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The secret is officially out of the bag as the Chicago Cubs formally announced that Shota Imanaga will be the Opening Day starting pitcher for the team when they play the Los Angeles Dodgers in Japan on March 18.
When Cubs' pitchers and catchers first reported to Spring Training, it was all but confirmed that Imanaga would get the nod given the significance of the Cubs and Dodgers playing in Japan. It will be a memorable pitching matchup as the Dodgers will be penciling in Yoshinobu Yamamoto for the start against the Cubs on Opening Day.
Imanaga getting the start for the Cubs on Opening Day speaks to the amount of success he had with the team in his first season in Major League Baseball. In 29 starts with the Cubs last season, Imanaga posted a 2.91 ERA and a 3.0 fWAR. Imanaga also earned All-Star honors in his rookie campaign with the Cubs.
When the Cubs originally signed Imanaga, the thinking was that his ceiling would be as a middle-of-the-rotation starting pitcher. Instead, the Cubs saw production from Imanaga that rivaled him being a legitimate Nation League Cy Young award candidate. Along those lines, the Cubs will have a decision to make following the 2025 season. The Cubs can elect to add a fifth year to his contract, bringing the total contract value to $80MM. The Cubs can also tack on a fifth year following the 2026 season as well.
Cubs will need Shota Imanaga to repeat his 2024 success
The Cubs also took a gamble this offseason, hoping that Imanaga does not face regression in 2025. Despite having the goal of adding an established starting pitcher to their rotation, the Cubs came away from the offseason with the only notable addition to the rotation being Matthew Boyd. While Boyd has a pitching profile to suggest a breakout could happen, durability remains his biggest question mark.
If the Cubs are going to contend in 2025, it will be due to the success of their rotation. Beginning with his Opening Day start, the Cubs will need Imanaga to be ready to exceed expectations as the top-of-the-rotation ace they failed to acquire this offseason.