The Chicago Cubs just gifted the SF Giants an All-Star starting pitcher

The SF Giants are in need of starting pitching this offseason and they were just given a gift by the Chicago Cubs who declined their option on left-handed starter Shota Imanaga. He is now a perfect free agent target for the Giants.

Imanaga signed with Chicago out of Japan ahead of the 2024 season. His contract included a strange option structure in which the Cubs could exercise a three-year, $52 million option after 2025 and if they did not pick that up then Imanaga could exercise a $15 million player option for 2026 but he declined his option as well.

SF Giants have been gifted a starting pitcher by the Chicago Cubs

This mutual parting of ways does not come as a huge shock after Imanaga struggled in the second half of 2025 for Chicago. He had a 4.70 ERA after the All-Star break in 2025 compared to a 2.65 ERA in the first half. Part of that may have had to do with a hamstring strain, but his strikeout rate declined in 2025 while his home run rate increased which are not great signs.

2024 was a great rookie campaign for Imanaga who pitched for many years in Japan before making his MLB debut. He was an All-Star in 2024 and recorded a 2.91 ERA in 29 starts and 173 and 1/3 innings pitched.

His overall numbers in 2025 were not terrible as he had a 3.73 ERA in 25 starts, but the 117 strikeouts in 144 and 2/3 innings is a bit concerning especially given the fact he gave up 31 home runs on the year.

The Giants were connected to Imanaga when he was first posted prior to signing with the Cubs so it would not be a huge shock if they made a play for him this time around. President of baseball operations Buster Posey made a stealthy trip to Japan earlier this year to remain involved in the Japanese market, but maybe a Japanese pitcher with a few seasons of MLB experience under his belt would be a better bet.

Imanaga did just turn 32 so he is not a spring chicken, but he would make a lot of sense for the Giants on a two or three year contract. Maybe a three-year deal in the $50-60 million range would make sense and would not go over the nine-figure line in the sand that Giants chairman Greg Johnson has already drawn.

Imanaga would be a solid third starter in the rotation for the Giants behind Logan Webb and Robbie Ray and would go a long way towards stabilizing the rotation for 2026.