In a stunning twist that sent shockwaves through the baseball world, Shōta Imanaga, the Japanese left-hander who became the soul of the Chicago Cubs’ rotation in 2025, has officially declared free agency after opting out of his complex contract worth up to $54 million. The news hit fans like a fastball to the gut — not because it was entirely unexpected, but because of what he said right after.
“No matter where I go, Chicago will always be in my heart,” Imanaga told reporters in a trembling voice, standing at the edge of Wrigley Field one last time. “This city taught me more than baseball. It taught me belonging.”
Imanaga, 31, arrived in Chicago as an underdog — overshadowed by Shohei Ohtani’s megadeal in Los Angeles and doubted by skeptics who saw him as a mid-rotation import at best. But by the end of the 2025 season, he had silenced every critic.
His 2.81 ERA, 208 strikeouts, and a WAR above 5.0 turned him into the Cubs’ unexpected ace, their quiet warrior in a season defined by turbulence. Fans called him “The Windy City Samurai.”
Yet, despite his dominance, the contract he signed last winter carried layers of mutual options — a ticking time bomb of business and belief. The Cubs reportedly declined their portion of a $54 million club option, and Imanaga followed suit by opting out of his own $15 million player option, choosing to test the open market as one of baseball’s most intriguing free agents.
But this decision, insiders say, wasn’t about money.
It was about heart.
Those who know Imanaga describe him as deeply spiritual, a player driven by loyalty and meaning as much as by competition. “He wanted assurance that the organization was fully committed to building around him,” a Cubs source revealed. “When he felt that wasn’t guaranteed, he decided to bet on himself — again.”
Outside Wrigley, fans gathered with signs reading “Thank You, Shota” and “Once a Cub, Always a Cub.” Some wept as he stopped briefly to sign baseballs and jerseys. “You gave us hope when we had none,” one fan shouted through tears. Imanaga simply smiled, bowed, and said softly, “I will never forget this love.”
Analysts already predict a bidding war for his services. The Dodgers, Giants, and even his hometown Yokohama DeNA BayStars are rumored to be preparing offers north of $80 million. But even amid the frenzy, the moment felt strangely quiet — as if everyone, from fans to executives, understood that something much deeper had just ended.
For the Cubs, it’s another chapter closing in a painful cycle of rebuilds and heartbreaks. For Imanaga, it’s the start of a journey that could redefine his legacy on a global scale.
As the night fell over Wrigley, he turned one last time toward the stands, eyes glistening under the floodlights.
“If this is goodbye,” he whispered, “then thank you for giving me a home I never knew I needed.”
And with that, Shōta Imanaga — the humble ace who once walked into Chicago as a stranger — walked out as a legend.
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