Left-hander Shota Imanaga has become a free agent, according to a report from Jesse Rogers of ESPN. The Cubs declined their three-year, $57MM club option on Imanaga’s services for 2026-28, and Imanaga subsequently declined his $15MM player option for 2026.
It’s an outcome that would’ve seemed unthinkable just a few months ago. Signed out of Japan to a deal that was on paper a four-year, $53MM contract during the 2023-24 offseason that had the aforementioned complex option structure set to kick in after the 2025 campaign, Imanaga was nothing short of sensational for Chicago in his first year as an MLB pitcher last year. In 29 starts, he pitched to a 2.91 ERA with a 25.1% strikeout rate across 173 1/3 innings of work that earned him an All-Star appearance and a fifth-place finish in NL Cy Young award voting last year.
While that strong rookie campaign seemed to portend a long stay near the front of Chicago’s rotation for Imanaga, things started to unravel this year. Early in the season, he managed to get strong results despite shoddy peripherals, with a 2.82 ERA through eight starts despite a 4.59 FIP and a strikeout rate that had plummeted to just 18.8%. His season was abruptly put on hold by a hamstring injury that cost him nearly two months, and when he returned his strikeout rate continued to dip. He did manage to fire off seven scoreless innings with five strikeouts during his first start after the All-Star break, but from there he began a downward spiral where his results started to match his lackluster peripherals.
From July 25 through the end of the season, Imanaga made 12 starts where he surrendered a 5.17 ERA with a 5.42 FIP across 69 2/3 innings of work. His strikeout rate actually recovered a bit during this stretch, creeping back up to 23.2%, but he allowed an eye-popping 20 home runs in that stretch. Imanaga has always had trouble with the long ball, and even in his excellent 2024 campaign he allowed the tenth-most homers among qualified starters. This year, his 31 homers allowed were the fourth-most in all of baseball despite him pitching just 144 2/3 frames. That’s fewer innings than anyone else in the top 20 besides Tyler Anderson, who allowed 28 homers in 136 1/3 innings of work.
In spite of his lackluster season, a poll of MLBTR readers on September 10 suggested that more than 91% believed the Cubs should exercise his club option. From that point onward, what seemed at the time like a borderline call became more clear as he posted an 8.04 ERA in his final three regular season starts before posting an 8.10 ERA in the postseason and ultimately being passed over for a winner-take-all Game 5 start against the Brewers in the ALDS despite him being on regular rest. By that time, this outcome seemed far more likely. MLBTR’s Tim Dierkes took a guess at Imanaga’s future in our Offseason Outlook coverage of the Cubs on October 22, and settled on the sides both declining their options and Imanaga heading into free agency.
From the Cubs’ perspective, moving on from Imanaga is understandable for a handful of reasons. By picking up his option, the Cubs would be counting on Imanaga to rebound into at least mid-rotation form for his age-32, -33, and -34 seasons. That might not seem like a bad bet to make, but it’s worth noting that Wrigley Field is notoriously fickle in terms of park factors thanks to the wind. In 2024, when Imanaga was at his best with the Cubs, Wrigley suppressed home runs at the fifth-highest rate in all of baseball according to Statcast. This year, that inverted to make the Friendly Confines the 11th-friendliest ballpark in baseball to home run hitters.
Perhaps Imanaga will be able to return to form elsewhere, particularly if he signs in a park with more consistent homer-suppressing tendencies, but it’s not hard to see why the Cubs wouldn’t want to commit to him long-term given that reality. That doesn’t necessarily rule out the possibility that he’ll return to the Cubs at all; Rogers reports that it’s not yet clear if Chicago intends to extend Imanaga the qualifying offer. Recouping draft pick compensation for Imanaga if he departs would surely be attractive to the Cubs, and him accepting the QO may be preferable to having kept him on a three-year deal at a lower annual cost due to the short-term nature of the arrangement. With that said, the market has plenty of mid-rotation or better starters available this winter, and the Cubs might prefer to not risk Imanaga accepting the offer so they can reallocate those dollars to a starter they feel better fits their roster.
Interesting, Cubs said saiyonara after his second half and he thinks he can do better than the option price. He’s got future Angel written all over him
Makes sense for both sides. The relationship has clearly soured.
The Cubs saw his FIP approach 5 and his already low velocity drop by 1 MPH this year.
