Astros Keep Imai and Let Weiss Go: Imai Takes His $18 Million Option for 2027 While Houston Declines Weiss's $5 Million Option
Two pitching decisions landed within hours on Thursday: Tatsuya Imai will be back for a second season after an uneven debut, and Ryan Weiss is a free agent after a $500,000 buyout.
HOUSTON - Tatsuya Imai is staying. The Astros right-hander will not take the opt-out in his contract after his first major league season and will return for 2027 on his $18 million player option, a decision first reported by the New York Post's Jon Heyman and relayed Thursday by USA Today's Bob Nightengale, who called it "zero surprise." Imai joined Houston before the 2026 season on a three-year, $54 million deal signed after the Saitama Seibu Lions posted him, with opt-outs after both 2026 and 2027 - so he will face the same decision again next fall.
His debut year explained the decision. Imai went 6-4 with a 4.93 ERA across 23 appearances, including 15 starts, striking out 97 batters and walking 51 over 76 2/3 innings - the strikeout stuff and the command trouble in the same line. He spent time on the injured list with right arm fatigue in the first half, shifted to relief work in late July, saw his workload decline down the stretch, and made the Astros' postseason roster without pitching in the Wild Card Series. His return settles his salary for next season without settling how Houston will use him.
The other decision went the opposite way. The Astros declined their $5 million club option on right-hander Ryan Weiss for 2027, MLB Trade Rumors reported Thursday afternoon; Weiss collects a $500,000 buyout and returns to free agency. Houston had signed him as an inexpensive rotation addition after two strong seasons in South Korea - 270 1/3 innings with a 3.16 ERA for the Hanwha Eagles across 2024 and 2025 - on a one-year deal with a $2 million salary for 2026.
It did not work out. Weiss made nine appearances and posted a 7.62 ERA through 26 innings, walking 15.3 percent of the batters he faced; he was designated for assignment in June, cleared waivers, and threw 76 1/3 Triple-A innings with a 5.42 ERA. MLB Trade Rumors expects him to be limited to minor league offers if he stays in North America, with another overseas chance possible. Houston's pitching winter, in other words, starts with one known quantity to fix and one roster spot to fill.
