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Looking at what Cubs are getting in 'Throwing Philosopher' Imanaga

The Chicago Cubs had been quiet thus far in the off-season, but that changed with the club's reported signing of Japanese left-hander Shota Imanaga on Tuesday. Nicknamed the "Throwing Philosopher," the 30-year-old arrives in MLB following an impressive eight-year stint with the Yokohama BayStars of Nippon Professional Baseball.

He won't provide the same impact as fellow Japanese hurler Yoshinobu Yamamoto, who signed with the Los Angeles Dodgers, but nonetheless, Imanaga profiled as the second-best international pitcher on the market and should be a productive add to the Cubs' pitching staff.

Here's a closer look at the deal and what it means.

The deal: Imanaga and the Cubs agreed to an intriguing contract loaded with incentives, according to reports. Jim Bowden of CBS Sports pegged the deal as "something close" to two years and $30 million, noting it could grow to four years, $60 million or even as high as $80 million. Jon Heyman of The New York Post also reported the contract is "complicated" and corroborated that it could reach as high as $80 million.

The runners-up: The San Francisco Giants, Los Angeles Angels and Boston Red Sox were all said to be involved in talks for Imanaga. The New York Yankees had reportedly expressed interest earlier in the off-season before shying away.

The player: Imanaga earned his nickname through his unique interviews with Japanese media. He fits into the mould of a crafty left-hander with a fastball that ranges from 91-94 m.p.h. but plays well due to its spin rates and high ride. He pairs that with an effective splitter that’s helped him rack up strikeouts. He posted a 2.80 ERA across 148 innings last season and led the Japan Central League with 174 strikeouts. Imanaga walked just 24 batters, underlining his elite ability to attack the strike zone.

Like Yamamoto, Imanaga is listed at five-foot-10, a talking point that will likely surround him until he proves himself in the majors. The main flaw to his game seems to be his penchant for surrendering home runs. A flyball pitcher, Imanaga allowed 17 long balls during the 2023 campaign — the second most in his league.

That might have impacted the interest he garnered among MLB clubs. The Yankees, for instance, determined Imanaga would not be a good fit for their ballpark, according to Randy Miller of the Newark Star-Ledger.

The fit: Right-hander Marcus Stroman opted out of the final year of his contract with the Cubs, making him a free agent. While he could still return to the Cubs, their signing of Imanaga helps fortify a group that also includes Justin Steele, Kyle Hendricks and Jameson Taillon as rotation locks.

Some evaluators peg Imanaga as a potential mid-rotation starter, while others view him as more of a No. 4 or 5 arm. While that could be true, there also seems to be potential for upside with the left-hander, who will be entering his age 30 season in 2024.

The Cubs posted an 83-79 record last season, finishing second in the National League Central and just one game out of the third wild-card spot. The signing of Imanaga is important as it signals the club is still looking to contend and that can be further underscored by a potential signing of free agent outfielder Cody Bellinger, whom the club reportedly still covets.

The market: MLB Trade Rumors predicted Imanaga would fetch a contract worth five years and $85 million. Based on early reports, he appears to have not beat that in terms or dollars.

The next domino: Fellow left-handers Blake Snell and Jordan Montgomery remain on the board and figure to be more in focus to clubs hoping to land impact starting pitchers.

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