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Cubs get another incentive to pursue Kaima Taira after ESPN's contract prediction

The Cubs need to kick the tires on Kaima Taira
ByRich Eberwein
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Jul 18, 2025; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Chicago Cubs President of Baseball Operations Jed Hoyer walks on the sidelines before a baseball game between the Chicago Cubs and Boston Red Sox at Wrigley Field. Mandatory Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn Images
Jul 18, 2025; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Chicago Cubs President of Baseball Operations Jed Hoyer walks on the sidelines before a baseball game between the Chicago Cubs and Boston Red Sox at Wrigley Field. Mandatory Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

ESPN's latest contract projection for Japanese starting pitcher Kaima Taira should have the Chicago Cubs all in on the 27-year-old. We all know how much the Cubs need to sign starting pitching this offseason, and how they have over $100 million to play with, but ESPN projected a measly $72.5 million deal over five years. $14.5 million per year is a steal for the guy who led the NPB in ERA (1.36) and ERA+ (245) last season.

This would be an extremely high-upside move for the Cubs if they could actually sign Taira to that kind of contract. Although he's only 5'8, Taira can touch 99 mph on his fastball, and he averaged just shy of one strikeout per inning in 2026. The guy can also throw eight different pitches, and he has a career 1.85 ERA across 633 2/3 innings pitched.

So, why the light contract projection? Well, it likely has to do with his injury history and limited use as a starting pitcher. Due to his size, Taira had to convince the Seibu Lions to use him as a starter in 2023. While he was very successful, injuries forced him back into the bullpen over the next two seasons until he returned as a starter in 2026.

Does Kaima Taira make sense for the Chicago Cubs?

The short answer is yes. While he only has two seasons of starting pitching under his belt, Taira dominated during both of them, and he was still extremely successful as a reliever (1.71 ERA and 31 saves in 2025). $15 million per year is such a bargain if he can stick in the starting rotation.

Taira also excels at drawing weak contact. He posted a solid 49.6 groundball rate last year, good enough to rank 11th among all NPB starters. This is the stat that makes Taira an intriguing Cubs target for me, as the team's elite defense would be a perfect complement to his pitching style.

Taira has been cleared to negotiate with MLB teams, so we'll see how serious the Cubs are about pursuing him. Along those lines, given the pending lockout on December 2, the NPB and MLB has agreed to a modified posting window this offseason. Instead of players having the standard 45-day window, it was moved down to 30, in coordination with when the current CBA expires on December 1. If a player isn't signed by then, they will return to their team in Japan.

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