Shota

Imanaga

The Cubs could have kept Imanaga for $57 million over three years, but they decided against that. It was kind of surprising they offered him the QO afterwards, but having him back for one year doesn’t seem like a bad thing. It just complicates the idea of making a run at Dylan Cease, Michael King or another top starter. As is, the Cubs’ rotation consists of Matthew Boyd, Jameson Taillon, Cade Horton and Imanaga, with Colin Rea likely filling in until Justin Steele returns from elbow surgery.

Passan adds that Kyle Schwarber, Bo Bichette, Framber Valdez, Dylan Cease, Ranger Suarez, Edwin Díaz, Zac Gallen, Shota Imanaga, Michael King, Trent Grisham, Gleyber Torres and Brandon Woodruff are the other dozen impending free agent to receive the tag prior to Thursday evening’s deadline. They have until Tuesday, November 18 to decide whether to accept the one-year deal or decline and become free agents. Only 14 of 144 players to receive a qualifying offer since 2012 have actually accepted it. It’s worth noting that players who were on multiple teams — Josh Naylor and Eugenio Suárez — along with players who have previously received a qualifying offer — Pete Alonso, Cody Bellinger and Alex Bregman — were ineligible to receive one this offseason.

The Cubs had three years and $57 million left on Imagana’s deal and could have extended his contract out to a fifth season, but declined to do so. Imanaga then declined his $15 million player option and decided to become a free agent. It’s a bit of a surprising move considering Imanaga has a 3.28 ERA, 1.01 WHIP, and 291/54 K/BB ratio in 318 MLB innings since coming over from Japan. He struggled with injuries and took a step back in 2025, and there will remain some home run concerns given his fly-ball tendencies, but he immediately becomes one of the top starting pitchers on the market.

If Matthew Boyd had made it out of the first on Saturday, maybe the Cubs would have pulled Imanaga after two tonight. Instead, they stuck with him and watched him give up his second homer of the game in the third. Dating back to Aug. 28, he’s given up 16 homers over 41 1/3 innings in eight starts.

Cubs manager Craig Counsell made it official after the club’s decision to start lefty Matthew Boyd on short rest blew up in monumental fashion, leading to a blowout loss in Game 1 of the best-of-five series. Imanaga will attempt to even things up in Milwaukee after allowing two runs over four innings on Wednesday in his first playoff outing against the Padres. The 32-year-old southpaw figures to work deep into the contest to spare Chicago’s overworked bullpen.

Chicago’s decision to start lefty Matthew Boyd on short rest blew up in monumental fashion, leading to a blowout loss in Game 1 of the best-of-five series. Imanaga figures to play a considerable role in the Cubs’ pitching plan for Monday’s showdown, even if they elect to go with an opener. There should be an official announcement from Cubs manager Craig Counsell at some point before the weekend wraps up.

Imanaga took over in the second inning after opener Andrew Kittredge coughed up a run in the opening frame. The 32-year-old lefty kept San Diego off the board until the fifth inning when Manny Machado connected for a two-run moonshot to left field. He struck out three and only issued two walks, needing 67 pitches (46 strikes) to navigate four frames. He would likely take the ball early next week in the NLDS should the Cubs eliminate the Padres.

Kittredge will face the top of the Padres’ lineup before handing things over to lefty Shota Imanaga. Chicago took the opening contest of the best-of-three series at Wrigley Field when Matthew Boyd, Daniel Palencia, Drew Pomeranz, Kittredge and Brad Keller combined to hold San Diego to just one run on four hits. It’ll likely be an all-hands situation if the Cubs jump out to an early lead with Jameson Taillon the likely option to pitch a decisive Game 3 showdown.

Cubs manager Craig Counsell made it official that Boyd will take the ball for Tuesday’s series opener at Wrigley Field. It’ll likely be some combination of Shota Imanaga and Jameson Taillon to close out the three-game series with star rookie Cade Horton out with a rib injury until at least the late stages of a potential Division Series matchup.

Imanaga gave up nine hits, walked one and struck out three. The 32-year-old left-hander hadn’t allowed more than three runs in a start since July 25 against the White Sox, a span of 10 starts. Imanaga finishes the 2025 campaign with a 9-8 record, 3.73 ERA, 0.99 WHIP and 117 strikeouts in 144 2/3 innings. He’ll be highly sought after as a WHIP-master in 2026 fantasy drafts.