Cubs Pitcher Shota Imanaga's Future Now in Question After Declining of Contract Options.
In a move that has left many wondering about the future of one of baseball's top left-handed starters, Chicago Cubs pitcher Shota Imanaga became a free agent after he declined his $15 million option for 2026 and the team exercised its club option to keep him from becoming a free agent. The Cubs had initially signed Imanaga to a four-year deal worth $53 million in 2024.
Imanaga's contract has an intricate structure that gives the Cubs flexibility to extend his deal at various points, but he has now opted out. This means that while the Cubs can still attempt to retain him by offering a one-year qualifying offer of $22.025 million, it remains unclear whether Imanaga will stay with the team or take his talents elsewhere.
The loss of Imanaga would be a significant blow for the Cubs, who are already in need of starting pitching depth. His departure could exacerbate their needs, especially considering that teams are expected to offer big money to top free agent pitchers this offseason.
Despite an injury-plagued 2025 campaign, Imanaga's impressive rookie season and All-Star honors make a strong case for him being one of the top starting pitchers on the market. His ability to dominate games when healthy will likely draw significant attention from other teams looking to strengthen their rotations.
In a move that has left many wondering about the future of one of baseball's top left-handed starters, Chicago Cubs pitcher Shota Imanaga became a free agent after he declined his $15 million option for 2026 and the team exercised its club option to keep him from becoming a free agent. The Cubs had initially signed Imanaga to a four-year deal worth $53 million in 2024.
Imanaga's contract has an intricate structure that gives the Cubs flexibility to extend his deal at various points, but he has now opted out. This means that while the Cubs can still attempt to retain him by offering a one-year qualifying offer of $22.025 million, it remains unclear whether Imanaga will stay with the team or take his talents elsewhere.
The loss of Imanaga would be a significant blow for the Cubs, who are already in need of starting pitching depth. His departure could exacerbate their needs, especially considering that teams are expected to offer big money to top free agent pitchers this offseason.
Despite an injury-plagued 2025 campaign, Imanaga's impressive rookie season and All-Star honors make a strong case for him being one of the top starting pitchers on the market. His ability to dominate games when healthy will likely draw significant attention from other teams looking to strengthen their rotations.
They're already struggling with pitching depth and now they're losing Imanaga? That's like losing a key piece of a puzzle and not having it anymore 
. He was an ace last season and had everyone hooked with his incredible performances. Teams are gonna be lining up to get him, big money or not 
. It's hard to see him go, but at the same time, I think he deserves it after putting up those numbers 
. The Cubs gotta make a tough decision now... either keep him on a one-year deal or risk losing him for good 
I just don't get it, Cubs management is so unpredictable... One minute you're signing Shota Imanaga to a huge deal and the next he's declining his option and you're left wondering what's going on? 
It's like they can't make up their minds about him. And now that he's opted out, I'm not sure if they'll try to keep him or just move on... it's a shame too because Imanaga is an amazing pitcher when he's healthy! 
But seriously, who's going to want to give big bucks to someone with injury issues? 
shota imanaga is still an amazing pitcher and even if he leaves, hes got so much talent & experience on his side! 
i think he'll get snapped up by another team that's willing to give him the $$$ he deserves 
so the team can try to keep him but idk if it'll work out... the thing about his contract is kinda weird 
i feel like it's hard for the cubs to just keep him now since they've already signed him to a huge deal in 2024 
he's had an amazing rookie season and all-star honors so yeah, other teams will definitely try to lure him away... 
. now we're stuck in limbo waiting to see if imanaga decides to come back or take his skills (and potentially a bunch of money) elsewhere 
. on one hand, i'm sure imanaga's gonna get a ton of offers from other teams and he could end up with a huge contract 
i'm literally dying over here!! shota imanaga is one of my fave pitchers EVER and now his future is all up in the air?!?! 
the cubs would be SO lost without him and they're already struggling with starting pitching depth... this is a disaster waiting to happen 
. It's not just about the cash, it's about the experience and leadership he brings to the table. They can't afford to lose him to another team who's willing to offer big bucks 
. He's been through some injuries this year, so maybe he just needs a break or a new challenge 
. While the Cubs are keen to retain him, I think the market will prove more persuasive, especially considering the significant offers expected for top-tier pitchers this offseason 
. Cubs need a starter like that, but they gotta pay top dollar if they wanna keep him 
. the thing is, cubs fans are gonna be sad to see him go 
also the money teams are gonna offer to get top pitchers in free agency is getting insane 
he declined that $15 mil option for 2026 which is crazy considering how much he's worth on the market these days... i mean we all know he's got skills but teams are gonna be drooling over him this offseason. I feel bad for the cubs tho, they already had a pitching depth issue and now this just puts another wrench in it 
. Like, what's going on? He was having an amazing rookie season and the team is already worried about depth 
and btw $22.025 million is still crazy rich for a one-year deal 
.