"After being largely overshadowed by Yoshinobu Yamamoto when he was posted for MLB clubs during the 2023-24 offseason, southpaw Shota Imanaga landed with the Cubs on a deal that has worked out well for Chicago so far. Imanaga was an All-Star and the fifth-place finisher in NL Cy Young voting during his first season, and this year he's chipped in a strong 3.21 ERA across his 22 starts."
"All of that is to say that the Cubs are facing a significant decision this offseason. If they don't exercise their three-year option on Imanaga's services, he's all but certain to decline that player option and return to free agency. One-year rolls of the dice on older players like and Charlie Morton last offseason cost $15MM, so it's all but guaranteed that Imanaga could do better than that if he were to test free agency."
Shota Imanaga signed with the Cubs after being posted and became an All-Star, finishing fifth in NL Cy Young voting and posting a 3.21 ERA across 22 starts this season. The contract guarantees $53MM nominally over four years but includes a club decision after 2025 on a three-year, $57MM option covering 2026–28. If the Cubs decline that option, Imanaga would have a $15MM player option for 2026 and is likely to decline it to test free agency. The Cubs would then face another decision on a two-year, $42MM club option for 2027–28 or allow a $15MM player option for 2027. Chicago must weigh keeping a top starter against potential higher market value.
Read at MLB Trade Rumors
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