However, his ERA has beaten his FIP by about 1 both years. If he can go to another solid defensive team (Guardians, Blue Jays, Brewers) or friendly ballpark (Giants), I could see him performing at a 3 starter level and getting close to the Cubs option level. I think he likely ends up with something like Flaherty’s 2 yr deal with opt out.
The Cubs were the best defensive team in mlb last season and Wrigley played as a.pitcher’s park for much of their home schedule so I don’t see how that is going to change the narrative.
Wrigley was 19th in overall park factor, but tied with Yankee Stadium, GABP, and Angel Stadium for 8th in HR park factor.
I suggest looking at Statcast park factors for HR’s (3-year rolling). Both Milwaukee and Toronto are homer-friendly parks.
Nor does Imanaga’s likely asking price fit with the amount that the Brewers or Guardians are likely to spend on a pitcher with Imanaga’s question marks.
I haven’t compared years and stats, but the article hinted at more variance month to month and year to year. Lake Michigan likely plays a big role.
But this might be more weather channel / weather underground comment?
As a Giants fan, I can totally see this happen, amd be fine with it.
He’s a very likable guy and I wish him the best, but he absolutely killed them down the stretch giving up long balls. If he threw 97-98 mph FBs and lost a little it wouldn’t be as significant as going from 91 to 90 ish. I hope he can turn it around somewhere else.
I am guessing there is some underlying injury. It really is the only explanation for the sudden plummet in performance.
He’s not injured. he just didn’t adapt his pitching style to the park when the wind changed. People have been saying for over a hundred years the first thing you look at when you walk in the park is look at the flags. There’s a reason.
It was mentioned by one of the hosts on the Cubs post game show around mid September, after Shota had a tough outing, that he may be going through a dead arm period. What really struck me was the mention of “Dead Arm”. I don’t hear that often today. That typically meant a stint on the DL as it was known at that time in the past (now IL). Sometimes that eventually led to a diagnosis of a shoulder issue. A strain or something more serious like rotator cuff.
I can see him with the Giants or Padres.
Well his playoff games against the Brewers were an amazing experience. I guess we all should have known Ricketts is cheap and refuses to pay players but does overcharge fans for the privilege of being a fanatic.
Hahahahahahaha the abyss where all non-tenders go.
We really don’t know anything until we see if Cubs offer a QO or not.
The dip in performance meant a three year $57 million investment was off the table. And Shota’s agent felt comfortable walking away from the player option.
Wow
The cheap boo birds will descend
Rightfully so, odds are Ricketts pockets a bulk of that money and they sign a way cheaper option
If you’re thinking Tyler Anderson on a one year $12M deal, you’re probably right.
Ricketts said the $30 million salary dump of Bellingers contract wasn’t a dump because the money was being “repurposed”. Still waiting to see where, probably bought more property in the neighborhood
I am wondering if they are clearing the decks for the lockout and potential salary cap to then build the team.
Future Dodger I’m sure…
A good move by the Cubs.
Agreed. The Cubs likely know his drop in performance isn’t a blip. Now, hopefully the Cubs spend money and/or trade wisely to fill out the starting rotation.
They wouldn’t want him, brod. He’s not very good.
He’s better than Sasaki has been, lol
You mean that guy who had a 0.84 ERA in the playoffs?
How original.
Giants or Padres if he wants West Coast. He isn’t a fit for the Dodgers.
Dodgers would load manage and just stick him on the IL til after the All-Star break. He seems to be good for 3 months….
In Dodger Stadium he would give up 35-40 home runs if he was taking a regular turn in the rotation. Of course, for the Dodgers, maybe he’s a $18m setup man who only pitches when the wind is blowing in.
We already had Kirby Yates if we wanted someone to give you home runs. No thank you.
Please no; And I am a Japanese Dodger fan. They need to clear a path (Falling Down) for Bobby Miller. Imagine having him being called the ace in 2023, Kershaw and Lance Lynn for your postseason. And you casuals and know-it-all’s wonder why they set out to buy a 2024 ring.
I like the idea of Bobby Miller, Dodgers closer. Assuming he can find the strike zone next year
That changeup in 23 was nasty. In all seriousness I hope he can step up to add some more certainty back there with Scott.
I hope Scott can improve to add *any* back end certainly with Scott. Maybe now he has a ring he can mentally relax and just pitch.
