Two years later, Shota Imanaga is back on the market.

The Japanese left-hander entered free agency on Tuesday morning in a stunning divorce with the Chicago Cubs, after both parties declined their ends of his contract option, according to ESPN’s Jesse Rogers.

“The [Cubs] rejected their option to extend his contract out to a fifth year,” Rogers posted to X . “That triggered [Imanaga’s] ability to exercise a $15 million player option for 2026. He declined that as well.”

Chicago Cubs starter Shota Imanaga pitches during the first inning against the Milwaukee Brewers in Game 2 of the National League Division Series on October 06, 2025. Getty Images

Imanaga, 32, hits the open market just two years after the Cubs signed him from the Yokohama DeNa BayStars on a four-year, $53 million deal

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