Multiple sources have reported that Japanese pitcher Shota Imanaga has signed a four-year, $53 million contract with the Chicago Cubs. The contract includes a club option after the second and third years, extending the contract to $80 million over five years.
The Cubs and Imanaga’s camp finalized the deal before the pitcher's 45-day posting period closed. Chicago will also pay the Yokohama DeNA BayStars a $10 million posting fee.
Shōta Imanaga, Cubs agree to a 4-year deal worth $53M via multiple reports.
— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) January 11, 2024
This includes a club option after the second and third years to extend his contract to $80M over 5 years. pic.twitter.com/rRrgDOTAJu
Imanaga had a 7-5 record for the BayStars last season. He finished with a 2.66 earned run average with 188 strikeouts in 159 innings. His 174 strikeouts in the Japan Central League made him the 2023 season’s champion.
Those numbers also earned him his second Nippon Professional Baseball All-Star selection. His first All-Star selection came in 2019 when he had a 13-7 record, a 2.91 ERA, and 186 strikeouts in 170 innings.
Imanaga started his professional baseball career with the DeNA Baystars in 2016 and has played for the team ever since. Through eight seasons with Yokohama, he established a 64-50 record and a 3.18 ERA.
Aside from the NPB, he also played for the Japanese team that won the 2023 World Baseball Classic, pitching the first two innings in the gold medal match against Team United States.
Imanaga relies on his fastball, splitter, curveball, and slider. He is set to join a pitching rotation featuring Jameson Taillon, Kyle Hendricks, and Justin Steele.
The timing of Imanaga’s signing allows the Cubs to introduce him in a press conference before the opening night of an upcoming Cubs fan fest. He is the first marquee free agent signing of the Cubs this offseason.
-Lance Fernandez