Overview
- Chicago declined a reported three-year club option worth roughly $57–$60 million, triggering a player option that Imanaga rejected to enter free agency.
- RJ Anderson of CBS Sports projects Imanaga will land a two-year, $50 million deal, though estimates vary across the market.
- The Dodgers are cited as an expected suitor for the 32-year-old, with other contenders also likely to inquire.
- Imanaga’s market value reflects a 2025 step back (3.73 ERA after a 2.91 ERA in 2024) tied to home-run issues and injuries.
- With a rotation hole to fill, media analyses urge the Cubs to pursue starters such as Dylan Cease (projected $200–$225 million), Framber Valdez (about five years, $115–$120 million), and Ranger Suárez (projected six years, $153 million).