The Chicago Cubs and left-hander Shota Imanaga each declined options on Tuesday that will result in Imanaga becoming a free agent when the market opens later this week.

Imanaga, 32, made the 2024 All-Star Game and finished fifth in National League Cy Young Award balloting last offseason. His second year stateside didn't go as smoothly. In 25 starts, he amassed a 103 ERA+ and a 4.50 strikeout-to-walk ratio -- both worse marks than he mustered in 2024. He also missed more than a month with a hamstring injury.

Around this time of the year, everyone is seeing a weathervane -- some sign of what's to come. Below, CBS Sports has attempted to explain both sides of the Imanaga decision, all the while assessing What It All Means.

1. Why would the Cubs decline Imanaga's option?

To understand

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