MLB Rumors: 1 Team Would've Paid Shōta Imanaga 'More Than Double' His Cubs Contract

It appears Shōta Imanaga really just wanted to be a Chicago Cub.

MLB Network's Jon Heyman reported during an appearance on 670 The Score that "there was at least one team willing to more than double the guarantee" Imanaga received from the Cubs.

Imanaga agreed to a multi-year deal with the Cubs on Tuesday with an average annual value in the $15 million range, MLB Network's Jon Morosi reported.

It's unclear which team was willing to offer Imanaga a larger deal.

The Boston Red Sox, San Francisco Giants and Los Angeles Angels were once considered candidates to land the Japanese pitcher. However, Heyman reported earlier this week that the Giants and Angels were no longer considered landing spots.

Imanaga had spent his entire career in Nippon Professional Baseball before signing with the Cubs, suiting up for the Yokohama BayStars from 2016-2023. He has been one of the best pitchers in Japan in that span, posting a 3.18 ERA and 1,021 strikeouts in 1,002.2 innings across 165 appearances.

The 30-year-old is coming off arguably the best season of his career in 2023, posting a 7-4 record with a 2.80 ERA, 1.05 WHIP and 188 strikeouts in 148 innings across 22 games.

Imanaga was also a member of Japan's gold medal-winning squad at the 2023 World Baseball Classic. He helped Japan defeat the United States in the gold medal game, allowing four hits and one earned run in two innings.

It's unclear why Imanaga was so drawn to the Cubs, but he'll now join a 2024 rotation that includes Kyle Hendricks, Justin Steele and Jameson Taillon.

The Cubs enter the 2024 campaign hoping to bounce back from an 83-79 finish to the 2023 season. The team has missed the playoffs in each of the last three years and in four of the last five seasons.