The Chicago Cubs declined Shota Imanaga’s three-year, $57 million club option on Tuesday morning, which means the 32-year-old will become a free agent. Imanaga also declined his $15 million player option for the 2026 season. 

With Imanaga set to hit free agency, the Cubs will almost certainly have to replace him this offseason. His replacement could come in-house, through free agency, or via a major trade. 

So, let’s look at three potential ways the Cubs could replace Imanaga's spot in the rotation. 

The Cubs don’t technically need to add any pitchers this offseason. They have enough starters to get through the season. Justin Steele will return at some point in the first half, Javier Assad has had success as a starter in his career, and if Chicago picks up Colin Rea’s $6 million club option, he gives the team another rotation arm. 

Therefore, the Cubs could roll with Matthew Boyd, Cade Horton, Jameson Taillon, Assad, and Rea to start the year. Then, Steele would likely replace Assad/Rea in the rotation when he is healthy enough. 

The Cubs’ No. 3 prospect, Jaxon Wiggins, is also tracking to be called up at some point next season. He impressed with a 2.19 ERA and 97 strikeouts across 78 innings pitched at High-A, Double-A, and Triple-A in 2025. The young right-hander could eventually take Rea/Assad’s spot in the rotation next season. 

Now that Imanaga is no longer with the Cubs, look for the front office to be extremely aggressive in adding a pitcher in free agency. Jim Bowden of The Athletic had the North Siders already listed as a best fit for top pitchers like Framber Valdez, Ranger Suarez, Dylan Cease, and Michael King. 

Of those four free agent pitchers, Cease feels like the likeliest target for the Cubs. They drafted him in the sixth round of the 2014 MLB Draft, and that familiarity could lead the hard-throwing right-hander back to Chicago. 

Bruce Levine also said a few weeks ago that the Cubs are expected to show interest in Cease this offseason. Even if they don’t wind up signing the former Padres pitcher, Chicago should be in the running for a lot of the top free agent pitchers this offseason. 

The Cubs have been known to make trades in the offseason to address some needs. The front office traded two prospects to acquire Michael Busch from the Los Angeles Dodgers before the 2023 season and then made a blockbuster deal last offseason to acquire Kyle Tucker from the Houston Astros. 

With the Cubs needing an ace, don’t be surprised if the front office makes a splash to acquire one this offseason. The most prominent name who could be available this offseason is Tarik Skubal. 

If he is somehow available, the Cubs will likely be in on him in some capacity. The front office could also target someone like Luis Severino of the Athletics, who was much better on the road (3.02 ERA) than at home (6.01 ERA) in 2025.