Cubs Face Crunch Time in Deciding on Imanaga's Future
As the baseball offseason gears up, the Chicago Cubs are at a crossroads. The team must decide whether to extend a lucrative contract offer to Shota Imanaga or let him walk after just two seasons with the organization. The decision is complicated, and the consequences of choosing either option could have significant impacts on the team's future.
Imanaga, a starting pitcher, has been a key member of the Cubs' rotation since joining the team in 2024. However, his recent performance has raised questions about his long-term viability with the club. In the final stretch of the regular season and playoffs, Imanaga struggled to contain home runs, allowing 20 in his last 12 starts. This trend was particularly evident during the NLDS, where he gave up two home runs in a crucial Game Two start.
Despite this recent downturn, Cubs president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer remains optimistic about Imanaga's future with the team. "When we signed Shota, if you would have shown us his production over the last two years, you would have taken that in a heartbeat," Hoyer said. "So not only has he produced for us, but he's just a great teammate, a terrific asset to the organization."
However, Imanaga's struggles may have tempered Hoyer's enthusiasm for extending his contract. The three-year deal would cost the Cubs an additional $57 million, which could impact their approach to other free agents and key players like Kyle Tucker. Spotrac's payroll projections show the Cubs sitting below the first tier of the luxury tax threshold, but keeping Imanaga and Tucker would put a strain on their budget.
Hoyer acknowledges that he has decisions to make in the coming weeks, but remains committed to finding a solution that benefits both the team and Imanaga. "Obviously, we have discussions to make, and over the next two or three weeks, we'll do that," Hoyer said. "But I've got nothing but positive things to say about Shota."
The Cubs' front office will need to navigate this complex decision with care, as it not only affects Imanaga's future but also sets the tone for their offseason strategy. With a young and talented core in place, Chicago is poised for success, but the team cannot afford to make moves that compromise their long-term goals. As Hoyer and his staff weigh their options, they must balance the desire to keep key players with the need to manage the club's payroll and maintain competitiveness in a rapidly evolving baseball landscape.
As the baseball offseason gears up, the Chicago Cubs are at a crossroads. The team must decide whether to extend a lucrative contract offer to Shota Imanaga or let him walk after just two seasons with the organization. The decision is complicated, and the consequences of choosing either option could have significant impacts on the team's future.
Imanaga, a starting pitcher, has been a key member of the Cubs' rotation since joining the team in 2024. However, his recent performance has raised questions about his long-term viability with the club. In the final stretch of the regular season and playoffs, Imanaga struggled to contain home runs, allowing 20 in his last 12 starts. This trend was particularly evident during the NLDS, where he gave up two home runs in a crucial Game Two start.
Despite this recent downturn, Cubs president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer remains optimistic about Imanaga's future with the team. "When we signed Shota, if you would have shown us his production over the last two years, you would have taken that in a heartbeat," Hoyer said. "So not only has he produced for us, but he's just a great teammate, a terrific asset to the organization."
However, Imanaga's struggles may have tempered Hoyer's enthusiasm for extending his contract. The three-year deal would cost the Cubs an additional $57 million, which could impact their approach to other free agents and key players like Kyle Tucker. Spotrac's payroll projections show the Cubs sitting below the first tier of the luxury tax threshold, but keeping Imanaga and Tucker would put a strain on their budget.
Hoyer acknowledges that he has decisions to make in the coming weeks, but remains committed to finding a solution that benefits both the team and Imanaga. "Obviously, we have discussions to make, and over the next two or three weeks, we'll do that," Hoyer said. "But I've got nothing but positive things to say about Shota."
The Cubs' front office will need to navigate this complex decision with care, as it not only affects Imanaga's future but also sets the tone for their offseason strategy. With a young and talented core in place, Chicago is poised for success, but the team cannot afford to make moves that compromise their long-term goals. As Hoyer and his staff weigh their options, they must balance the desire to keep key players with the need to manage the club's payroll and maintain competitiveness in a rapidly evolving baseball landscape.
. If they go with the contract extension, it's gotta be worth it considering how good he's been so far. But on the other hand, keeping Tucker and dealing with the luxury tax is gonna hurt their chances in the long run 
. I'd say if they wanna stay competitive, they need to make a move but also keep an eye on their budget... can't have too much debt on their hands for baseball! 
so i think imanga should just chill out 4 now 
he had a decent 2 yrs but 20 home runs in last 12 starts tho? 
idk wut kind of pitching u r trying 2 do there fam 
cubs gotta make $$$ move or they'll b stuck w/ outdated roster 
maybe cubs should just trade imanga 4 some young prospects & call it a day 
does that mean his contract extension is just gonna be a bunch of cash if he can't throw strikes? like what would happen to the team if they just gave him a ton of money 
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. It's like when you're making life decisions - sometimes you gotta weigh your options and choose the one that'll lead to growth, even if it means stepping out of your comfort zone 
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if they offer him an extra 57 million it might be a bit too much. they gotta think about the future and not just keep him around cuz he's a great teammate 
being a key member of the cubs rotation but strugglin to contain home runs has gotta be really tough on him, especially with the pressure of bein a team leader 
meanwhile jed hoyer is tryin to navigate this super complex decision that affects not just imanaga but the whole team's future 
it's like, what's the right move here? 
keepin Imanaga on would cost a ton of money and impact other free agents, but lettin him go might hurt the team's chances in the long run 
. They're going back and forth on whether to keep Shota Imanaga or let him go, but really, it's just a numbers game at this point 
. "We would have taken him in a heartbeat" when he was first signed? Really? That sounds like just something they're saying to keep Imanaga happy, but it's not exactly reassuring 
. What if this is just the beginning of his decline and they need to cut their losses sooner rather than later? 
. maybe Hoyer should focus on getting the guy back to form instead of handing him a blank check?