Top Landing Spots for Free Agent Shota Imanaga

Chicago Cubs

Qualifying offer aside, the Cubs need pitching this offseason. Behind Cade Horton and Matthew Boyd rests a trio of right-handers: Jameson Taillon, Colin Rea, and Javier Assad.

While all three had ERAs under four in 2025, Taillon and Assad combined for 30 starts. Additionally, the Cubs’ rotation is very right-handed heavy with no other moves. That, with some injury red flags throughout the rotation, makes them prime candidates to retain Imanaga.

They’re also familiar with the pitcher — how he operates, how he is within their pitching system and clubhouse culture. To an outsider, he appeared to really enjoy his two years in Chicago, and there’s reason to believe he gets another shot to rebound with them.

San Diego Padres

With recent news that right-hander Yu Darvish will miss all of 2026 as he recovers from arm surgery, the Padres have a need for starting pitchers.

Even if Darvish were healthy, they’d need another arm. Behind Nick Pivetta, their projected rotation is right-handers Joe Musgrove, Randy Vásquez, and Matt Waldron, as well as left-hander JP Sears. They need innings, as well as some pedigree, as they hope to close the gap between them and the two-time defending champion Los Angeles Dodgers.

Imanaga’s biggest red flag as a pitcher is the kind of contact he gives up. In 2025, he allowed 1.93 home runs per nine innings. That said, his home runs per fly ball rate only went up 1.4 percent.

Petco Park ranked 20th in ballpark factor for home runs last season. Case and point of the ballpark helping fly ball pitchers lies with Pivetta. After giving up 1.73 HR/9 in Boston in 2024, the right-hander gave up 1.09 in 2025 despite giving up fly balls at nearly the same frequency.

If the market is truly on the lighter side this winter, a team like the Padres make a lot of sense to swoop in on a two or three-year deal.

San Francisco Giants

The Giants’ situation is very similar to the Padres’ line of thinking except to an even greater degree.

Oracle Park was tied for 24th in ballpark factor for home runs in 2025. The flip side, however, is that it was very friendly to doubles and triples, so if Imanaga can’t find a way to limit loud contact, the size of the park won’t be as helpful to him.

The Giants are in a unique position with their rotation, though. They have an underrated one-two punch in Logan Webb and Robbie Ray; Landen Roupp had a solid first year as a big-league starter, and there promises to be opportunities for Hayden Birdsong and Carson Whisenhunt.

Even with the framework for a great rotation is there, most of the great rotation is theoretical — or far-sighted. The ceiling of that group is high, but the floor in 2026 isn’t so much. Imanaga showcased a high floor as he battled through injuries and declining stuff in 2025.

He could be an important piece that gets this team back to the postseason for the first time since 2021.

Houston Astros

Behind Hunter Brown and Framber Valdez, the Astros struggled to consistently produce quality starting pitching.

To make matters worse, Valdez is a free agent, and, despite him receiving the qualifying offer, there’s no guarantee he comes back. Houston, a team that already needed to address its rotation, has an even bigger need for pitching and therefore make a lot of sense for an arm like Imanaga.

As projected, the Astros’ rotation behind Brown is Cristian Javier, Lance McCullers Jr., Jason Alexander, and Spencer Arrighetti. While there’s some potential for that group to flourish, there’s a wide gap between floor and ceiling.

Philadelphia Phillies

Similar to the Astros, the Phillies are also down a lefty starter to begin the offseason.

With the uncertainty surrounding the future of Zack Wheeler’s health, plus Ranger Suarez testing free agency, there are potentially a couple rotation spots up for grabs in Philadelphia.

The main point of contention for team president Dave Dombrowski is their payroll. In addition to Suarez, designated hitter Kyle Schwarber is a free agent commanding a sizeable pay day this winter. Seeing as, even without Wheeler or Suarez, the Phillies still have Aaron Nola, Jesus Luzardo, and Christopher Sanchez at the top, with top prospect Andrew Painter in Triple-A, they may not need to prioritize adding a starter this winter.

That said, getting someone with pedigree to round out the rotation is something worth exploring. The Phillies may be one of the more battle-tested rosters in the game, but that’s partially the issue. There’s a lot of pressure on this organization to deliver a World Series, how willing are they to bank on unknowns getting them there?