Can’t they still give him the qualifying offer, which he could possibly accept at $22m?
Yes, but if they didn’t want him at $19MM per… granted, 3 mpre years but still.
1 year at $22m vs 3 years at $57m is a big difference.
Plus, they can hope he doesn’t take it and get draft pick compensation.
Ehhh, tomato tomatoh. 19 per for 3 years of a midrotation lefty doesn’t seem so bad… doubtful they’d wanna commit to more money for 1 year. Idk the Cub’s FO MO, but the application seems apt.
Ryan –
I fully agree on the first point.
I don’t think the Cubs should put much weight on the second, though. If the Cubs don’t want Imanaga back at 3/$57, then other teams also almost certainly put him in the contract value range where a QO really depresses a player’s free agent market. I think there’s a very strong chance that Imanaga would take the QO.
Some team will give him two years, $32 million.
Id take the QO of 1/22, if 2/32 is the deal Shota is expecting.
Let’s see if the Cubs give it to him. I wouldn’t mind having Shota back for one more shot. I can understand why they were leery for going three more years.
You can only offer a Qualifying Offer to free agents. He wasn’t a free agent. He had an option that was declined.
And he’s now a free agent.
The club declined the option and so did he, so he is a free agent and the QO comes into play. Didn’t you read the article ?
A’s spend that revenue sharing money please. Get imanaga for rotatiom and murakami for 3b
I don’t think you want Imanaga in that ballpark…..
Not with the wind blowing out anyway. Fergie Jenkins pitched there for years but never threw a pitch above the waist. The jet stream has been blowing in for the last 2 years but changed in late August.
It was an odd year, weather-wise. The most summer-y month was September
As a fan of home runs in that ball park those bleacher seats or grass field would be requiring a glove on days he will pitch.
Murakami can’t play 3b. He can stand there and try which he has done. He’s barely a first baseman.
Even if he settles in as a stereotypical soft tossing lefty with an ERA around 4.00, that club option doesn’t seem too terrible.
The Cubs probably think that’s his ceiling. His FIP is at 4.86 which is a regression from ’24. He can beat $15M which he declined in the open market as you’ve implied.
If snipping Imanaga means they’ll pay a guy like Dylan Cease then you just got a big W. He fell apart and his stuff wasn’t special to begin with. His four seamer was not effective at all and he gave up a ton of HRs.
There’s a chance they felt he was no better than Chris Bassitt who can be had for the same price for less years. Guys like Bieber and Michael King out there as well. I would’ve also cut bait here.
Stupid team. He’s gonna sign somewhere and pop off.
The Giants big ballpark could be a destination.
He’s not. Look at his analytics. He’s trending down, and is extremely home run prone. He pitched in the most pitcher friendly park and still nearly had a 4 ERA.
Wrigley the most pitcher friendly park? No. I would say the Giants ballpark dimensions are the most friendly
I believe only T-Mobile was more pitcher friendly than Wrigley in 2025.
Actually, Wrigley has been far from friendly to HR hitters the last couple of seasons. The winds blown in way more than at any time in recent history. And he still gave up way too many long balls there. This was the right decision for the Cubs.
If you looking at April/May then you would be correct. But it tends to be slightly more favorable towards hitters after that. The Giants ballpark dimensions are continuously more friendly to pitchers is what point I’m making
Wrigley is rather pitcher friendly, but there are still quite a few home runs due to right center and left center
Wrigley can play like Coors park or Oracle depending on the wind! Haha
as a Cubs fan? what makes you think this? what did he show to make anyone think that? he had the best defense in the league behind him but when you can’t keep it in the park it doesn’t matter.
They’ll re sign him to a different contract. The way he pitches up in the zone he found out you can’ pitch that way in Wrigley when the wind is blowing out. He either learns to adjust or he’s not much use at the end of the year until he figures it out. Unless the Cubs repurpose that money for a guy like Cease it doesn’t make a ton of sense except for the fact that the Cubs rotation is too Left Handed. With Steele coming back, Boyd, and Imanaga and whatever they plan to do with Little and Wicks that’s too many Lefties.
Agree, though they don’t seem interested in Wicks or Little at all.
Why wouldn’t they be?
I don’t know. But they have not shown much of an impulse to call either up
His team option had a NTC, they weren’t going to do that after September. And if he accepted the player option he’d still be eligible for a QO (CBA-dependent) after 2026.
