Underrated NPB star pitcher could be a sneaky good low-cost Cubs fit this offseason

If the Chicago Cubs are going to get back into the Japanese market, 2026 is the year to strike. An impressive wave of NPB talent is expected this offseason, with the two names getting most of the attention being reigning MVP and Triple Crown-winning slugger Teruaki Sato and Seibu Lions star pitcher Kaima Taira. We've discussed both at length already and, while there's a case for either as targets for the front office, Taira, in particular, stands out as exactly what the rotation needs, with a high-90s fastball, a ground-ball rate north of 50%, and the ability to keep the ball in the yard.

More than anything, with Seiya Suzuki and Shota Imanaga both unlikely to return next year, it's important to keep the international pipeline open given how many stars make the jump every season. Beyond Taira and Sato, the Cubs might also have interest in arms like Hiromi Itoh and Hiroto Saiki for their rotation. The former has been a durable ace who just last year won the Sawamura Award after throwing nearly 200 innings with a 2.52 ERA, while the latter posted ERAs below two every year from 2022 through 2025.

Jed Hoyer needs to land a true front-of-the-rotation arm this offseason in one way or another. With a rotation that'll be riddled with holes thanks to free agency, however, he should also be casting a wide net for pitching help. In that case, there's a more underrated name eyeing a move to MLB that should be on their radar — Kona Takahashi.

Last year, Takahashi nearly joined the league via the international posting system, though he ultimately eschewed three offers from major league teams to return to the Seibu Lions. Heading into his age-30 season, however, he's eligible for full international free agency, and all indications are that he's inclined to try again. This time, he's also coming off a better season with some notable changes to his game.

In 138 1/3 innings in 2026, the right-hander posted a 2.54 ERA and 3.35 FIP while also putting up the best strikeout rate of his career at 20.7%. Swing-and-miss isn't necessarily his specialty, though. For his career, he's only sat down 17.5% of the batters he's faced, which falls below the NPB average. His stuff is nothing spectacular on paper, either, with a fastball clocking in at the low 90s. In other words, Takahashi is not exactly the obvious ace the Cubs need.

Kona Takahashi fits the mold of past Cubs' successes

However, he does have tools that the Cubs would value. This past season, the hurler's ground-ball rate spiked to 58.5%, close to what noted ground-ball demon Clay Holmes did this year at 60.7%, and comes in well over David Peterson's 50.8% this year. More importantly, it coincided with a few changes to his arsenal, namely the scrapping of his curveball in exchange for throwing a sinker and slider more consistently. He's always been great at keeping the ball on the ground, but he leaned into his strengths to great effect this year.

On top of everything, Takahashi's been stellar at preventing home runs throughout his career, which would come in handy for a team that ended with the second-most long balls surrendered. Everything suggests that his profile would play up in the Cubs' rotation. Alternatively, some scouts have mentioned a move to the bullpen might be best for his career, and even then, Hoyer should give him strong consideration. His lack of obvious stuff means he's not expected to make much coming over to the States, which makes adding him in front of an infield with three Gold Glove winners seem even more reasonable.

All of this comes with the obvious caveat that he absolutely should not be the big pitching signing next year's team relies on. If Takahashi were the third new arm for the rotation, though, he'd be an interesting addition that, like Peterson before him, would be a bet on how well he plays up in the Cubs' defense. In a year when there are so many open rotation spots and the pitchers the team has are full of question marks, he's the type of lower-cost signing they should be eyeing — one that fits their strengths without preventing a much bigger move at the very top.

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