Shota Imanaga

Chicago Cubs, Starting Pitcher
Age: 32y-6m-4d (Sep 01, 1993)
Exp: 2.000 Years
Country: JP
Agent(s): Octagon
2026 Payroll Salary

$22,025,000

2026 Cash

$0

Career Earnings

$23,250,000

2026-2026 Qualifying Offer (CURRENT)

Shota Imanaga signed a 1 year, $22,025,000 contract with the Chicago Cubs, including $22,025,000 guaranteed, and an average annual salary of $22,025,000. In 2026, Imanaga will earn, while carrying a total salary of $22,025,000.
Contract Terms:
1 yr(s) / $22,025,000
Average Salary:
$22,025,000
Signing Bonus:
N/A
Free Agent:
2027 / UFA
YOS @ Signing:
2
Year Age YOS PayrollAnnual Luxury Tax Tax % League Tax Cash Annual Cash Cumulative
2026 32 2 $22,025,000 $22,025,000 9.03% - -
2027 33 -
UFA
Year Age Service Base Salary Incentives Likely Incentives Unlikely Payroll Salary Luxury Tax
2026 32 2.000 $22,025,000 - - $22,025,000 $22,025,000
2027 33 --
UFA
Year Age Base Salary Cash Total Cash Cumulative Cash Remaining AYC Cumulative AYC Remaining
2026 32 - - - - - -
Source: MLB contract specifics generally collected from verified reports.

2024-2028 Foreign Professional

Contract Terms:
4 yr(s) / $53,000,000
Average Salary:
$13,250,000
Signing Bonus:
$1,000,000
Free Agent:
2029 / UFA
YOS @ Signing:
0
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Seasons

2.000 Years

Career Earnings thru 2026

$23,250,000

Earnings w/ Different Teams

1 team

Earnings Per Year

Year Age Team(s) Service Status Cash Total Cash Cumulative Awards
2024 30
0
Active
$10,000,000
$10,000,000
 All MLB (2nd)
2025 31
1
Active
$13,250,000
$23,250,000
Total      
$23,250,000
$23,250,000
Total
$23,250,000

Earnings Per Team

Years Team Base Signing Incentives Cash Cumulative
2 $22,250,000 $1,000,000 - $23,250,000
Year Team(s) Age Base Signing Incentives Cash Total Cash Cumulative
2024
30
$9,000,000
$1,000,000
$10,000,000
$10,000,000
2025
31
$13,250,000
$13,250,000
$23,250,000
Total
$22,250,000
$1,000,000
$23,250,000
$23,250,000
Total
$22,250,000
$1,000,000
$23,250,000

Earnings Per Team

Years Team Base Signing Incentives Cash Cumulative
2 $22,250,000 $1,000,000 - $23,250,000

Injuries

Year Dates Reason
2025 CHC May 04, 2025 - Jun 26, 2025 Hamstring
  • Nov 18, 2025 Signed a 1 year $22.025 million Qualifying Offer contract with Chicago (CHC)
  • Nov 06, 2025 Chicago (CHC) extended a $22.05 million Qualifying Offer
  • Nov 04, 2025 Declined a $15.25M player option for 2026 with Chicago (CHC)
  • Nov 04, 2025 Chicago (CHC) declined a 3 year, $57.75M extension option
  • Jan 09, 2024 Signed a 4 year $53 million contract with Chicago (CHC), including a club option for 2028
Year Team GP GS H R ER BB K HR W L SV IP ERA WHIP WAR
2025 CHC 25 25 117 62 60 26 117 31 9 8 0 144.7 3.73 0.99 1.46
2024 CHC 29 29 149 66 56 28 174 27 15 3 0 173.3 2.91 1.02 3.08

Calculated Market Value

$18.3M Avg. Annual Salary

Market Value

  • 4 years, $73,329,564
  • Avg. Salary: $18,332,391
  • MLB Rank: 88
  • SP Rank: 36

Current Contract

  • Free Agent: 2027
  • Avg. Salary: $22,025,000
  • MLB Rank: 59
  • SP Rank: 24

Comparable Players

We've selected the following players based on their age, contract status, and statistical production to compare Shota Imanaga to.

Player Length Value Avg. Salary Age When Signed
Tyler Anderson 3 $39,000,000 $13,000,000 32
Jordan Montgomery 1 $25,000,000 $25,000,000 31
Chris Bassitt 3 $63,000,000 $21,000,000 33
Jameson Taillon 4 $68,000,000 $17,000,000 31
Averages 3 $48,750,000 $19,000,000 31.8

Base Calculated Value

After adjusting the above contracts as if signed at Imanaga's current age (32), a linear regression is performed, providing us with the following initial value.

Length Value Avg. Salary
3 $53,470,587 $17,823,529

Statistical Comparisons

Now we'll compare our variables and Imanaga statistically over the two seasons prior to their signing. In this case we're analyzing: GS/Yr, IP, K/9, BB/9, ERA, WHIP, FIP, WAR

Player GS/Yr IP K/9 BB/9 ERA WHIP FIP WAR
Tyler Anderson
2021-2022
 29.50 5.58 7.08 1.88 3.55 1.12 3.84 3.22
Jordan Montgomery
2022-2023
 32.00 5.73 7.94 2.06 3.34 1.14 3.58 3.14
Chris Bassitt
2021-2022
 28.50 5.95 8.68 2.33 3.29 1.10 3.50 4.30
Jameson Taillon
2021-2022
 30.50 5.27 8.20 2.18 4.11 1.17 4.18 2.03
Average 30.13 5.63 7.98 2.11 3.57 1.13 3.78 3.17
Shota Imanaga
2024-2025
 27.00 5.89 8.15 1.54 3.32 1.00 4.29 2.86
Pct Change -10.39 4.62 2.13 27.01 7.00 11.50 -13.49 -9.78
Median Prime % Change 3.38%
Average Prime % Change 2.33%

Calculated Market Value: Shota Imanaga

After applying our Prime % figures into our base calculated value, we're given two values. The average of these values becomes our current calculated market value.

Terms Avg. Salary
4 years, $73,329,564 $18,332,391
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