Shota Imanaga Scouting Report: Cubs Add Key Piece To Rotation

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After a quiet start to the offseason, the Cubs made their first big move of the winter on Tuesday.

The Cubs have reached an agreement to sign Japanese lefthander Shōta Imanaga, according to USA Today’s Bob Nightengale and the New York Post’s Jon Heyman. Imanaga, 30, is the first free agent signed by the Cubs this offseason.

Imanaga went 64-50, 3.18 in eight seasons with Yokohama in Nippon Professional Baseball and led the Central League with 174 strikeouts last season. He started and won the gold-medal game of the 2023 World Baseball Classic with two innings pitched, one run allowed and a pair of strikeouts against Team USA.

He will join Kyle Hendricks, Justin Steele, Jameson Taillon and Jordan Wicks in the Cubs rotation. Below is a full scouting report:

Shota Imanaga, LHP

Born: Sept. 1, 1993. B-T: L-L. HT: 5-10. WT: 190.

Track Record: Imanaga starred as one of Japan’s top college pitchers at Komazawa University and was drafted by Yokohama in the first round in 2015. He made his NPB debut one year later and quickly emerged as one of Japan’s preeminent lefthanders. Imanaga posted a 3.18 ERA over eight seasons with the BayStars, pitched a no-hitter in 2022 and led the Central League with 174 strikeouts in 2023. He started for Japan against Team USA in the gold-medal game of the 2023 World Baseball Classic and pitched two innings to earn the win while striking out Paul Goldschmidt and Cedric Mullins.

Scouting Report: Imanaga is a crafty lefthander with a good feel for pitching. His fastball sits 89-93 mph with solid riding life as a starter and touches 94-95 in short bursts. His main secondary pitch is an above-average, 82-85 mph splitter with late cut that induces ground balls. Imanaga’s success in MLB will hinge largely on the development of his slider. It’s currently a fringy offering at 80-83 mph that stays on one plane and gets barreled in the strike zone. He’s flashed the ability to throw it firmer and get chase swings, but it needs improvement to become an average pitch. He also has a below-average, 71-74 mph curveball he’ll throw as a change-of-pace offering. Imanaga mostly throws to his glove-side and can get one-sided in his repertoire, but he mixes and matches well to keep opponents off-balance. He has above-average control and keeps everything around the plate.

The Future: Imanaga’s feel for pitching gives him a chance to be a No. 4 or 5 starter. He may fit best as a swingman or bulk reliever on a contending team.

BA Grade: 50/Medium

Scouting Grades

Fastball: 50. Curveball: 40. Slider: 45. Splitter: 55. Control: 55