Free agency update pushes Cubs closer to replacing Shota Imanaga — with a catch

While Shota Imanaga has until November 18 to decide if he is going to accept the qualifying offer from the Chicago Cubs, there continues to be an impression that the two sides will go in different directions this offseason. One potential replacement for Imanaga in the Cubs' rotation was confirmed for free agency on Monday.

The Seibu Tigers approved Tatsuya Imai's request to be posted this winter, confirming that the 27-year-old starting pitcher will be eligible to sign with a Major League Baseball team. Once Imai is officially posted, he will have a 45-day negotiating window. As is the growing trend with overseas pitchers making the jump to Major League Baseball, Imai projects on the higher end of this offseason's free-agent class.

Though Imai's profile isn't quite as high as Yoshinobu Yamamoto's was when he signed with the Los Angeles Dodgers. Current projections suggest Imai could be in line to receive a contract worth $190MM.

Tatsuya Imai is a clear offseason target for the Chicago Cubs but there are two major obstacles in their way.

In a world where Imai's prices fall below the asking price of Dylan Cease and Framber Valdez, it seems that the Cubs will be interested. However, for a franchise that has yet to sign a contract worth over $200MM and, as a whole, shies away from long-term deals with starting pitchers, it seems that there is a clear path for Imai to be priced out of the Cubs' reach.

Along those lines, there is already an expectation that the New York Yankees are the favorite to sign Imai. The Yankees have been linked to Imai throughout the season, and if motivated, could easily outbid the Cubs. Complicating matters even further for the Cubs is that Imai will be represented by Scott Boras.

While the Cubs and Boras found common ground on Cody Bellinger's creative three-year deal before the 2024 season, the team has often shied away from working with the super agent. Bellinger's return to the Cubs was an exception, considering his market completely bottomed out.

It doesn't feel like that will be the outcome for Imai this offseason. Pitching is always at a premium, and when in doubt, teams will overpay. That will force the Cubs to likely target the middle tier of free-agent pitchers, with the goal being to find a controllable ace through the trade market.