Potential landing spot for Cubs All-Star ace Shota Imanaga could be “nightmare scenario” for Chicago fans originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The Chicago Cubs have pretty much parted ways with their former ace Shota Imanaga, as he declined his player option and tests free agency. However, that may lead to a nightmare scenario for the Cubs fandom.
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Fansided’s Chris Landers believes that a top landing spot for Imanaga could be the Cubs’ eternal rivals, the St. Louis Cardinals. The Cards need a pitcher who can eat innings and will be relatively low-cost, which Imanaga can do.
“The St. Louis Cardinals don’t figure to be major players in free agency as they begin a retooling under Chaim Bloom. That said, they do need pitching, and while preferably that pitching would be younger and more cost-controlled than someone like Imanaga, the fact of the matter is that young, cost-controlled pitchers aren’t exactly easy to come by. Someone’s going to have to eat up innings, and Imanaga would fit well in one of the friendlier ballparks around for fly-ball pitchers. Plus, his down end to 2025 could keep his price reasonable, allowing the Cardinals to pounce on a low-risk deal that they can always flip for value at the trade deadline,” Landers wrote.
This past season, Imanaga had a slight step back from his rookie season, finishing with a record of 9-8, an ERA of 3.73, 117 Ks, and a WHIP of 0.998 in 144 innings pitched. However, for the Cards, this would be just fine.
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Hopefully, Imanaga goes somewhere else or finds his way home on a team-friendly deal. Otherwise, it will be bittersweet for Cubs fans when they see their old ace on their rivals’ team.
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