Latest expert predictions find very interesting use for Cubs' Shota Imanaga money

Even if Shota Imanaga accepts the qualifying offer the Chicago Cubs submitted on Thursday, the team still has plenty of room to operate this offseason. At the very least, that is nearly $45MM saved by the Cubs in not exercising the three-year, $57MM option that was in Imanaga's original deal with the team. And if Imanaga lands elsewhere, the Cubs have more than enough money to find an upgrade for his spot in the rotation.

MLB Trade Rumors released their expert free-agent predictions, and they have the Cubs replacing Imanaga with an interesting name. One of their experts has the Cubs signing former Philadelphia Phillies starting pitcher Ranger Suárez. As a whole, the projection for Suarez's contract was five years worth $115MM.

While that would require the Cubs reaching a level of free-agent spending for a starting pitcher they haven't gone to since Yu Darvish, Suárez profiles as a pitcher they often lean toward for their rotation. In 26 starts last season, Suárez posted a 3.20 ERA while striking out over 23% of the hitters he faced.

Suárez doesn't have an overpowering fastball, sitting at an average velocity under 93 mph, but he limits his walks and hard contact. With a career ground ball rate over 50%, the Cubs would likely point to their infield defense as the reason why he would be an excellent fit for their rotation.

Ranger Suárez has the profile of a pitcher the Chicago Cubs love to have but his contract projection likely will rule him out.

Suárez isn't the only big-ticket starting pitcher the Cubs are linked to. The Cubs, through various experts, are mentioned for Framber Valdez and Tatsuya Imai. The Cubs have already been linked to Dylan Cease this offseason, but the experts at MLB Trade Rumors don't believe they will be a team in on his sweepstakes.

If the Cubs do spend big on a starting pitcher, the guess here is that they would prefer Imai. Imai will turn 28 next May, and if the Cubs are going to shell out big money for a starting pitcher, it likely will be for a starting pitcher who hasn't reached 30 yet.

In a world where Imanaga accepts the Cubs' qualifying offer, despite the money they would still have available, it likely changes the calculus for the front office. Spending big on a starting pitcher almost certainly won't happen, but the team likely would still look to trade for a controllable top-of-the-rotation arm.