My guess is that either he comes back on 2/36 with a very limited NTC, or more likely he accepts the QO.
I’d be fine with the Cubs rotation next year being Horton, Cease, Boyd, Taillon, Assad and Steele and Wiggins joining later. I’m much more interested in the Bullpen. I’d like to see Hoyer start out with a good one for a change instead of shopping at K Mart during the season. Palencia, Re sign Keller, Pomeranz and maybe Thielbar. Still in the wind on Kittredge. Sign a couple more good BP guys and impress me.
Assuming that’s correct (I’ve no reason to believe not!) that’s key information about the team option coming chained to a NTC. Definitely would be a highly relevant factor in the decision.
The contract stated that if any club option was picked up the whole contract was then a full NTC which was another good reason to pass. That’s a fact. Hoyer finally getting smarter? One can only hope. He’s kinda starting to grow on me. Until he does something dumb again anyway. LOL
So maybe they try to re-sign him under different terms?
They have exclusive rights for a couple more days anyway. Who knows?
There’s probably a cream that can take care of that. LOL
Hey Uncle, hope you are well—-philosophically Cubs–I don’t see Cease fitting–that would be five or six years AND maybe $25-30 mill a year AND the loss of the second pick AND the loss of $500,000 in international money.
I think that none of the four fit the model….
And until the dam breaks—I am staying in the camp that Ricketts is, at the very least, being very protective of the labor strife of 2027.
To Wicks and Little—Wicks has yet to find any recognizable traits since the injury and poor Luke Little seems to be on the spectrum of Dillon Maples and Nate Pearson—just hasn’t thrown strikes at all when in the majors and that’s not the place that they can be patient (especially in a season like this year when they contended).
Who cares about the draft pick? The Cubs will get one for Tucker and maybe get another one for Imanaga. That’s a plus one to me. As far as the INTL money again who cares? What’re they gonna do sign another 16 year old Dominican SS? None of that is even worth a passing thought Mike! Have a good one buddy!
Last update about two weeks ago on Steele is he is expected to be ready in July. So far, no setbacks. I’m being cautious with expecting much from Steele in 26.
Typical (dumb) Cubs move. Unless they spend that money on a Ace this offseason, they will regret this. I can see Japanese players avoiding the Cubs loss like the plague.
As a Cubs fan I hope you’re right. Japanese players are almost always overhyped and bust out. Only ones whoever performed at a high level for a sustained period of time are Ohtani, Ichiro and Hideki Matsui. Every year we hear about the next Japanese “sensation” and I roll my eyes every time. The aforementioned three are the only ones who have ever proven me wrong.
Yu Darvish, Huroki Kuroda
I said high level for a sustained period of time. Yu Darvish has put in exactly two quality FULL seasons in his career. One for Texas and one for San Diego. A season with 100 innings another with 144 and another with 80 innings pitched don’t qualify as real seasons. Additionally he was a total train wreck failure in Chicago. One of the most overhyped, over celebrated and overpaid players easily of the last 20 years. I wouldn’t have wanted Darvish on my pitching staff for minimum salary for most of his major league tenure.
So Matsui and his career 13.2 WAR had sustain, high-level success, but Darvish and his 36 career WAR has not?
Darvish has a career ERA of 3.65, and a career xFIP of 3.47, and has put up 2.4 or more WAR in 10 of 13 seasons. And 5 seasons of 3.5 or higher.
6 of Matsui’s 10 seasons he was a below league average player, and only once did he break 3 WAR (exactly 3.0 in 2004).
Darvish has two seasons where he pitched atleast 170 innings with a respectable ERA. And by respectable I mean not in the neighborhood of 4. He’s a home run machine with balls the size of raisins. WAR is a bogus nerd stat that is a wildly inaccurate and inconsistent measure of a player’s performance. Case in point Vladimir Guerrero’s 2010 season. He hit 29 homers drove in 115 hit 300 with an OBP over 300 and he gets like a 1.8 WAR for that. In comparison Marcus Semien gets double that for his crappy 240 something batting average seasons in Texas.
baseball-reference.com/players/d/darviyu01.shtml
Please take a look at that and tell me how you count 2 quality full seasons. Darvish had 2 crazy good seasons in his first 2 years in the MLB.
