The Chicago Cubs face a crossroads in their pitching rotation after Shota Imanaga's unexpected entry into free agency . The Japanese left-handed pitcher, who dazzled fans in his 2024 rookie season with a 2.91 ERA and Cy Young votes, saw his value decline significantly following a 3.73 ERA campaign in 2025 marred by home run issues and injuries. The organization's decision to decline his three-year, $57 million option indicates they believe reinforcements are necessary rather than banking on redemption from their former All-Star.

With Matthew Boyd and Jameson Taillon offering stability in the rotation, the Cubs now must aggressively pursue premier starting pitching talent to solidify their rotation for a World Series run. The free agent market presents several compelling options that c

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