Overview
- No final decision has been announced, and exercising the option would pay $20.25 million in 2026 and 2027 and $17.25 million in 2028, making Imanaga a free agent in 2029.
- If the club option is declined, Imanaga holds a $15.25 million player option for 2026, after which the sides could face a two-year, $42.5 million club option for 2027–28 or a one-year qualifying offer expected to exceed $22 million.
- Chicago is weighing Imanaga’s strong two-year body of work (120 ERA+ and top-12 ERA among pitchers with 50-plus starts since 2024) against a late-2025 downturn marked by a hamstring setback, increased home runs, and a modest velocity dip.
- Exercising the option would also trigger an estimated $8.55 million in additional payments to the Yokohama DeNA BayStars under a 15 percent posting-related provision.
- The outcome will shape the Cubs’ offseason payroll and rotation plans, with the team still prioritizing starting pitching in a high-cost market.