Cubs Rumors: MLB expert quietly tabs the team's biggest offseason addition

With Craig Counsell being forced to use a bullpen game multiple times during the Chicago Cubs' playoff run, it's no secret that Jed Hoyer and Co. are determined to add a top-of-the-rotation starting pitcher this offseason. Even with the return of Shota Imanaga, the Cubs are aware that Counsell refused to pitch him in Game 5 of the NLDS against the Milwaukee Brewers.

The early whispers of the offseason would suggest that the Cubs are willing to go beyond their comfort zone to address their need for pitching. The way they acted quickly to lock up swing-and-miss relief pitcher Phil Maton to a multi-year deal all but confirms that.

Given that change in mindset, the Cubs haven't just been tied to starting pitchers at the top of the free-agent market; they also don't appear to be staying away from those with qualifying offers attached. That has led to the Cubs commonly being mentioned for one of Dylan Cease or Michael King, but MLB.com's Anthony Castrovince as the Cubs landing a different option.

While making his bold predictions for the offseason, Castrovince believes that the Los Angeles Dodgers won't come away with any of the top names making the jump from Japan. It's a group that includes Munetaka Murakami, Kazuma Okamoto, and Tatsuya Imai. One of the reasons why Castrovince believes that is because he has the Cubs landing Imai.

If the Cubs are swinging big for a free-agent starting pitcher, Tatsuya Imai looks like the best option.

If the Cubs are willing to spend top dollar on a free-agent starting pitcher, Imai makes the most sense. Under Jed Hoyer, Chicago stresses the preference of paying for future performance, and Imai, at 27 years old, presents the best opportunity for them to do so this offseason. Not to mention, signing him wouldn't require the Cubs to give him a draft pick.

Contract projections are still lofty for Imai, especially with Scott Boras handling his free agency. Beyond his ability to miss bats, Imai's pitch mix--led by a spitter/change combination--has many believing that the right pitching infrastructure could push him close towards being a top-of-the-rotation arm. In other words, Imai's ceiling is certainly higher than Imanaga's was when he signed with the Cubs, but he isn't the clear ace that Yamamoto's profile confirmed he would be.

In a world where Cade Horton cements his status as the Cubs' ace, and Jameson Taillon validates the second-half of his 2025 season, adding Imai to a rotation that will also include Matthew Boyd and a returning Justin Steele would be a strong offseason for the Cubs. Not to mention, it makes Imanaga, at the bottom of the rotation, less of a concern.