CHICAGO — The offseason has barely begun, yet heartbreak has already found its way into Wrigleyville. On Thursday morning, the Chicago Cubs confirmed that left-handed pitcher Shota Imanaga has officially opted out and entered free agency, ending his brief but unforgettable chapter with the team. But what stunned fans even more wasn’t the announcement itself — it was shortstop Dansby Swanson’s emotional message, one that perfectly captured what Imanaga meant to the clubhouse, and to the city that fell in love with him.
Imanaga, who joined the Cubs just two seasons ago from Japan’s Yokohama DeNA BayStars, quickly became a sensation — both for his fiery competitiveness and his quiet humility. In 2025, he delivered one of the best pitching seasons in Cubs history, posting a 2.93 ERA with 185 strikeouts and helping keep Chicago in playoff contention until the very end. His departure marks not just the loss of a frontline starter, but the end of an era defined by quiet brilliance and genuine connection.
For Swanson — a leader by nature, and one of the voices of the clubhouse — the goodbye hit hard.
“It’s tough,” Swanson admitted during a press conference. “Shota wasn’t just a teammate. He was a friend, a brother. The way he carried himself — the respect, the discipline, the joy — he made us all better, on and off the field.”
Swanson’s words resonated across social media, quickly going viral among Cubs fans who had grown attached to Imanaga’s calm smile and relentless spirit. It wasn’t just his dominance on the mound that earned him admiration — it was how he embraced the city. He learned English phrases to talk with fans, spent time at youth baseball clinics, and even joked with Chicago reporters about learning to love deep-dish pizza.
But behind the humor was a fierce competitor who never stopped striving for perfection.
“I remember one night in May,” Swanson said softly. “We’d just lost a tough game, and everyone was quiet. Shota stayed late, working on grips in the bullpen under the stadium lights. He said, ‘Tomorrow, I fix this.’ And the next day, he threw seven shutout innings. That’s who he is — pure heart.”
For the Cubs organization, Imanaga’s exit leaves a massive void in the rotation. President Jed Hoyer praised the pitcher’s professionalism, saying, “Shota brought everything we hoped for and more. We’ll always be grateful for his work ethic and the way he represented the Cubs brand.” But even with negotiations reportedly cordial, the reality is that Imanaga is now one of the most coveted arms on the market — and Chicago’s chances of bringing him back remain uncertain.
Inside the clubhouse, the mood was somber. Players lingered longer than usual, sharing stories about the man who, despite language barriers, seemed to connect with everyone. Swanson’s voice cracked when recalling Imanaga’s final day.
“He came around, shook every hand. Didn’t say much, just smiled. And then he said, ‘Thank you for believing in me.’ That’s Shota. Always humble, always grateful.”
Fans outside Wrigley Field have already begun leaving handwritten notes by the ivy wall — some in Japanese, others simply reading “Thank you, Shota.” It’s a scene that mirrors how deeply the lefty impacted Chicago’s baseball soul in such a short time.
For Swanson, this isn’t a farewell — it’s a promise.
“Wherever he goes, I’ll be rooting for him,” he said. “Because players like Shota remind you why you love this game. It’s not about contracts or wins. It’s about the people who give everything they have, every single day.”
And as the sun set over Wrigley, one thing felt clear: while Shota Imanaga may no longer wear a Cubs uniform, his spirit — quiet, relentless, and pure — will forever echo in the hearts of his teammates and the fans who watched him make Chicago his home.
Sometimes, even in baseball, goodbyes feel less like endings… and more like the start of something you never want to forget.
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