HOUSTON — The Houston Astros started 2026 in stunning fashion, solidifying their starting rotation with a splash unlike any other in their golden era. Agreeing to a three-year contract with Tatsuya Imai augments a rotation bracing for the loss of Framber Valdez while leaving a footprint in a market this franchise rarely explores.

“In a way, I want to experience that sense of survival,” Imai said in November. “When I come face-to-face with cultural differences, I want to see how I can overcome them on my own — that’s part of what I’m excited about.”

Coming to a team with championship aspirations — and a previous lack of any Japanese presence — fulfills Imai’s expectations. Here are seven thoughts on Houston’s soon-to-be-official deal with the 27-year-old right-hander:

1. Even after acquiring Mike Burrows and signing Ryan Weiss, an uneasy feeling remained within the Astros organization about the gap between ace Hunter Brown and the rest of Houston’s rotation. Brown is a bona fide ace who just finished third in American League Cy Young voting, so some separation between him and teammates is expected, but team officials still sought to narrow what they perceived as a large chasm.

Imai will help to close it, but it is perhaps too early to anoint him a frontline starter. The contract he received is indicative of skepticism within the industry of how Imai’s game will translate to MLB, though few have questioned the upside Imai brings. One National League evaluator told The Athletic that “on the right team, he’s like a No. 3, probably like a really good No. 4.” The Astros could benefit from either. Imai will raise the floor of a rotation that, before his arrival, felt top-heavy.

2. An introductory news conference is expected sometime next week, but Imai has already endeared himself to Astros fans with his comments about the Los Angeles Dodgers during a November interview with Daisuke Matsuzaka on the “Hodo Show.”

“Of course I’d enjoy playing alongside (Shohei) Ohtani, (Yoshinobu) Yamamoto and (Roki) Sasaki,” Imai said, “but winning against a team like that and becoming a world champion would be the most valuable thing in my life. If anything, I’d rather take them down.”

Imai is coming to a franchise and fan base that would love nothing more.

3. The contract Imai has agreed to will have an average annual value of $18 million on Houston’s luxury tax payroll, two league sources said Thursday. Adding that $18 million will leave the Astros around $4.2 million under the first luxury tax threshold, according to Cot’s Contracts. Imai can earn a maximum of $21 million if he throws 100 innings next season, but the $18 million is what will count against the team’s luxury tax number. The posting fee Houston will pay to Imai’s NPB team, the Seibu Lions, is not a factor in CBT calculations.