[Jesse Rogers] Breaking Cubs news: Lefty starter Shota Imanaga is a free agent, sources tell ESPN. The team rejected their option to extend his contract out to a fifth year. That triggered his ability to exercise a $15 million player option for 2026. He declined that as well.

50 comments

  4. Shota has been a Chicago Cub through and through since the moment he stepped foot in the city. Such infectious energy and when he was dealing, it was a treat to watch. Not the news I wanted this morning.

  5. What is the logic behind this? He’s fairly cheap compared to other star starters and solid?

  9. Not really a surprise here. We weren’t going to option him for 3 years and like what 60m?

    And he isn’t going to opt in for a 1 year 15m. He’ll test the market. Maybe we bring him back at 1 year 20m-ish. Who knows.

  10. I wish I could quit. Shit like this just infuriates me but like a glutton for punishment I keep coming back.

  11. They marketed the shit out of him all season then unceremoniously cut him loose? I truly despise how fucking cheap our ownership is

  12. [I stated my logic weeks ago.](https://www.reddit.com/r/CHICubs/s/4nw9aSioQT) let’s see if they offer a QO.

    Edit: as much as people love him. This is just smart business. You still can offer him a QO. We all saw what we saw last year. I think Shota is good but not great. So you can offer him a QO and if he accepts, you have 1 year left with him. As opposed to 2 years on player options. It gives Cubs 1 more year to develop a farm player like Wiggins or sign someone FA this year long term. Bottom line, cubs needed to improve on SP and Shota is/was their only out potentially (if they don’t offer a QO)

  13. Remember the Cubs are a “small market franchise” so the Ricketts have to spend their money frugally.

  15. Just when I thought we’d have an awesome rotation, this bullshit. Horton, Steele, shota sounded great for top 3.

  22. Probably makes sense but the optics of it feels weird. I’m not convinced this team is spending so its jarring to see guys get walked to UFA that did contribute to a decent year. I realize he had a horrible 2nd half but he also had a really good first half.

  23. I told all of you a month ago this was going to happen and got downvoted into oblivion. We are an analytics driven team now and his underlying numbers were horrendous this year. There is no way we were going to voluntarily tie ourselves to him for $20 million a year for the next three years. His ERA was pretty but that was entirely due to his low walk rate this year. His HR/9 was the worst in the majors and things like barrel rate was awful.

  24. As much as I love Shota, I get this move. His HR/FB rate regressed hard and he became unusable by the playoffs.

  25. Cool, another spot in the rotation that they’ll try to fill with some random project pitcher.

  27. Let me get this straight. The team that was so thin on starting pitching… just lost their #3 starter and got nothing in return.

    This club, man. I swear.

  28. Same meatballs that are ok with him getting cut loose are gonna be complaining why didn’t we sign him next playoffs when he’s pitching for a ws team

  29. Writing was on the wall after they basically benched him during the postseason. Love Shota but he isn’t what this rotation needs. We need more upside

  35. This news is a real litmus test for whether or not people in this sub know ball, and a lot of you are failing 

  37. The extension would have been an additional 3/$57M, which is admittedly more than i realized. They must be seriously concerned with his health. Absolutely hate to see him go, especially like this.

  39. Genuinely conflicted here, very mixed feelings in both ways. I understand the reasoning for it but also would’ve understood picking it up and seeing some bounce back potential at a not bad price. Main concern is that it leaves the Cubs with a bigger need for starting pitching, and I don’t exactly trust the FO go the distance to get an established and deeper rotation. They’ll make a solid signing somewhere, but I just don’t want to end in another spot where they rely on the stars to align and no one being hurt/struggling. And based on history that’s very likely.

    I’m sure they’ll give him a QO and idk if he’ll take it. Clean toss of if he does or not

  40. I know he was out of the circle of trust down the stretch but this still feels like an odd move. We don’t exactly have depth in the rotation nor a farm system lush with arms, so what exactly is the plan to replace him? Ben Brown?

  41. Good decision, even though it hurts because he’s a great guy. It’s the only open rotation spot to upgrade for next season, and Shota’s numbers would say he’s maxed out and declining here.

  42. I like Shota, but you can find starters out there just as good as he is.

    The cheap-ass Ricketts better not let Kyle Tucker walk though.

  43. Unless we are getting some premier starter, I dont get it. He had a down year but overall is a great piece for us and is relatively inexpensive

  47. When you can’t be trusted to start a playoff game because the ball leaves the yard too often it’s time to question things , also the jig is up the league for the time being has caught on to Mike . See game 2 against MKE shota was definitely tipping pitches , but whatever happens I’m sure he will land on feet .. when he has things working he is a blast to watch pitch .

  49. Not happy about this. I get he was struggling at the end of the year but that’s putting a lot of weight on a really bad month for a smart guy who I’d be willing to bet on being able to figure it out.

    Better put that money towards Imai and hope this doesn’t spook Japanese FAs, given how heavily the team marketed him this year.

  50. This only annoys me because of how awesome Mike is as a dude.

    His peripherals were awful, logically this move makes sense assuming we allocate those resources elsewhere. Here’s to hoping.

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