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Shota Imanaga is now a free agent after a series of contract decisions initiated by the Chicago Cubs, a league source confirmed to The Athletic on Tuesday, leaving the Japanese pitcher to weigh his future options.

This move potentially marks the end of what had been a strong partnership between a franchise that wanted a bigger presence in Japan and a lefty starter who entertained the crowds at Wrigley Field.

First, the Cubs declined their three-year option to lock in Imanaga for the 2026, 2027 and 2028 seasons at a total cost of $57.75 million.

With that move, Imanaga, 32, gained a $15.25 million player option for next season, which he promptly declined. In doing so, he also voided his player option for 2027, meaning he could have guaranteed himself at least $30.5 million over the next two seasons.

As ESPN first reported, it’s not yet clear whether the Cubs will make Imanaga a one-year, $22.025 million qualifying offer, though it would make sense for the club to maneuver for draft-pick compensation if he signs with another team this winter.

These various scenarios were outlined in the complex four-year, $53 million contract that Cubs officials and Imanaga’s representative finalized in January 2024.

The creative agreement included a series of club/player options that were designed to maintain some flexibility as Imanaga assimilated into a new culture and learned how to compete against major-league hitters.

In exceeding everyone’s expectations, Imanaga produced a dazzling rookie season (15-3, 2.91 ERA) that put him in the All-Star Game and on Cy Young Award ballots. He finished fifth in the latter and fourth in Rookie of the Year voting.

That performance made Imanaga the natural choice to be the team’s Opening Day starter this year against the Los Angeles Dodgers in Japan.

But the momentum did not completely carry over this year. Imanaga missed most of May and June with a strained left hamstring and then allowed 15 home runs in August and September after posting a 3.76 ERA in his first seven starts upon returning from the injured list.

In October, Imanaga pitched fairly well in a wild-card loss to the San Diego Padres. He then got knocked out in the third inning of a Division Series loss to the Milwaukee Brewers. Rather than start him in the decisive Game 5 at American Family Field, the Cubs unsuccessfully went with an opener and a scripted bullpen plan, underlining this uncertainty about his future.

Still, Imanaga accounted for 25 starts and 144 2/3 innings during the regular season, finishing with a 9-8 record, a 3.73 ERA and a 0.99 WHIP. After the playoffs exposed a lack of reliable pitching depth, the Cubs will almost certainly have to go back into the free-agent market to replace him in their rotation.

Over the last two seasons, the Cubs posted a .667 winning percentage in Imanaga’s 54 starts. Even if he doesn’t return to the ace level he demonstrated in 2024, he’s still solidly in that next tier of proven, dependable starting pitchers who will be available this winter.

Nov 4, 2025

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Patrick Mooney is a senior writer for The Athletic covering the Chicago Cubs and Major League Baseball. He spent eight seasons covering the Cubs across multiple platforms for NBC Sports Chicago/Comcast SportsNet, beginning in 2010. He has been a frequent contributor to MLB Network, Baseball America, MLB.com and the Chicago Sun-Times News Group. Follow Patrick on Twitter @PJ_Mooney