Tatsuya Imai Stays With Astros, Exercises $18M Option; Houston Declines Ryan Weiss Option

Right-hander Tatsuya Imai will exercise his $18 million player option and return to the Astros in 2027, Jon Heyman of the New York Post reported first Thursday at 1:27 p.m. CT. Chandler Rome of The Athletic confirmed the decision at 2:00 p.m. CT. Bob Nightengale called it "zero surprise." MLB Trade Rumors' Darragh McDonald filled in the contract math: Imai still has $36 million left over 2027 and 2028, with another opt-out after next season. The original deal was three years and $54 million with opt-outs after each year.

Imai's first MLB season explained the choice. Per MLBTR, he finished 2026 with a 4.93 ERA in 76 2/3 innings over 15 starts and eight relief appearances, striking out 28.7% of batters but walking 15.1%. Control problems moved him to the bullpen midseason. After that line, a soft free-agent market was the likely alternative to the guaranteed $18 million.

For Houston, Imai is back on the books for a healthy salary, and the rotation picture is still unsettled. MLBTR currently projects Hunter Brown, Peter Lambert and Hayden Wesneski in three spots, with Imai, Cristian Javier, Ronel Blanco, Mike Burrows, Ethan Pecko, Kai-Wei Teng and others competing for the back end. The club is expected to add starters this winter. Keeping Imai locks in $18 million of 2027 payroll against a pitcher who still has upside if the walks come down, but it does not close the rotation need.

Separately, the Astros declined a $5 million club option on right-hander Ryan Weiss, with a $500,000 buyout, Jesse Rogers of ESPN reported at 1:49 p.m. CT. MLBTR matched those figures. Weiss becomes a free agent. Rogers noted he pitched well down the stretch at Triple-A after a midseason demotion. The $500,000 buyout is a small payroll hit compared with the $5 million option.

Houston still has no general manager in place. Rome reported Thursday that Brewers assistant GM Matt Kleine is the Astros' choice and the focus of the search, with no deal finalized. Our GM search tracker has the full field.

Around the MLB

• Mariners options: Seattle exercised closer Andrés Muñoz's $9 million option and declined the options on starter Bryce Miller and outfielder Victor Robles, Nightengale reported at 1:54 p.m. CT (option figures: Miller $6.75 million, Robles $9 million). MLB.com's Daniel Kramer posted Muñoz at $9 million exercised, Miller's option at $6.075 million declined, and Robles at $9 million declined. Kramer and the Seattle Times' Adam Jude emphasized that Miller remains under club control and arbitration-eligible through 2029; he is not a free agent. Robles becomes a free agent.
• Red Sox trade Eaton to Athletics: Boston traded outfielder Nate Eaton to the Athletics for minor league right-hander Jareth Rayo, the first trade of the offseason. Nightengale first reported the Eaton trade at 12:41 p.m. CT; MLBTR credited Chris Cotillo (MassLive) on the minor-league return and Francys Romero on identifying Rayo. Eaton hit .160/.300/.260 in the majors in 2026 and owns a career .221/.294/.307 line. Rayo threw 36 innings in the Dominican Summer League in 2026 with a 5.50 ERA.

Sources: Jon Heyman (NY Post); Chandler Rome (The Athletic); Bob Nightengale; Jesse Rogers (ESPN); Darragh McDonald / MLB Trade Rumors; Daniel Kramer (MLB.com); Adam Jude (Seattle Times); Baseball Reference.

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