#shota-imanaga

#shota-imanaga

The Chicago Cubs declined to pick up a three-year option on Imanaga's contract, which triggered Imanaga's player option (which he also declined), officially making him a free agent. He went 9-8 with a 3.73 ERA across 25 starts in Chicago this past season. While the Blue Jays did use Eric Lauer and Easton Lucas as left-handed starters in 2025, the team spent most of the year without a consistent left-handed presence in the rotation.

Right-hander Shane Bieber made the surprising call to exercise his $16MM player option with the Blue Jays rather than take a $4MM buyout and head into free agency yesterday. It's a move that leaves the Toronto rotation in much better shape than previously anticipated headed into free agency, as Bieber will now join Kevin Gausman, Trey Yesavage, and Jose Berrios in the club's 2026 rotation.