The Houston Astros were one of the more disappointing teams in the league last season. They had been one of the best teams in the league for years, but they missed the postseason completely after a second-half collapse last season.

The Astros are going to need to attack free agency with a lot of aggressiveness to prevent the same level of disappointment next year. They’re set to lose their ace, Framber Valdez, while already having a shallow pitching staff. Houston needs to add an arm or two this winter.

Bleacher Report’s Tim Kelly recently predicted the Astros would sign Chicago Cubs free agent ace Shota Imanaga to a solid two-year, $38.5 million deal.

“If Imanaga declines the QO—after each side declined an option that could have kept him in Chicago for at least 2026—it might just not be meant to be,” Kelly wrote. “The Cubs could pivot to another starter, while collecting draft-pick compensation whenever he signs elsewhere.

“The Astros could replace the left-handed presence of Framber Valdez by signing Imanaga. The Blue Jays, Padres, Angels and Giants are among the other teams that could also make sense, assuming he declines the QO. A deal structured similarly to the two-year, $35 million contract Jack Flaherty signed to return to the Tigers last offseason, with an opt-out after the first season, would be logical for Imanaga.”

A deal like this would make perfect sense for the Astros.

They’re likely going to miss out on Valdez because of how expensive he’s bound to be. But they could replace him with an ace like Imanaga on a much smaller contract.

If he’s willing to sign for less than $20 million per season, the Astros need to jump all over the opportunity as soon as they can.