CHICAGO (AP) \u2014 Chicago Cubs manager Craig Counsell is counting on a bounceback from Shota Imanaga and continued improvement from newcomer Edward Cabrera to round out what now looks like one of the deepest rotations in the majors.<\/p>\n
\u201cShota Imanaga is critical to our success this year, absolutely critical,” Counsell said at the Cubs annual fan convention on Saturday. \u201cI think he\u2019s in a really good spot to have a lot of success.\u201d<\/p>\n
Last fall, it looked like Imanaga, a 32-year-old left-hander from Japan, might be on his way out of Chicago after two seasons.<\/p>\n
But he remains a key arm in what could be a formidable group of starters including Matthew Boyd, Jameson Taillon, Cade Horton and Cabrera, a hard-throwing 27-year-old right-hander acquired via trade from Miami<\/a> on Jan. 7.<\/p>\n \u201cWe see Edward as a pitcher who’s just ready to take off,\u201d Counsell said. “He’s off to a great start in his career and lot of big things ahead. We have to figure out how to get him to the next place.”<\/p>\n Cabrera, with a fastball at triple-digit velocities and a changeup at more than 95 mph, was 8-7 with 3.53 ERA last season for the Marlins.<\/p>\n Chicago holdovers Colin Rea and Javier Assad also can start. Justin Steele is coming back from left elbow surger<\/a> y last April.<\/p>\n Imanaga burst into the majors with the Cubs in 2024 following eight seasons in Japan\u2019s top league. He went 15-3 with a 2.91 ERA and was named an All-Star as a 30-year-old rookie.<\/p>\n Imanaga strained his left hamstring last season covering first base in a loss at Milwaukee on May 4. He returned on June 26, went 5-2 in his next seven starts and looked like he was back on track.<\/p>\n Then Imanaga struggled in August and September, going 1-4 to close out the regular season at 9-8 with a 4.38 ERA. He was grooving home run pitches at pivotal times and finished allowing 31 homers, tied for fourth highest in the majors.<\/p>\n Chicago, at 92-70, returned to the postseason for the first time since 2020. Horton was sidelined with a rib injury after a solid rookie season. Imanaga was still shaky.<\/p>\n The lefty was tagged with a loss \u2014 and another homer \u2014 in Game 2 of a wild-card series against San Diego, although the Cubs won the set 2-1 to advance to face Milwaukee. In Game 2 of the NLDS series with the Brewers, Imanaga was hit hard again, getting only eight outs while allowing four runs and two more homers in a 7-3 defeat.<\/p>\n Imanaga became eligible for free agency when the Cubs declined an option to keep his contract by guaranteeing $57 million for the 2026-28 seasons. He turned down a $15.25 million option<\/a>, but was one of a record four players who accepted $22,025,000 qualifying offers in November from their former teams, removing themselves from the free-agent market.<\/p>\n \u201cI think Shota, just kind of leaving … and kind of signing back, I think he\u2019s in a really good spot to have a lot of success,\u201d Counsell said. \u201cWhen the league beats you as a competitor, you learn a lot about yourself, and I think Shota is going to learn a lot about himself.\u201d<\/p>\n Imanaga didn\u2019t attend the convention, but Boyd, Taillon, Horton, Rea and Cabrera were on stage to talk to fans about the team\u2019s pitching outlook.<\/p>\n Horton, Chicago\u2019s 2022 first-round draft pick (seventh overall), said he\u2019s fully mended. The 24-year-old right-hander went 11-4 with a 2.67 ERA as a rookie before getting hurt.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m ready to get going,\u201d Horton said. \u201cI\u2019m superexcited for this group. Good recipe for success.\u201d<\/p>\n