The Chicago Cubs have sealed a deal with Japanese southpaw Shota Imanaga, as reported by Jon Heyman of the New York Post.
Shota Imanaga has a deal with the Cubs @BNightengale 1st
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) January 10, 2024
Imanaga’s arrival in MLB follows a successful eight-year stint in the Nippon Professional Baseball league, regarded as the world’s second-best circuit. Over these eight seasons, his performance featured a commendable 2.96 ERA, an impressive 3.93 K/BB ratio, and an average of more than one strikeout per inning. Nonetheless, his tendency to allow a relatively high number of home runs, by league standards, raises questions about his ability to mitigate power-hitting in the challenging environment of U.S. major leagues.
Heading into the offseason, CBS Sports ranked Imanaga as the 42nd most sought-after free agent. Recent assessments by CBS Sports underscored what sets Imanaga apart as an intriguing potential mid-rotation starter. Notably, Imanaga’s fastball, known for its natural “rising” action, has remained his primary weapon. This aligns well with MLB’s growing preference for pitchers capable of elevating their fastballs.
Imanaga’s repertoire also includes a low-80s slider, a pitch that generated nearly 40% swing-and-miss rates in the previous season. For context, this percentage would have positioned him in the top 10 among left-handed starters who threw at least 100 sliders during the 2023 campaign, outperforming established veterans like Chris Sale and Clayton Kershaw.
In accordance with the posting system for Japanese professionals transitioning to MLB, the Cubs will be required to pay a substantial posting fee to Imanaga’s former team, the Yokohama BayStars.
Entering the 2024 season, Imanaga will embark on his age-30 campaign, joining an emerging Cubs roster that is likely to incorporate him into a rotation featuring promising left-hander Justin Steele, along with established pitchers Kyle Hendricks and Jameson Taillon.