The Chicago Cubs came into the offseason needing to add to their pitching staff. They were able to retain Shota Imanaga on the qualifying offer after he opted out of his contract to begin the offseason. But the Cubs could dip back into free agency to improve their rotation even more.
There are a few quality options on the board, and the Cubs could be a fit for any of the top pitchers.
Pete Caldera of NorthJersey.com recently predicted the Cubs would land international free agent Tatsuya Imai this winter. Imai is projected to sign a massive $154 million deal, per Jim Bowden of The Athletic.
“Despite the interest in New York, L.A., and Boston, the market’s top Japanese pitcher lands in Chicago,” Caldera wrote.
This would be the perfect addition for the Cubs. Their rotation struggled a little bit last season, so improving that unit would be the top priority.
With Kyle Tucker likely to leave town in free agency, money shouldn’t be the issue for the Cubs signing Imai. They should be able to afford it, and it would give the international star a chance to dethrone the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Imai might not want to join a team with loads of Japanese talent, but having Imanaga in Chicago could bring some familiarity to the free agent righty. The fit makes perfect sense. Only time will tell if the Cubs will spend the money to make it happen.
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AloJapan.com