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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