Projecting a 2026 Cubs starting rotation if latest Tatsuya Imai rumor materializes

In the aftermath of the Winter Meetings, the Chicago Cubs are still in need of a top-of-the-rotation starting pitcher. The good news is that outside of Dylan Cease, all of the Cubs' offseason targets remain available.

There figures to be some movement this week as Japanese free-agent starting pitcher Tatsuya Imai is expected to begin meeting with teams. The Cubs will likely be among the teams to meet with the 27-year-old starting pitcher, and that could be part of the reason for their inactivity last week.

Imai projects to receive a contract that exceeds $100 million, and that could explain why the North Siders have opted to avoid signing a lesser option, like Zac Gallen, until they have a resolution on this front.

Projecting a 2026 Cubs starting rotation if the latest Tatsuya Imai rumor materializes

If the Cubs land Imai, it certainly would change the look of their rotation. His arrival would give the Cubs the swing-and-miss pitcher they have been looking for, but would also allow them to be cautious with Justin Steele's return.

Cade Horton

Had it not been for a rib injury to close out the regular season, Cade Horton likely would have been the Cubs' Game 1 starter against the San Diego Padres in the National League Wild Card round. A finalist for the National League Rookie of the Year Award, it would seem that Horton has a strong chance to open his first full season at the major league level as the Cubs' Opening Day starter.

Tatsuya Imai

Tatsuya Imai would certainly arrive with the expectation of becoming the Cubs' ace by the end of his first season in Chicago. That said, it would seem unlikely for Craig Counsell to roll out the Opening Day treatment for his first career start.

Matthew Boyd

Matthew Boyd will be pitching for Team USA in the World Baseball Classic, and considering how he ran out of gas near the end of his first season with the Cubs, it would seem likely that Chicago looks to preserve him as much as possible during the opening months of the season.

Jameson Taillon

It was an inconsistent start to last season for Jameson Taillon, but through the use of his "kick change" grip, he emerged as the leader of the Cubs' rotation by the end of the year when Horton and Justin Steele were on the IL.

Shota Imanaga

As long as Imai is in the Cubs' rotation, fans likely would no longer take issue with the fact that Shota Imanaga is making over $22 million next season. Given how last season ended, Imanaga can't be viewed as the top-of-the-rotation he was when he started his career with the Cubs. If the Cubs can fix him, there would be great value.

This rotation doesn't include Steele, who is expected to return at some point during the first half of the season. Once he does, it would seem likely that the Cubs move to a six-man rotation of some sort.