Cubs’ pitching rumors swirl around Tatsuya Imai and familiar bullpen name

Early buzz from the Winter Meetings has provided some further insight into the Chicago Cubs' search for a top-of-the-rotation starting pitcher. New York Post's Jon Heyman highlighted the Cubs while providing an update on Tatsuya Imai's free-agent market, and locally, Cubs Insider reported over the weekend that the Cubs are "expected to make a very serious push" for the 27-year-old starting pitcher.

Even The Athletic's Patrick Mooney and Sahadev Sharma (subscription required) mention the Cubs' interest in Imai. Citing the Dodgers' success with Yoshinobu Yamamoto, as well as the fact that Imai is coming off a season where he posted a 1.92 ERA while striking out nearly 28% of the hitters he faced, the impression from the Cubs' beat writers is that he would check the box of being the Cubs' big splash for the rotation.

There have been some concerns about Imai's pitch mix, which is the reason why his contract is not expected to be in the same neighborhood as the $325 million contract Yamamoto signed with the Dodgers. That said, for a team like the Cubs, who lack velocity, Imai's fastball can reach triple digits, and his arrival would provide Chicago with much-needed swing-and-miss stuff in their rotation.

Tatsuya Imai and Ryne Stanek emerge on the Cubs' radar during the first day of the Winter Meetings.

While Imai would check the box for the need in the rotation, North Side Baseball's Matthew Trueblood reports that the Cubs have spoken with he representatives for free-agent relief pitcher Ryne Stanek. The impression was that signing Stanek could be the next move of the Cubs' offseason, and likely end the team's search for bullpen upgrades.

The Cubs have previously been connected to Stanek this offseason, and he's someone they have been linked to in past years. While his current profile isn't quite as polished as Imai's, he does have a fastball approaching triple digits and would offer a different look for a bullpen that has thrived on pitchers generating weak contact. Unlike Phil Maton, who signed a multi-year deal with the Cubs last month, Stanek can likely be had on a one-year deal as he hopes to bounce back from posting an ERA of 5.30 with the New York Mets last year.

After a weekend that was centered around the Cubs potentially seeking an upgrade at third base, having renewed interest in Alex Bregman and Eugenio Suarez, the start of the Winter Meetings has seen their search for pitching take center stage.