Astros move struggling starter Tatsuya Imai to the bullpen

HOUSTON — Tatsuya Imai, the crown jewel of the Houston Astros’ catastrophic winter, is being moved to the bullpen.

Manager Joe Espada announced Friday that Imai will be available in relief for the team’s critical series against the American League West-leading Texas Rangers. Imai’s next scheduled turn in the rotation would have been in Sunday’s series finale.

“Eventually I want to be back as a starter. The Astros signed me as a starter, so that’s how I want to perform,” Imai said through an interpreter. “But as of right now, that’s what the team decided. I just want to perform well and get the win for the team.”

Houston signed Imai to a three-year, $54 million contract this offseason in hopes he could stabilize the middle of its top-heavy starting rotation. Imai’s difficulty adjusting to everything about Major League Baseball — from the time of his meals to differences in mound quality — has made that impossible.

Imai has a 5.83 ERA and has failed to finish five innings in eight of his 15 starts. In three of them, the 28-year-old right-hander has not escaped the first inning. Imai recorded just two outs in his last start on Monday against the Los Angeles Angels, after which he met with team officials to discuss his future in the rotation.

A clause in Imai’s contract allows the Astros to option him to the minor leagues, but only if he offers his consent. Asked on Friday if the topic had been broached with him, Imai said it had not. Earlier this week, Espada said, “I think Imai has shown that he belongs at the major-league level.”

Imai is one of six offseason pitching additions general manager Dana Brown made to the Astros’ major-league roster. Imai is the third of them to be removed from Houston’s starting rotation for poor performance. The three others have been designated for assignment.

“Even though I’m moving to the bullpen, I just want to perform for the team and get the win for the team,” Imai said.

Espada did not elaborate on the team’s plans for Imai after the Rangers series, but Imai’s wild inconsistency — coupled with a shrinking calendar and pursuit of a playoff spot — will make it difficult for the club to start him in any game of significance.

The return of both Hayden Wesneski and Ronel Blanco from Tommy John surgery already intensified scrutiny on Imai, whose hold on a rotation spot seemed tenuous when the second half began. That Cristian Javier threw five scoreless innings in relief of Imai on Monday only made Houston’s decision easier.

Javier is the most logical candidate to replace Imai in the starting rotation on Sunday. Houston could also pitch breakout right-hander Peter Lambert on four days of rest. Both Lambert and Javier threw bullpen sessions on Friday afternoon at Daikin Park.

“We’re going to work on a couple things we noticed in (Imai’s) last start and try to get him going that way,” Espada said. “Hopefully we can give him a few innings during this series, but if not, I think we have a pretty good plan here moving forward.”

“Hopefully this is something that we just do for a short period of time, but as we move forward and we’re trying to line up against the Rangers, Blue Jays, moving forward, that’s the decision we’ve made for now.”

Imai’s move to the bullpen may also endanger some innings incentives in his contract, which contains opt-outs after this season and next. Given his performance this season, Imai will almost certainly opt in for 2027, when he is scheduled to make $18 million.

Imai can receive a $2 million raise in 2027 for reaching each of 80, 90 and 100 innings pitched in 2026 — making it possible for $6 million in extra earnings and a $24 million total salary.

Imai, who has thrown 58 2/3 innings this season, now faces long odds to attain additional compensation.