The Chicago Cubs could soon regret not being more aggressive in the Tatsuya Imai sweepstakes. The Japanese star recently shocked many around Major League Baseball by agreeing to a three-year, $54 million contract with the Houston Astros. Imai, however, could eventually earn up to $63 million in Texas if certain bonuses are met.
While the Cubs missed out on the pitcher, MLB insider Mark Feinsand is claiming that Chicago was interested in him. After all, Imai was widely seen as a top-ten free agent in the sport after putting up impressive numbers in Japan. The starter posted a 1.92 ERA to go along with 178 strikeouts in 163.2 innings with the Seibu Lions in 2025.
Despite this interest, Feinsand does not believe that the Cubs will now target another top free agent pitcher going forward. “A number of clubs were interested in Imai to varying degrees, but the Cubs seem to have been the most aggressive suitor after the Astros,” claimed the reporter.
“That doesn’t mean Chicago will now pivot to one of the other top free-agent starters, as Ranger Suarez and Framber Valdez figure to cost significantly more than Imai — who will earn between $18 million and $21 million in each of the next three seasons, depending on performance bonuses and can opt out after 2026 and 2027.”
Chicago Cubs Miss Out on Team-Friendly Imai Deal
GettyThe Chicago Cubs have made starting pitching a top priority during the offseason.
Imai’s contract with Houston would appear to be a solid deal for the team. According to ESPN, Valdez’s upcoming contract could reach $28 million per season. Suarez, on the other hand, is predicted to earn around $23 million annually with a new team. Imai’s figure in the $20 million range would signify a bit of discount. This is because all three pitchers were regularly seen as in the same category by most experts.
Feinsand’s new prediction will likely not go down well in Chicago. After all, the club is in desperate need of quality starting pitching in 2026. It was revealed in November that team officials specifically labeled improving the rotation as a key priority. These execs even believe that the club fell short in the 2025 playoffs due to a lack of top starters.
On top of missing out on Imai, the Cubs are also losing Kyle Tucker. The free agent was arguably Chicago’s best overall player in 2025 and is almost certain to sign with another team this winter. Tucker is the consensus top free agent in baseball.
Cubs Likely to Target Former Diamondbacks Ace
Although the Cubs may not target Valdez or Suarez, Feinsand believes that they will ultimately sign a new pitcher. The insider claims that Zac Gallen would be a “better fit” than the aforementioned star duo. Gallen experienced a down year in 2025, posting an unimpressive 4.83 ERA, 1.26 WHIP, and 1.1 WAR.
Nevertheless, the starter was previously an All-Star and three-time Cy Young candidate with the Arizona Diamondbacks between 2020 and 2023. He led MLB with a 0.91 WHIP and 5.9 hits per nine innings in a dominant 2022 season. Along with Gallen, Lucas Giolito, Chris Bassitt, and Zack Littell could also become potential targets for the Cubs.
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