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The Chicago Cubs made a surprising choice on Tuesday by declining their club option to extend left-hander Shota Imanaga’s contract for three additional seasons, which triggered his $15 million player option for 2026 — an option he chose not to exercise, making him a free agent.
The news was reported by ESPN’s Jesse Rogers.
Imanaga went 15-3 with a 2.91 ERA in 173.1 innings during a spectacular rookie season in 2024, finishing fifth in the National League Cy Young Award voting and fourth in the NL Rookie of the Year Award. He was unable to replicate that success in 2025, going 9-8 with a 3.73 ERA over 144.2 innings in 25 starts.
Imanaga’s postseason performance, along with a potentially exorbitant price tag, could also justify the Cubs’ decision not to retain him. The 32-year-old had an 8.10 ERA in 6.2 innings during the 2025 playoffs.
