Shota Imanaga’s surprise contract decision sparks blunt response from Cubs insider

The last image of Shota Imanaga in a Chicago Cubs uniform may be when he was getting yakatowed against the Milwaukee Brewers in Game 2 of the NLDS against the Milwaukee Brewers. It was an outing that confirmed the fears Cubs fans had throughout the final weeks of the regular season when Imanaga was prone to giving up the home-run ball. The Cubs' rejecting the three-year club option wasn't all that surprising, nor was Imanaga's gamble that he could land more on the free-agent market.

There is another decision the Cubs face when it comes to Imanaga. Imanaga is eligible to receive the qualifying offer before becoming a free agent on Thursday, and it's the equivalent of a one-year deal worth $22.025MM. That would be the reason why Imanaga turned down the $15MM player option, but it's not a given that the Cubs extend the qualifying offer to the pitcher who was their de facto ace to open the season.

Cubs insider reacts to Shota Imanaga’s contract twist fans aren’t ready to hear

Considering the Cubs front office always has one eye on the future, it would make sense for them to attach the qualifying offer to Imanaga's free agency. If Imanaga signs elsewhere, the Cubs would gain draft pick compensation.

The other side of the coin is that despite the Cubs having nearly $100MM in payroll space this offseason, there is still a question of how much they will be able to spend this offseason. As Levine suggested, the Cubs may not want to take the chance that Imanaga accepts the offer, and then they immediately lose over $22MM in flexibility this offseason.

If the Cubs weren't afraid to spend money this season, the decision with Imanaga would look like a no-brainer. With Framber Valdez, Dylan Cease, Ranger Suarez, and Michael King among the available pitchers in this offseason's free-agent class, the Cubs could easily find two options who would be clear upgrades over the version of Imanaga they saw to close out the 2025 season.

The decision with Imanaga was always going to be complicated, and they now find themselves in a position where they can't take a half-measure to address their needs in the rotation. Finding gold in Matthew Boyd was a risk that paid off for Jed Hoyer and Co., but this offseason, they'd better find a sure thing. Especially if they are of the belief that Imanaga is not a clear answer for their pitching depth.