Another intriguing starting pitcher becomes free agent

Imanaga now joins what has become a fascinating class of free-agent pitchers — good news for the Braves, who are desperate for some stability in their rotation.

He may not be a true ace, but across two seasons with the Cubs, he made 54 starts and posted a 3.28 ERA. Still, there are some concerning trends that likely made Chicago hesitant to commit long-term. His strikeout rate dropped by nearly five percent this year, and he gave up home runs at an unsustainable clip for a frontline starter — 1.9 per nine innings.

Those red flags will make his market one of the more interesting to follow this offseason. The Braves rarely spend big on free-agent pitching, but a short-term deal in the $15-20 million AAV range would align perfectly with their typical spending habits.