The Chicago Cubs have identified a critical need for their upcoming campaign: securing a top-tier starting pitcher. With injuries sidelining key arms like Justin Steele, who is expected to return only by mid-season, the team's front office is aggressively scouting the market to fill the void.
The Pitching Puzzle: Cubs' Search for an Ace
This offseason, the Cubs have already moved to add depth, signing Matthew Boyd to a two-year deal and acquiring Colin Rea via trade. However, the consensus is that these moves are not enough. The club is explicitly hunting for a frontline starter to lead their rotation and provide consistency. In a slow-moving free agent market, their search has turned international, with a keen eye on Japan's Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB).
The primary target emerging from NPB is right-hander Tatsuya Imai. Analysts, including those at CBS Sports, peg the Cubs as a logical fit. They highlighted Imai's "quality arsenal," featuring a mid-90s fastball and a deceptive slider, as the kind of stuff that can translate well to Major League Baseball. The signing is framed as a direct solution to Chicago's quest for reliable starting pitching.
A Two-Horse Race: The Yankees Loom Large
The pursuit is far from straightforward. The New York Yankees are also heavily rumored to be in the mix for Imai's services. Despite earlier acquiring Max Fried, the Yankees continue to seek rotation reinforcements and are monitoring international options closely. Intriguingly, reports suggest the decision for Imai between the Cubs and Yankees is so close it's being described as a 'coin flip' situation.
Currently, no other teams are highlighted as leading contenders, making this a direct duel between two of baseball's historic franchises. The posting window for Imai closes on January 2, 2026, as per MLB.com, setting a clear deadline for negotiations.
Projecting Imai's Impact on the Cubs' 2026 Season
If the Cubs succeed, what would they be getting? Projections based on his NPB performance and adjusted for MLB suggest Imai could contribute around 140 innings with an ERA of approximately 4.12. This would make him a valuable mid-rotation asset for a team with playoff aspirations.
A potential rotation featuring Shota Imanaga, Cade Horton, Jameson Taillon, Imai, and Boyd (with Steele returning later) appears significantly stronger. Analysts note that securing a pitcher of Imai's calibre would alleviate pressure across the entire staff during the gruelling 162-game season. Without him, the fifth spot would likely fall to Rea or Javier Assad.
The sluggish free agent market has increased the focus on cost-effective international postings like Imai's. While an agreement is not yet in place, projections from sites like MLB Trade Rumors currently list the Cubs as the frontrunners. Should they miss out, their search for rotation stability will undoubtedly intensify elsewhere as spring training looms just seven weeks away.