“MLB,” not “the MLB”
@JHoward1030 It feels like you are applying HOF criteria to this. I also get the feeling that you are not familiar with Yu’s career and are basing this off of your memories of his struggles. He has had a few bad years, a few great ones, and many good ones
Japanese players coming to MLB get a lot more publicity than players from other countries. Not looking at any numbers, I feel like latin american or US prospects fail out of MLB at a similar or higher clip than Japanese players. For the relatively small number of them to come play here, they have a pretty good track record and I would be excited to have one of their stars sign with my team
Seiya Suzuki is another player who has played quite well. Not a superstar but he’s playing above his contract
Almost always? Geeze, talk about a broad generalization.
So you’ve never heard of Yamamoto (Cy Young candidate)?
Yamamoto has one good season on his record his rookie year was a disaster. Now that the league has a book on him going forward let’s see how well he does. There aren’t many 5 foot 9 right handed pitchers who have had a lot of success in the major leagues historically speaking.
Yeaht that 3.00 ERA / 2.60 FIP rookie season was a disaster.
Toronto could have used that book.
Because they did well against three other #1 starters the Dodgers threw at them.
why do you hate Japanese so much?
It would be quite something if Japanese players as a collective boycotted the Cubs because they declined a players contract option
Japanese players collectively boycott a lot of teams.
As a student of baseball I’m curious about your source that Japanese players boycott a lot of teams . Could be an interesting read….
No one cares what White Sox fans thinks anyway. You guys are a terrible organization, and wouldn’t know a good move if it tapped you on the shoulder.
@Zac: I generally agree about Sox mgmt, but as a Cubs fan I wish the Cubs had young talent as good as Montgomery, Teel, and others. Getz has traded well.
Shaw, PCA & Horton are a lot better than Monty & Teel. I know the WS have other guys, but between all of them, I’m not sure they out-perform the Cubs big-3.
Says the Sox fan
Given the prices for middling FA starters last season, $54 mil for three years doesnt seem off.
Kikuchi got 3/63.
Manaea got 3/75
Verlander got 1/15
Boyd got 2/29
Montas got 2/34.
Morton got 1/15.
Because other teams were stupid the Cubs should just jump up and be stupid too? Actually gotta give Hoyer credit for hopefully sticking with the farm for a change. Hopefully Wiggins becomes Horton 2.0 and Sanders and Noland and Steele comes back things aren’t at all bad.
TBF Kikuchi got that offer coming off the best stretch of his career and from a stupid organization.
He did have a really solid year here, too. Which doesn’t usually happen when free agents sign here.
Kikuchi also has better stuff. His arrow was pointing up heading into FA.
The A’s need to snatch him up pronto
I’m kind of torn here.,
One side of me is like, are you freaking kidding? This guy has pitched amazing during his Cubs tenure. Are you really going to over-inflate Shota’s second half decline and stat-nerd your way into a rash decision?
But the other part of me can’t ignore how the Cubs had to protect Shota during the post-season with first inning relievers and actually consider not pitching him in the deciding game 5. That’s not a situation a team should be in with the pitcher they’ve situated as their go-to guy.
And the money seems so middle ground that I can’t decide whether it’s a reason to let him go or retain him. It doesn’t seem bad.
And, of course, knowing the Ricketts as we do, we can’t dismiss the possibility this is simply a financial move to protect themselves while anticipating a CBA shutdown, and the goal of building a great team is a secondary consideration.
and stat-nerd your way into a rash decision?
========================
If you’re making a decision on a player, and you don’t want to use stats, how do you make your decision?
I am definitely not against the use of stats in the decision-making process. They are essential to my day job and I utilize metrics often as part of any analysis. But I recognize that their value can be over-inflated to a point where they eclipse all other useful judgment values and analytical methods. I’ve seen instances in my daily life where a person got so consumed with a few columns on his spreadsheet that he couldn’t see something right there in front of his eyes. I am absolutely certain there are occasions where the equivalent occurs in sports FO. I am hoping that isn’t the case with the Shota decision.
That’s a Shota to my ballz
What?! How will they replace an 89 mph lefty that withered by August? On the other hand, shiny awards were handed out that fans will talk about for the next 93 yrs between championships. Love that team culture!
