The Houston Astros aim to open a new chapter in the Asian market by signing Takuya Imai.

The Los Angeles Dodgers’ recent achievements with Japanese players have drawn interest from Houston Astros owner Jim Crane. Shohei Ohtani joined the Dodgers before the 2024 season, laying the groundwork for their consecutive World Series titles, while pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto was named the 2025 World Series MVP.

After an eight-year playoff run, including two World Series championships, the Astros missed the playoffs in the 2025 season. Until last Saturday, the team had never made a move in the Japanese free-agent market—until they signed Seibu Lions star pitcher Takuya Imai to a three-year, $54 million deal (potentially up to $63 million with incentives). Imai is the first Japanese free agent signed by the Astros from Nippon Professional Baseball and likely won’t be the last.

“We hope to discover more talent from there,” Crane said Tuesday at the press conference for Imai’s signing at Daikin Park. “There is definitely major league-level talent, and their player development system is very well established.”

Crane visited Japan last summer and toured the facilities of Daikin Comfort Technologies. The company signed a 15-year naming rights deal with Houston’s downtown stadium in November 2024. Crane’s shipping and logistics company, Crane Worldwide Logistics, has offices worldwide, including Japan. After the visit, he resolved to strengthen the team’s scouting presence in the Asia-Pacific region.

“That visit really opened my eyes; they showed me around the entire country,” Crane said. “I’ve been to Japan many times and we’ve had an office there for 40 years. I understand the market, but our focus wasn’t strong enough before. Although we had some presence in the region, I realized we fell short in identifying talent early and making timely contact, so now we are fully committed. After returning home, I immediately decided to ‘hire full-time scouts at all key locations.’ Fortunately, we already have facilities ready to launch quickly.”

Last summer, the Astros hired scouts in Tokyo, Taiwan, and South Korea, using Crane’s local office as a base. The team’s goal is to become a major player in Asian talent identification and signing, and Imai’s signing clearly reflects this strategy.

Takuya Imai will become the fourth Japanese player in Astros history, following Kaz Matsui, Nori Aoki, and Yusei Kikuchi (who joined via trade before the 2024 deadline).

“The Dodgers have been ahead in this area, and because I run an international company, I could quickly establish a structure to provide workspace for scouts and keep communication aligned with our system,” Crane said. “We will move swiftly in Asia, continuously monitoring and evaluating all local talent, hoping to bring in more players to deepen our roster.”

“The Asian market has huge potential; the players emerging there are comparable or even superior to our domestic players. Before the Ohtani effect, this market was underdeveloped, but now many teams are focusing on it. Going forward, we will advance with greater precision and focus.”

The signing of Imai also holds great significance for the Astros’ partnership with Daikin. Daikin CEO Taka Inoue attended today’s press conference. Their cooperation agreement runs through the 2039 season, covering official naming rights and other collaborative benefits.

“They are our partners, and we believe they can offer us vital support in Japan because of their abundant resources,” Crane said. “We will rely on their backing and appreciate their long-term commitment to us. I hope they become an integral part of the team.”

Yusei Kikuchi’s successful stint in Houston—starting 10 games at the end of the 2024 season, pitching 60 innings with a 5-1 record, 2.70 ERA, and 0.93 WHIP—before signing a three-year, $63 million contract with the Angels, caught the attention of Imai and his agent Scott Boras (who also represents both pitchers).

The Astros hope this is just the beginning of a successful pipeline for Japanese talent.

“Kikuchi’s previous experience here was very successful, earning positive feedback both within the team and from the community,” Boras said. “All parties had the chance to explain to Imai in detail how Kikuchi adapted here, the support he received from the team, and how he improved his pitching and performed well at home. I’m excited for Houston and Imai.”