CHICAGO — The Chicago Cubs are making a significant move this offseason, as they are reportedly set to sign Japanese left-hander Shōta Imanaga pending a medical review. According to sources, the deal has not been officially confirmed by the club.
This move comes as the Cubs have had a relatively quiet winter, apart from their recent hiring of manager Craig Counsell. However, acquiring Imanaga would add a top-tier starter to their rotation. The left-handed pitcher will join fellow countryman Seiya Suzuki, who joined the Cubs in 2022 after a successful nine-season stint in Nippon Professional Baseball.
Imanaga had the opportunity to seek a chance in Major League Baseball after being posted by his team, the Yokohama DeNA BayStars. The posting period was set to expire on Thursday at 5 p.m. ET. Although Imanaga may not have received the same level of attention as Yoshinobu Yamamoto from his home country, he is considered an impressive pitcher in his own right, with the potential to be a number two or number three starter in the Majors.
With a diverse repertoire of pitches, including a mid-90s fastball, a splitter, a slider, and a curveball, Imanaga posted a solid 3.18 ERA over his eight seasons in NPB, covering a total of 1,002 2/3 innings. In the past two seasons, he recorded an exceptional 2.53 ERA with 306 strikeouts over 291 2/3 innings, demonstrating his resilience after undergoing left shoulder surgery in 2020. That procedure caused him to miss the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
Imanaga’s talent was on display on the international stage when he represented his country in the 2023 World Baseball Classic. Impressively, he put forth strong performances against South Korea and Italy, leading up to his start and victory in the gold-medal game against Team USA.
The Chicago Cubs’ signing of Shōta Imanaga marks a significant move for the team, adding a potential frontline starter to their rotation. With his exceptional pitching arsenal and past success both in Japan and on the international stage, Imanaga brings valuable experience that may propel the Cubs to future success in Major League Baseball.