The Chicago Cubs and left-hander Shota Imanaga reached a four-year contract worth an estimated $53 million.
The Japanese southpaw, who pitched for the Yokohama DeNA BayStars and declared for MLB free agency last year, was reportedly going to the Cubs, according to many publications.
As to MLB Network, Imanaga’s contract has a team option to expand it into a five-year, $80 million agreement.
The starting rotation is anticipated to include right-handers Kyle Hendricks and Jameson Taillon, left-hander Justin Steele, and several prospects.Kawhi Leonard signs massive contract extension with Clippers NBA Kawhi Leonard signs massive contract extension with Clippers The Los Angeles Clippers will expand into a new arena next season.
At least he will be joined by one superstar.
Kawhi Leonard, a mainstay for the Clippers since signing in the summer of 2019, has agreed to a three-year contract extension worth $153 million that will keep him in a Clippers jersey.
The star forward and two-time Finals MVP is having his healthiest and most productive season in years.
He has appeared in 32 of the Clippers’ 36 games thus far, averaging 23.
8 points, 6.
1 rebounds and 1.
8 steals per game.
In their final season at Crypto.com Arena, the Clippers have three star players playing in the final year of their contracts.
Leonard and Paul George have player options for 2024-25, and newly signed James Harden’s contract is set to expire.
Now Los Angeles knows Leonard will remain loyal to the team, at least in the long run.
According to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, the team also wants George to extend his contract.
It’s a high-risk, high-reward move for the Clippers.
When healthy, Leonard is one of the NBA’s best players and perhaps the NBA’s best two-way player.
He is a very efficient offensive player, shooting 55.
6 percent on 2-point shots, 43 percent on 3-point shots, and 87.
1 percent on free throws.
Defensively, the Clippers allow 11.
4 fewer points per 100 possessions when Leonard is on the court.
After starting the season 3-7, including four straight losses after the Harden trade, the Clippers went 20-6 and established themselves as title contenders.
Ever since the team signed Leonard and traded for George four years ago, the team has always been very good when George and Leonard were healthy.
They just missed a lot of games.
Leonard tore his ACL during the 2021 playoffs and tore his meniscus in the first round last year.
Los Angeles advanced to the conference finals without him, but Leonard missed the entire 2021-22 season and George missed 51 games.
George missed the playoffs last year due to injury, and Leonard was injured in the second game of the first round.
But the Clippers’ best option was always to trust their star to get healthy.
Thanks to George and Harden’s contracts, the team won’t have control over its first-round pick until 2030, as it would have to trade away Oklahoma City or Philadelphia or trade picks every season.
It also means the Clippers don’t have the draft capital to trade a backup star.
The Clips have plenty of reason to win right now, especially with the opening of a new arena in Los Angeles and not being as popular as the Lakers.
It may be risky to bet on Kawhi Leonard’s health, but it would be even riskier to let him leave in free agency.
