Cubs President Jed Hoyer addressed the team's pitching needs for next season, saying that they are thinner than their position-player side. The Cubs have already made several moves to strengthen their bullpen, including trading veteran reliever Andrew Kittredge back to the Orioles and re-signing Colin Rea on a one-year deal with a 2027 club option.
Hoyer also mentioned that Shota Imanaga's decision on whether to accept a $22 million-plus qualifying offer will impact their focus. The Cubs value Imanaga, who was "amazing" for them as a pitcher and teammate, but didn't think the club or player options were the right value. If he declines, they're open to further negotiation.
Hoyer expects to explore trades and free agency to address their pitching needs. He pointed to last year's signings of Matthew Boyd and Brad Keller as examples of how they can strengthen their rotation and bullpen.
Imanaga's performance in his first two years with the Cubs was "exceptional," but he struggled with a strained left hamstring that affected his velocity. The Cubs are developing an offseason plan for him to regain some strength and flexibility, regardless of whether he returns.
The team is prioritizing pitching due to their relatively thin depth chart on this side. Hoyer said they'll explore all options, including trades and free agency, to address the issue.
Hoyer also mentioned that Shota Imanaga's decision on whether to accept a $22 million-plus qualifying offer will impact their focus. The Cubs value Imanaga, who was "amazing" for them as a pitcher and teammate, but didn't think the club or player options were the right value. If he declines, they're open to further negotiation.
Hoyer expects to explore trades and free agency to address their pitching needs. He pointed to last year's signings of Matthew Boyd and Brad Keller as examples of how they can strengthen their rotation and bullpen.
Imanaga's performance in his first two years with the Cubs was "exceptional," but he struggled with a strained left hamstring that affected his velocity. The Cubs are developing an offseason plan for him to regain some strength and flexibility, regardless of whether he returns.
The team is prioritizing pitching due to their relatively thin depth chart on this side. Hoyer said they'll explore all options, including trades and free agency, to address the issue.
... his injury last year was super rough and it's like he just regressed? still, 22 million plus is a lot of cash 
and if they don't think it's worth it, I get it. I mean, they did sign Matthew Boyd last year and Brad Keller too 
... maybe their strategy will pay off 
that makes sense, I guess. But why do they need more pitchers? Are they not good enough already? 
btw, have you seen that new video game where you can be a pitcher and throw a no-hitter? It's so cool! 
Andrew Kittredge might be getting shipped out but Colin Rea is stepping up as a nice addition. But what's really got me hyped is Shota Imanaga's potential! 
If he declines that QO, the Cubs will open their wallets and look for big-name pitchers to shore up their rotation. Matthew Boyd and Brad Keller are proof they can make it happen. The pitching depth is key for this team, let's see if they can land someone game-changing like a starter. This offseason could get interesting... 
... apparently Jed Hoyer is gonna have to do some serious wheeling and dealing next season... 22 million plus for Imanaga? too much imo 
. And what's with the whole team prioritizing pitching? they need some solid depth in the outfield and infield 
... I mean, cubs fans deserve better than watching their team flail for 9 innings 
... and now they're gonna explore trades and free agency to strengthen their pitching? It sounds like it could get pretty interesting! I love how Jed Hoyer is being open about what they need, though 
... like, no sugarcoating. The Cubs are basically saying, "Hey, our bullpen is solid, but our rotation needs a boost." And those signings of Matthew Boyd and Brad Keller seem to be working out... fingers crossed that Imanaga's plan pays off 
]
]
considering his performance was "exceptional" two years ago. I feel like he's worth more than just a $22 million qualifying offer 
I mean, they're already making moves like trading away veteran reliever Kittredge and re-signing Colin Rea... but Jed Hoyer is saying that if Shota Imanaga declines his qualifying offer, they're gonna explore trades and free agency too? Like, what's the plan here? They just wanna strengthen their bullpen and rotation 
. And trades? That's a whole new ball game 
... you never know what you're gonna get. They did well with Matthew Boyd and Brad Keller last year, but it's not like those guys are going to be available for the long haul. Imanaga's injury was a bummer, but at least they're working on him, so fingers crossed he can get back to form 
. And what’s up with Shota Imanaga? $22 million is a lot for him to turn down, right? 
! They gotta strengthen that pitching staff ASAP, it's like they're leaving themselves open 2 get swept in the playoffs 
. I'm hyped they signed Matthew Boyd last yr and are lookin 2 build on dat! Andrew Kittredge might b gone but Colin Rea just stepped up his game 
️. The rotation & bullpen need work, gotta get that depth 
! Bring on the offseason trades and free agency, I got faith in the Hoyer crew 
I think they should focus on getting a solid starter who can give 'em 200 innings or more instead of chasing after some mid-tier relievers 
. They're gonna have to make some tough decisions if Shota decides to leave, though... I mean, $22 million+ is a lot for a guy with injury issues 
. Maybe they can get creative and find someone who fits their budget without breaking the bank 
i think he's worth $22m tho... but like if he declines the offer, maybe they should just try to trade him? 
anyway, it's good that hoyer is addressing this issue 
but like how many trades and signings does a team need to make?! 
. Why not invest in some actual talent instead of just signing random guys who might be okay