Overview
- Jed Hoyer said the club was not blindsided by Shota Imanaga accepting the $22.025 million qualifying offer and called the outcome a positive that clarifies payroll and rotation planning.
- With Imanaga back, the Cubs are targeting one additional impact starter plus depth pieces, while preferring incremental bullpen additions but remaining open to a multi-year late-inning move.
- Cubs coaches and Imanaga have begun an offseason plan to address late-season delivery and velocity issues tied to his May hamstring injury, with Craig Counsell expressing optimism about a rebound.
- The current rotation framework lists Imanaga, Matthew Boyd, Jameson Taillon and Cade Horton, with Colin Rea as a swing option and Justin Steele expected to return in the first half rather than on opening day.
- Chicago continues to evaluate NPB and MLB options, with confirmed interest in Tatsuya Imai and reported links to others, while a potential target in Dylan Cease signed a seven-year deal with the Blue Jays.