Shota Imanaga Becomes a Free Agent
Chicago Cubs left-hander Shota Imanaga has become a free agent after the team rejected their option to extend his contract to a fifth year, sources told Jesse Rogers of ESPN. That triggered Imanaga's ability to exercise a $15 million player option for the 2026 season, but he also declined that to hit the open market. The 32-year-old Japanese southpaw will now be free to sign with any team this offseason after going 24-11 with a 3.28 ERA (4.24 FIP), 1.01 WHIP, 23.1% strikeout rate, and 4.3% walk rate in 318 innings and 54 starts in his first two MLB seasons. The Cubs still hold the right to extend a $22 million qualifying offer to Imanaga. Imanaga's 2025 campaign was interrupted by an injury in the first half of the season, and he wasn't nearly as good in the second half after returning, posting a 4.70 ERA after the All-Star break. He also struggled in his two playoff starts and had only 117 K's in 25 starts during the regular season after punching out 174 batters in 29 starts in his rookie campaign.
Source: ESPN Chicago - Jesse Rogers
Source: ESPN Chicago - Jesse Rogers
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