Does anyone know what’s up with Soroka? According to MLB transactions, he did NOT become a free agent the day after the WS as expected, and he is still listed as being on the Cubs roster. Did they sign him after the season ended, or what? Do any of my learned colleagues know?
Probably for the best if he’s gone. He doesn’t project well going forward. My guess, though, is that he’ll get and accept a QO.
Yeah, makes sense for the Cubs to drop him. He’s pitching better than his metrics show (3.73 ERA vs. 4.86 FIP & 4.36 SIERA). By those numbers, he’s a slightly below league average pitcher. Not sure it’s worth spending $19M /year for a below league average pitcher.
Imanaga doesn’t have the velo, but has good stuff and great control.
Except when he didn’t. He was clobbered after the break. Ask Kyle Hendricks about the kind of control you have to have to pitch at Wrigley.
Shota had it til he didn’t.
The stats really do lie. Just realized he fell off a cliff when I looked up his stats again.
If he’s willing to sign a Pivetta type of deal, then San Diego would be perfect for him. He’ll probably choose the better contract & better chance to win that San Francisco will offer though.
The Cubs are trying to win now and can likely find a safer option at that price point. Or for just a bit more buy some upside as well.
They weren’t trying to win at the trading deadline.
I kinda saw this coming, and I wish him all the best. He is a very likable fellow and if he can get this stuff back under control he can still be a dominate pitcher. Best of luck to you Shota!
A reclamation project for the Brewers. One year with a mutual option.
Jed is preparing to go dumpster diving.
Shota would be good in SF. Solid 3/4 guy
5.17 ERA? That’s better than the majority of the Angels’ entire pitching staff. Moreno will tell Minasian to sign him to his usual three year max pitching deal and he’ll get the opening day nod in 2026. Moreno will then say, “See, I like pitching.”
SF seems like a perfect place for him
Or
Cleveland,KC,cards,padres.twins,rangers
Houston,jays,braves,brewer. Plenty of tms will be interested
Shocked cubs let him go. Bad 2 months but he was still their ace with great #s overall both years. The deal was very reasonable
He’s not gone yet. Cubs have exclusive rights to negotiate for a few more days. So it hasn’t happened yet. And if it does you’ll give up a draft pick.
If the Cubs extend a QO, and Imanaga turns it down. Neither of those are certain.
right, cubs might not extend QO and imanaga probly wont accept if they did.
if he turns down QO then cubs get pick. its like 3rd or 4th rd i think. if he accepts, they get no pick , he stays for 1 year/22 mil
several tms will be interested in giving him 3 yr deal, so he won’t be back. cubs will regret not exercising this option
Eh, I’m not sure on Imanaga turning down the QO if it’s offered.
If the Cubs aren’t picking up a 3/$57 team option on Imanaga, then he’s in the zone of contract value where a QO may really depress his FA market with other teams.
Pivetta is similar age/stats
4 yr/55mil
And he thrived bec he landed in the right spot
Imanaga could easily get that
And also thrive if he goes to a park that doesnt yield HRs bc thats his weakness
On the other hand he might take the 22mil, have a great yr, cash in next offseason . Whatever happens its still a surprise cubs did this
There are only a few teams that specialize in that. IMHO, he goes to SD and reverts back to being a #2.
Giants
As a Cubs fan it’s been frustrating to see the Cubs not shop at the top of the FA market. I think this was the right call though. With Steele coming back the Cubs need a hard throwing righty to complement this rotation ala Cease or King. The Cubs intentionally avoided the tax last year so there is no reason they shouldn’t be willing to go back above it this year. If they go bargain shopping again and only get someone like Eflin I won’t be happy.
He might wind up with San Fran or an outfit with a stronger pitching organizational group the cubs kind of need guys who are ready out of the box. He’s a very assimilated Japanese player so he’s not a diehard for a Japanese centered team. But he still needs a hand with translators. I could see the Sox working with him. Possibly Philadelphia who might not be able to swing Ranger Suarez but are desperate to crack an Asian player market and have an excellent pitching program. They might step up for him despite the project.
The Phillies are desperate to land a high profile Asian player. They don’t need him, but could try to deal Walker or make him a mop up bullpen guy for his final year.
Do the Cubs and Mariners line up for a Castillo trade? What would be a decent trade scenario?
Depends how much salary is paid down. If the Cubs just cut Shota at $19MM per year, I’d doubt that they’d want Castillo at $22MM per year. They may be aiming higher or, more likely, Jed will be bargain hunting.
