A year ago, everyone would have agreed that the Cubs would jump on the opportunity to exercise their three-year, $57 million option on Shu014dta Imanaga this offseason. The deal he signed prior to the 2024 season guaranteed him the potential to earn $53 million over four years, but the actual value is contingent upon several potential decisions by both club and player. The first of those will come with the official start of the offseason, and it could set in motion a series of dominoes.
The cleanest and simplest path forward would be for the Cubs to exercise their club option, thus guaranteeing Imanaga $80 million over five years.