[Talkin’ Baseball] Shota Imanaga will remain with the Cubs in 2026
November 18, 2025
[Talkin’ Baseball] Shota Imanaga will remain with the Cubs in 2026
24 comments
What the fuck
Okay someone break this down for me, because I know his contract had some opt outs that the team could negate if they offered him more, which they chose not to, but then they offered him a QO anyway, which he’s now taking.
So that almost certainly means there’s an underlying issue we don’t know about???
Shota, Woodruff, Torres — is this already the most players to accept the QO in a single year?
EDIT: And Grisham makes four, wowzers.
Overrated imo
Once I actually understood how his wacky contract was set up, it made a lot more sense why this would happen
I don’t really get this, is his market really projected to be that bad?
What about Mike Imanaga though?
This is the offseason of team loyalty so far.
Enormous news
30 teams have to fight over Cease, Suarez, King, Valdez, and then it falls off. There are 3-4 teams that need a full rebuild of their rotation too.
They so sure of a lockout they shortened the man’s contract to be up right when it starts, wooooow
Let’s gooo
Am I crazy to think this is a win-win for Imanaga and the Cubs?
mike gets to stay yaaaay!
This was really well played by the Cubs FO.
Losing him would have meant needing to go out and sign 2 starters probably to longer term deals. Plus it could potentially harm our Japanese pipeline plans.
His options would have meant he’s 3 years at effectively $22M with a full no trade clause. His fall off down the stretch, and declining velocity made that seem pretty risky.
But he’s still a good fit for a team with excellent defense, especially with the wind blowing in more at Wrigley now.
Hopefully he talks Imai into signing with the Cubs as well and we’d have a stellar rotation next year. Horton – Imai – Boyd – Shota – Taillon.
I bet you $5 he is playing back in Japan in 2027 for a season while MLB isn’t playing at all. Smart play by Shota. Gets a pay raise in 26, gets to go make money in Japan in 27 while everyone else isn’t getting shit.
Woooo! I know a lot of Cubs fans were doing some extensive coping about him, but I absolutely love Shota and I’m glad he’ll be back. Here’s to hoping we can work with him on the long ball. For all but like two months, he’s been stellar for the Cubs.
I’m just a stupid guy who watches the game and doesn’t pay much attention to how contracts work and all that, so I’m glad to hear this. I would’ve been devastated if we’d have let him go.
But I was assured that he would be signing with the Dodgers cause he’s Japanese… does this mean that maybe the team with the best DH in baseball and arguably the best 1B in baseball might NOT be signing a 1B/DH with highly questionable metrics just because he’s Japanese? 🤯
Im surprised he didnt try to go get a multi year deal seeing as how hes 32 and gonna be 33 going into next off season which could also be locked out. Maybe hes betting on himself to have a bounce back year?
**MIKE IS BACK**
Imanaga played his hand really well.
In the contract he opted out of, he was due a minimum of $15 million over on year or a maximum $30 million in player options over the next two years. So the Cubs could have chosen not to offer him a QO, which he could have secured a greater payday than that, or he could accept 1 year and $22 million if they did offer him a QO and try his hand in free agency next season if he returns to form.
Considering the team options the Cubs held to keep him away from free agency if he performs well next year, that’s worth forfeiting a net $8 million guarantee.
![[Talkin’ Baseball] Shota Imanaga will remain with the Cubs in 2026](https://www.rawchili.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/94qfl8x4w22g1-1080x1024.jpeg)
24 comments
What the fuck
Okay someone break this down for me, because I know his contract had some opt outs that the team could negate if they offered him more, which they chose not to, but then they offered him a QO anyway, which he’s now taking.
So that almost certainly means there’s an underlying issue we don’t know about???
Shota, Woodruff, Torres — is this already the most players to accept the QO in a single year?
EDIT: And Grisham makes four, wowzers.
Overrated imo
Once I actually understood how his wacky contract was set up, it made a lot more sense why this would happen
I don’t really get this, is his market really projected to be that bad?
What about Mike Imanaga though?
This is the offseason of team loyalty so far.
Enormous news
30 teams have to fight over Cease, Suarez, King, Valdez, and then it falls off. There are 3-4 teams that need a full rebuild of their rotation too.
They so sure of a lockout they shortened the man’s contract to be up right when it starts, wooooow
Let’s gooo
Am I crazy to think this is a win-win for Imanaga and the Cubs?
mike gets to stay yaaaay!
This was really well played by the Cubs FO.
Losing him would have meant needing to go out and sign 2 starters probably to longer term deals. Plus it could potentially harm our Japanese pipeline plans.
His options would have meant he’s 3 years at effectively $22M with a full no trade clause. His fall off down the stretch, and declining velocity made that seem pretty risky.
But he’s still a good fit for a team with excellent defense, especially with the wind blowing in more at Wrigley now.
Hopefully he talks Imai into signing with the Cubs as well and we’d have a stellar rotation next year. Horton – Imai – Boyd – Shota – Taillon.
I bet you $5 he is playing back in Japan in 2027 for a season while MLB isn’t playing at all. Smart play by Shota. Gets a pay raise in 26, gets to go make money in Japan in 27 while everyone else isn’t getting shit.
Woooo! I know a lot of Cubs fans were doing some extensive coping about him, but I absolutely love Shota and I’m glad he’ll be back. Here’s to hoping we can work with him on the long ball. For all but like two months, he’s been stellar for the Cubs.
I’m just a stupid guy who watches the game and doesn’t pay much attention to how contracts work and all that, so I’m glad to hear this. I would’ve been devastated if we’d have let him go.
But I was assured that he would be signing with the Dodgers cause he’s Japanese… does this mean that maybe the team with the best DH in baseball and arguably the best 1B in baseball might NOT be signing a 1B/DH with highly questionable metrics just because he’s Japanese? 🤯
Im surprised he didnt try to go get a multi year deal seeing as how hes 32 and gonna be 33 going into next off season which could also be locked out. Maybe hes betting on himself to have a bounce back year?
**MIKE IS BACK**
Imanaga played his hand really well.
In the contract he opted out of, he was due a minimum of $15 million over on year or a maximum $30 million in player options over the next two years. So the Cubs could have chosen not to offer him a QO, which he could have secured a greater payday than that, or he could accept 1 year and $22 million if they did offer him a QO and try his hand in free agency next season if he returns to form.
Considering the team options the Cubs held to keep him away from free agency if he performs well next year, that’s worth forfeiting a net $8 million guarantee.