Shota is a solid dude and a very likeable personality. I wished he would’ve captured more of the magic he demonstrated in the first 1.5 years of his tenure with the Cubs. He was a liability down the stretch, and the team obviously didn’t trust him in the playoffs. I had a feeling it would pan out this way.
You always need pitching depth, but it also always felt like Shota might be the odd man out if the Cubs truly want to improve the rotation. Horton, Boyd, Taillon, and Steele will be penciled in for now, with Assad/Rhea/Brown as potential fifth starters. However, all three of those guys could be depth/swingman types of they can add a frontline starter somewhere. I’ll be interested to see what Shota can get on the open market if the QO doesn’t come into play.
Could simply be that Shota had an injury that wasn’t disclosed down the stretch.
Los Angeles Dodgers of Japan will swoop em..
As a 7th starter?
“…particularly if he signs in a park with more consistent homer-suppressing tendencies.”
Paying attention, Mr Harris?
Orioles,Phillies, Giants?
Huh, kinda shocked by this. He wasn’t ALL bad in the second half. And his first year and a half were fantastic. No doubt he’ll get a decent contract imo.
I hope he accepts the QO and returns but if he doesn’t I really don’t want have to have a reason to not like him anymore if he becomes a ring chaser like half the Dodgers rotation and bullpen.
If he’s offered the QO and takes it, that could be awkward.
I so confidently called that poll silly and that we all knew he was staying in Chicago. I feel silly, I love this game.
I called it a no brainer pickup. How things change in a couple of months. I can see Shota bouncing back.
The Cubs have a plan to replace his innings with oh wait the Cubs have no plan
I’m pretty sure that Cease will be in Cubs gear finally
No thanks.
Well, they’ve cleared $27 million this year plus more available for him or another free agent upgrade. Let’s see if they actually do it or more half measures until the CBA is settled.
They should be getting Justin Steele back mid season . Dumpster diving until then
Colorado should jump on this.
MLB hitters kinda figured shota out after all star break.
Another player the Cubs cut with nothing in return was Kyle Schwarber. We know how that turned out . Could Shota have been traded for value at some point ? After the Cody salary dump to the Yankees for nothing , I’m suspicious the owners will just pocket the savings and send Jed to a dumpster
say hello San Diego.
Shota 144 innings only giving up 117 hits is pretty good until you realize 31 of them cleared the bases.
and in the playoffs he gave them up at a rate of 4 HR per 9 IP.
Remove the short net then how many?
Okay ilitch and Harris get to signing this guy he is made for Comerica Park dude would be a beast there with us then sign framber Valdez and Alex bregman maybe even Pete Alonso trade tarik skubal also trade torkleson to get him out of the way for Alonso of course and make our best prospect Kevin McGonigle our starting ss opening day and Clark our center fielder and boom world series bound oh also of course sign and resign some bullpen pieces.
Would love to see what Niebla could do with Imanaga at Petco. Pivetta type deal?
Not surprising given his 2nd half. Cubs need 2 new starters like King and Cease since they seem to be unwilling to pull trigger on straight trade. They also need to go out and get closer like Diaz or Clase, since he fell out of favor wwith the guardians and looks to be a hoyer kind of guy. I still don’t trust Palencia closing guys even somewhat consistently.
“Fell out of favor”? or….was suspended indefinitely by MLB?
Clase is still suspended (with pay) while under investigation related to suspicious prop bets.
Decent chance that he’s never again pitching in MLB.
Imanaga’s 2025 is sort of how many saw him before he made his way to the US. More of a 4th/5th starter than a mid-to-low-tier #2 starter.
Really surprising. I think this was a mistake, although they do have some good young pitching. I also think he’ll get as much or more on the open market. This is a weak FA class.
Shocking
I like Imanaga. That dude can pitch. If the Tigers don’t go get a real #2 they could do worse. Verlander would be an okay backup plan too. Their top 5 (Skubal, Flaherty, Mize, Olson, Melton) won’t pitch every game and they can use ay surplus as trade bait.
Hoyer keeps proving he can’t judge talent
A WHIP less than 1 is hard to ignore
I wonder if he and the cubs know that he injured himself and that he needs TJ surgery
Of course the team that signs him will be really pissed when that all comes to light