Cubs reportedly sign ace lefty Shota Imanaga

by Tony Crumpton
– Senior Editor
– Tue Jan 09 19:09:42 GMT-05:00 2024

The offseason has officially begun for the Chicago Cubs.

The Cubs have an agreement in place for free agent lefty starter Shota Imanaga on a four-year deal worth $53 million, according to multiple reports on Monday night.

MLB insider Jon Heyman first reported it, and the contract is pending a physical that will take place in Chicago on Thursday.

The Cubs won out over the finalists — the Giants, Red Sox, and Angels.

Imanaga would become Marcus Stroman‘s replacement in the Cubs rotation.

The 30-year-old had a 2.66 ERA and led the league in strikeouts with 188 and only 24 walks in 159 innings last season in the NPB. In 2022, he had a 2.26 ERA.

Overall, he is a two-time NPB All-Star with a career 2.96 ERA.

He has plenty of high-leverage experience as he has pitched for Japan in the 2019 Olympics and the 2023 World Baseball Classic. During the WBC, he pitched six innings across three appearances, allowing two runs while striking out seven.

This is the first big-league free agent contract that the Cubs have signed this offseason.