Cubs reportedly land Shota Imanaga in massive free agency splash originally appeared on NBC Sports Chicago
The Chicago Cubs have finally struck pay dirt on the free agent market, reportedly agreeing to a contract with Japanese pitching star Shota Imanaga.
Imanaga, whose posting window was set to close this week, is expected to undergo a physical in Chicago on Thursday to finalize the deal, according to USA Today’s Bob Nightengale.
Imanaga was one of the biggest prizes left on the free agent market after Yoshinobu Yamamoto signed a deal with the Los Angeles Dodgers earlier in the offseason.
In 24 games in Japan last season, Imanaga posted a 7-5 record and a 2.66 ERA, with 188 strikeouts in 159 innings.
He will provide an immediate boost to a Cubs rotation that lost Marcus Stroman this offseason, pairing with Justin Steele as a potent 1-2 punch atop that group of starters.
The timing of Imanaga’s physical could also allow him to appear at the team’s annual fan convention, which is set to begin Friday.
