Report: Imanaga becomes FA after Cubs, 2024 All-Star decline options
Left-hander Shota Imanaga is hitting the open market, sources told Jesse Rogers of ESPN.
Imanaga, who was a 2024 All-Star, became a free agent Tuesday after declining his $15.25-million player option for 2026, which became a possibility after the Chicago Cubs rejected their three-year, $57.75-million club option through the 2028 campaign, reports Patrick Mooney of The Athletic.
The Cubs can still offer the 32-year-old a $22.025-million qualifying offer for 2026, according to MLB Network's Jon Heyman. Chicago would then receive draft compensation if he signs with a new team.
Imanaga posted a 3.73 ERA with 0.99 WHIP and 7.3 K/9 over 144 2/3 innings (25 starts) in 2025 en route to helping the Cubs reach the playoffs for the first time in five years. He finished fifth in 2024 NL CY Young voting after authoring a 2.91 ERA with 174 strikeouts across 173 1/3 innings (29 starts).
Imanaga will be one of the best starters available along with Framber Valdez, Ranger Suárez, and Dylan Cease.