Shota Imanaga's shocking contract decision has a hidden benefit for the Cubs

Shota Imanaga has reached free agency after two seasons with the team. Although the news may sting a bit, it's not all bad from either party's perspective. While both the Cubs and Imanaga have declined their respective options, that doesn't mean that the two sides won't come to terms on a new deal. At the very least, the Cubs could extend a qualifying offer to Imanaga of $22.025MM. Qualifying offer decisions are due by Thursday.

Making this move would also tie Imanaga to draft pick compensation. Meaning, if he rejects the Cubs' qualifying offer, the Cubs will receive draft picks from the team that ends up signing him, which will be calculated depending on the payroll of the team that inks him.

Despite his struggles in the back half of the season and in the playoffs, Imanaga should have no problem finding a team that will give him a multi-year contract, so he will almost certainly reject the Cubs' qualifying offer if they extend it to him. This will give the Cubs something instead of letting Imanaga walk for nothing.

How will the Cubs replace Imanaga?

The question is what the Cubs are planning to do with the starting rotation. They clearly were unwilling to roll the dice on Imanaga for three more years, which is understandable given his signs of regression this season. With Imanaga gone, the Cubs' projected rotation figures to be some configuration of Cade Horton, Matthew Boyd, Jameson Taillon, and Colin Rea, with Javier Assad and Ben Brown options as well. Justin Steele is also scheduled to return from his elbow surgery at some point in the first half.

But we know that teams need extensive pitching depth if they are going to succeed in the regular season and the playoffs, so signing a starting pitcher should be a priority this offseason. The Cubs' payroll after Imanaga's departure and arbitration hearings is projected to be just shy of $170 million, which is fairly low by their own standards.

The team has money to spend and good free agent starting pitchers to target. The stage is set for the team to replace Imanaga's flyball-heavy arsenal with a more strikeout-reliant power arm like Dylan Cease, Michael King, or Zac Gallen.