With his signing deadline approaching quickly, Shota Imanaga will reportedly sign with the Chicago Cubs, according to Bob Nightengale. He will undergo a physical on Thursday—the day of his signing deadline. Jon Heyman confirmed the deal.
The deal will pay around $15 million per year and can last anywhere from two to five years, according to reports. Imanaga and the Cubs will have options in the contracts, and there will be bonuses and escalators to increase the value.
Shota Imanaga, Photo by Sam Navarro-USA TODAY Sports
This was a bit of a surprise, as teams like the Giants and Red Sox were looked at as front runners for the lefty. Jon Heyman reported that the Giants, however, were out of the running and that a decision was expected soon.
Imanaga has a lifetime 3.18 ERA in the Nippon Baseball League through 165 games and a 64-50 record. In the 2023 season, he struck out 188 batters in 159 innings and pitched to an admirable 2.66 ERA.
The Mets were never reported to have a deep level of interest in the 30-year-old. Blake Snell and Jordan Montgomery are the two big starters left on the market after Imanaga, Aaron Nola and Yoshinobu Yamamoto signed. The Mets aren’t expected to be in on Snell or Montgomery, though they have been reported to be involved in looking for pitching on the trade market.
