Fans of the Chicago Cubs and the team as a whole haven’t exactly had the kind of offseason they had hoped for when it first started.

It appeared as though the Cubs would be in a strong position to sign at least one of the elite players that were available on the market.

They haven’t added anyone significant to their roster as of yet, and they don’t appear to be any closer to competing this year than they were in 2023.

Even if the offseason has started off grimly, it is still early, and Chicago still has time to make an impression before the next season starts.

The Boston Red Sox, Los Angeles Angels, and San Francisco Giants are the other three teams the Cubs are vying with for the signing of Japanese star pitcher Shota Imanaga.

Although the 30-year-old left-handed starter did not receive the same attention Yoshinobo Yamamoto received as a free agent, he is still a solid pitcher and would definitely upgrade Chicago’s rotation. This information was reported by Jim Bowden, a former MLB executive and current insider.

Even if Imanaga isn’t as good as players like Jordan Montgomery, Blake Snell, Cody Bellinger, or Matt Chapman who are out on the open market, it fulfils one of the wishes their pitching coach had this offseason.

Maybe the Cubs will focus their efforts again on signing one of the prominent players who are still available after they do manage to enhance their rotation.

Imanaga’s cost increased as these large market teams began aggressively pursuing him, according to previous reports. Bowden did not disclose Imanaga’s asking price or the amount he has received thus far.