I was still in on Canada I want in on this.

[jaysblue]

10 hours ago, Spanky__99 said:

Soth West cotner John, always midnight.

 

Isn't it the north east corner? 

[jaysblue]

43 minutes ago, glory said:

At least Japanese talent have chosen Chicago and Houston as their destinations so far rather than the Dodgers. It's likely because the league doesn't believe they are that good, but whatever. 

Also, despite the Dodgers being an attractive destination for Japanese talent, if you're a Japanese player trying to make a name for yourself in North America, you probably don't always want to be playing in the shadows of Ohtani and Yamamoto. 

 

[Landry_25]

42 minutes ago, Jonn said:

Well atleast he's not going to the Yankees which was my biggest fear. But Houston just added an absolute Superstar on the mound. I do think the Jays will regret not being more aggressive in his market. He will strike out everybody.

Well I mean they added imai but also lost Valdez. So not sure they’re much better or worse off lol but I am also super glad it wasn’t the Yankees!

[Stangstag]

2 hours ago, Jonn said:

Well atleast he's not going to the Yankees which was my biggest fear. But Houston just added an absolute Superstar on the mound. I do think the Jays will regret not being more aggressive in his market. He will strike out everybody.

Loll i like how you’re still rolling with the “he’s a superstar” thing even though 30 MLB teams did not want to pay him like a superstar 

[Spanky__99]

24 minutes ago, Stangstag said:

Loll i like how you’re still rolling with the “he’s a superstar” thing even though 30 MLB teams did not want to pay him like a superstar 

That and the Jays have already added 3 starters and 2 of them are better than Imai. 😅

[Jonn]

24 minutes ago, Stangstag said:

Loll i like how you’re still rolling with the “he’s a superstar” thing even though 30 MLB teams did not want to pay him like a superstar 

You know his contract is extremely well structured to maintain his flexibility right? The market is about to humble a lot of players and he still an unproven commodity from Japan which has been a boom or bust market for the most part. He comes over this Season and can have a monster year. Which if healthy I expect him strike out 200+ batters and go right back out on the free agent market and get a much bigger deal.

MLB's hesitation to give bigger guaranteed deals doesn't mean that both Murakami and or Imai can't become great players in this league. It just means teams are trying to spend with more assurance of what they are getting with both a labor dispute on the table and potential major changes to the salary structure in MLB. I don't think we will see a Salary Cap. But a Salary Floor, a more detailed luxury tax, and revenue sharing system are all on the table.

I feel like that contract is both great for Imai and the Astros. Imai gets a pretty strong starting salary comparable or slightly above what he would have got in Japan while maintaining all his flexibility. Astros got what could be the prize or one of the prizes on the free agent market without locking themselves for the years it usually takes to sign a premium arm.

Me thinking he will be great is my opinion. I couldn't give a single f*** if you agree or disagree with that. Only time will tell.

[Eat My Shatkins]

Imai going to the Jays, Dodgers or Yankees didn't make much sense when you look at their starting pitching depth. At the start of the off season the Jays made sense, but then they quickly locked down Bieber, Cease and Ponce.

[Jonn]

12 minutes ago, Spanky__99 said:

That and the Jays have already added 3 starters and 2 of them are better than Imai. 😅

Outside of Cease who is the second starter the Jays added who is better than Imai? Or are you considering Bieber being retained as an addition?

You can't be taking about Ponce who is intriguing... but is not considered by anyone in the industry to better. And even with Imai getting much less than expected. Still got paid double what Ponce did. So I'm confused.

[Spanky__99]

2 minutes ago, Jonn said:

Outside of Cease who is the second starter the Jays added who is better than Imai? Or are you considering Bieber being retained as an addition?

You can't be taking about Ponce who is intriguing... but is not considered by anyone in the industry to better. And even with Imai getting much less than expected. Still got paid double what Ponce did. So I'm confused.

Cease and Bieber, dude. 

[Spanky__99]

2 hours ago, jaysblue said:

Isn't it the north east corner? 

No.

[Stangstag]

28 minutes ago, Jonn said:

You know his contract is extremely well structured to maintain his flexibility right? The market is about to humble a lot of players and he still an unproven commodity from Japan which has been a boom or bust market for the most part. He comes over this Season and can have a monster year. Which if healthy I expect him strike out 200+ batters and go right back out on the free agent market and get a much bigger deal.

MLB's hesitation to give bigger guaranteed deals doesn't mean that both Murakami and or Imai can't become great players in this league. It just means teams are trying to spend with more assurance of what they are getting with both a labor dispute on the table and potential major changes to the salary structure in MLB. I don't think we will see a Salary Cap. But a Salary Floor, a more detailed luxury tax, and revenue sharing system are all on the table.

I feel like that contract is both great for Imai and the Astros. Imai gets a pretty strong starting salary comparable or slightly above what he would have got in Japan while maintaining all his flexibility. Astros got what could be the prize or one of the prizes on the free agent market without locking themselves for the years it usually takes to sign a premium arm.

Me thinking he will be great is my opinion. I couldn't give a single f*** if you agree or disagree with that. Only time will tell.

Ok bub

[Stangstag]

22 minutes ago, Jonn said:

Outside of Cease who is the second starter the Jays added who is better than Imai? Or are you considering Bieber being retained as an addition?

You can't be taking about Ponce who is intriguing... but is not considered by anyone in the industry to better. And even with Imai getting much less than expected. Still got paid double what Ponce did. So I'm confused.

Would be an interesting bet to make between Imai/Ponce having a better ERA or producing more WAR.

I think you’re wildly overrating Imai

[Spanky__99]

36 minutes ago, Stangstag said:

Would be an interesting bet to make between Imai/Ponce having a better ERA or producing more WAR.

I think you’re wildly overrating Imai

He's likely much better than Ponce, we'll see.

[Stangstag]

35 minutes ago, Spanky__99 said:

He's likely much better than Ponce, we'll see.

Projections don’t even think so

[Spanky__99]

2 minutes ago, Stangstag said:

Projections don’t even think so

I know, both are pretty unknown, but Imai just had Cy award season in the NPB, a better league than the KBO where Ponce just pitched as their Cy. I wouldn't go near that bet as it's so unknown, Jonn likely would though. 😜

[Spanky__99]

I wonder where Okamoto goes, he has the most suitors, likely a contender, Imai went to a contender, Munetaki to the Chisox was shocking.

[Spanky__99]

5 hours ago, Laika said:

Similar to Murakami, the league must not think he's that great 

Astros To Sign Tatsuya Imai

January 1st, 2026 at 11:10am CST • By AJ Eustace

The Astros and Japanese right-hander Tatsuya Imai are in agreement on a free agent contract, according to Jon Heyman of the New York Post. It is a three-year contract with opt-outs after every year, per Jesse Rogers of ESPN. The deal maxes out at $63MM, per Chandler Rome of the Athletic. Heyman adds that Imai will receive an $18MM annual salary plus incentives that can bring that to $21MM if he reaches 80, 90, and 100 innings

Still, not a bad deal. Covers a deep hole for the Stros and Imai gets to show the world what he's got.

[Pendleton]

4 hours ago, Jonn said:

f*** I wish I was still in on Canada I want in on this.

 

If the cops get a call about someone fighting two Johns on the corner of Yonge and Bloor, they are going to assume Spanky is a hooker