For as much complaining as we've been doing over the failed pursuit of Dylan Cease by the Chicago Cubs there was one potential positive that surfaced from that saga. Sure, it's all talk and ultimately signing a top-tier player is what will matter, but it is encouraging that the Cubs were willing to dive into the $100 million+ range for a free agent.
I know, I know, we're talking about being excited over a big-market team considering a contract like that. Sucks, but these are the expectations we're left to work with when speculating what the Cubs will do in free agency and that brings us to their new focus, Japanese star Tatsuya Imai.
Again, it doesn't matter at the end because Cease signed with the Toronto Blue Jays, but the Cubs' interest was real until the bidding got to the $200 million range. It confirms an early report from The Athletic's Patrick Mooney back in November, when he mentioned that the Cubs would be exploring higher-tier starting pitchers in free agency. After the Cease fallout there was a sense that it must mean the Cubs should then be in on Imai and now we have Bruce Levine confirming that interest.
Imai, 27, is ranked No. 7, No. 5, and No. 20, in top-50 free agent lists by MLBTR, ESPN and FanGraphs, respectively. The hard-throwing righty is projected to command a contract worth between $20 million and $25 million per season over 6-8 years. Going after Imai and potentially signing him would likely represent the biggest free agent contract given by the Cubs to a pitcher since Yu Darvish's six-year, $120 million deal in 2018, and may approach Jon Lester's six-year, $155 million contract that was agreed to over a decade ago.
Tatsuya Imai contract projections
Kiley McDaniel (ESPN): 6 years, $135 million ($22.5 million AAV)
MLBTR: 6 years, $150 million ($25 million AAV)
Ben Clemens (FanGraphs): 5 years, $100 million ($20 million AAV)
Tim Britton (The Athletic): 8 years, $190 million ($23.75 million AAV)
Imai features a fastball that averages 97mph, a power arm that the Cubs simply have not had any of for several years. The 27-year-old pitcher was amazing in 2025, posting a 1.92 ERA with a 27.8 K% in 24 starts. The 5-foot-11, righty struck out 178 batters in 163.2 innings a year after striking out 187 batters in 173.1 innings during the 2024 season.
In addition to Levine's summation that the Cubs will be a strong player for Imai, national MLB reporter Ken Rosenthal along with Cubs beat reporter Patrick Mooney, specifically mentioned the Cubs as a potential suitor that should not be overlooked when discussing Imai's free agency earlier this week.
The Japanese pitcher does not a qualifying offer rejection attached to him and the penalties associated with the signing team, which makes Imai even more attractive for a suitor like the Cubs.
For the past few years in which the Cubs have returned to contention they've been able to get by with solid pitching, but this free agent market gives them the opportunity to make a drastic upgrade to their rotation. Cease is gone, but Imai would be one helluva consolation prize.
