The destination of Japanese pitcher Shota Imanaga (30), who is attempting to advance to the Major League Baseball (MLB), has been decided to be the Chicago Cubs.
Foreign media, including USA Today reporter Bob Nightingale, said on the 10th (Korean time), “The Chicago Cubs have tentatively agreed to a contract with Japanese pitcher Imanaga,” and added
It will be officially announced once Imanaga passes the medical test that will be held in Chicago on the 12th.” reported. 먹튀검증사이트
The specific terms of the contract are not yet known, but according to local media, Imanaga’s contract total is expected to exceed $100 million (approximately KRW 131.7 billion).
Imanaga played for the Yokohama DeNA Baystars of the Japanese Professional Baseball League from 2016 to last year, recording a total of 64 wins, 50 losses, and an ERA of 3.18 in 165 games.
Last year, he went 7-4 in 22 games, striking out 174 batters in 148 innings. He was also selected for the Japan baseball team and helped win the 2023 World Baseball Classic (WBC).
Imanaga, who announced a posting (private bidding) to 30 MLB teams on November 28 last year, successfully signed a contract with the Cubs before the morning deadline of today, the 12th.
Until the day before, Imanaga was likely to go to the San Francisco Giants, where Lee Jeong-hoo (25) had transferred, but on this day, the situation took a sharp turn.
Before announcing the news of Imanaga’s contract, John Heyman, a columnist for the New York Post, said, “San Francisco and Imanaga have given up on recruiting him,” and “the Cubs and Red Sox are actively moving to bring in Imanaga.”
In the end, it appears that the Chicago Cubs won their final competition with the Boston Red Sox.
The Chicago Cubs, where Japanese outfielder Seiya Suzuki plays, succeeded in strengthening their strength for the first time in this Stove League with the signing of Imanaga.
The Cubs are expected to build a five-man rotation this season, led by Imanaga, with Kyle Hendrix, Justin Steele, Jameson Tyon, and Javier Assad.