Cubs Predicted To Add $154 Million Japanese Ace After Shota Imanaga Deal
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.
Dodgers linked to massive trade that would alter MLB landscape
The Los Angeles Dodgers are always a team to watch. Over the last couple of years, they have made multiple groundshaking moves that have shaken up the entire landscape of baseball.
Once again this offseason, the Dodgers are being viewed as a team that could do just that.
After winning their second straight World Series, the front office does not appear to be complacent. At the very least, the rumor mill has connected Los Angeles to multiple moves that would give the team an even better chance at a three-peat.
One of those moves could be a blockbuster trade for Detroit Tigers superstar ace pitcher Tarik Skubal.
ESPN's Jeff Passan and Kiley McDaniel took a look at 25 potential trade candidates across MLB. When it came to Skubal, the Dodgers were firmly listed as a team who could pull off a trade for him.
"Despite several executives believing Skubal will move, the Tigers have shown no sign of deviating from their position that the back-to-back American League Cy Young winner will stay in Detroit," they wrote. "Though he's a free agent after 2026 and contract extension discussions have gone nowhere, Skubal is the Tigers' centerpiece player, and Detroit intends to contend again next season."
It's possible that the Tigers simply decide to keep him in town. But, if they think that they could lose him for nothing, a trade would make much more sense.
During the 2025 MLB season in Detroit, Skubal made 31 starts. He compiled a 13-6 record to go along with a 2.21 ERA, a 0.89 WHIP, a 7.3 K/BB ratio, and 195.1 innings completed.
Adding that kind of a presence to the Los Angeles rotation would be unfair. The Dodgers would be viewed as close to a lock for a third straight championship.
Expect to continue hearing rumors pertaining to both Los Angeles and Skubal. Should the Tigers actually make him readily available, the Dodgers seem to be a very logical choice to end up landing him.
