Copyright Newsweek
Shōta Imanaga declined his player option with the Chicago Cubs after the team declined a club option to extend his deal through 2028. He is now a free agent. Imanaga's hitting the open market was a shocking development. He initially signed a four-year, $53 million deal with the Cubs before the 2024 season. The Cubs paid a $9.825 million posting fee to the Yokohama DeNA BayStars as well. The Cubs had the opportunity to exercise a club option that would trigger a three-year, $57.5 million extension, making Imanaga a Cub through 2028. Declining that option triggered a $15.25 million player option, which Imanaga declined. During the general manager meetings in Las Vegas, Cubs president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer spoke on the decision. "We value Shōta a ton,” Hoyer said in a clip posted by Marquee Sports Network on X. “He was amazing for us as a pitcher and as a teammate. I don’t want to close that door completely, but ultimately we didn’t think the club option was the right value, he didn’t think the player option was the right value and that happens.” The Cubs extended him a qualifying offer, but the two sides can still agree on a new deal. Imanaga is a great pitcher and could have plenty of suitors. He was an All-Star in 2024 and has a 3.28 ERA through 54 starts. Spotrac projects a four-year, $73 million deal for Imanaga.
