The relationship between Shu014dta Imanaga and the Cubs started off better than expected, but ended far more abruptly than anticipated. What looked like an absolute steal by Jed Hoyer when he signed Imanaga to a complex four-year, $53 million contract has ended after just two years and $23 million. That’s because, as Jesse Rogers first reported, both parties have declined their respective options to keep the lefty in Chicago.
We covered the various contractual loopholes a little while back, but let’s recap quickly. The Cubs had the first choice, which was whether or not to exercise an option for three years and $57 million.