Shōta Imanaga Earned a Big Cash Bonus After Excellent Rookie Season
Chicago Cubs lefty Shōta Imanaga capped off his rookie season in MLB by finishing fifth in Cy Young voting in the National League. Imanaga led the Cubs pitching staff in 2024 and thanks to that fifth-place finish the left-hander earned a big cash bonus from the Cubs.
According to The Athletic’s Sahadev Sharma, Imanaga will now receive an additional $250k in each remaining year of his contract with the Cubs. If Imanaga wins the Cy Young Award in 2025, then he’ll get an extra $1 million salary escalator.
Via The Athletic.
Imanaga exceeded the modest projections with a fifth-place finish in this year’s National League Cy Young Award voting. That triggered a $250,000 annual salary escalator for the duration of his contract, according to a source familiar with the terms of the complex deal.
Imanaga also finished fourth in NL Rookie of the Year voting and was named to the All-MLB Second Team.
This is good time to freshen up on Imanaga’s contract. He signed a four-year, $53 million deal that could be extended to $81 million over five years. That now includes his yearly $250k bonus.
How long Imanaga will be with the Cubs will be determined following the 2025 season. The Cubs will have the opportunity to lock in Imanaga through the 2028 season at a $57.75 million price tag. If, for whatever reason the Cubs decline that option, then Imanaga will have a player option worth $15.25 million for the 2026 season.
Shōta Imanaga Named to All-MLB Second Team
Chicago Cubs lefty Shōta Imanaga was named to his first All-MLB team Thursday night, earning second-team honors following his excellent rookie season and then he brought down the house in Las Vegas at the All-MLB award show.
The sixth annual All-MLB Team was announced Thursday night and Imanaga was one of 10 starting pitchers highlighted for his superb 2024 performance. The All-MLB Team is split into a First and Second Team with each featuring one selection at every infield position, three outfield winners, (regardless of position) DH, five starting pitchers and two relievers.
First-Team honors at starting pitcher went to Chris Sale, Tarik Skubal, Paul Skenes, Zack Wheeler and Corbin Burnes. Meanwhile, on the Second-Team, Imanaga was joined by Dylan Cease, Seth Lugo, Framber Valdez and Michael King. You can view all the winners here.
But Imanaga stole the show by joining host and die-hard Cubs fan Roy Wood Jr. in a rendition of Go Cubs Go!
SHOTA IMANAGA SINGING GO CUBS GO ????️ ???? pic.twitter.com/FjLCGoqJr2
— Marquee Sports Network (@WatchMarquee) November 15, 2024
Protect Shōta Imanaga at all costs!
Great pitcher, great personality, how can you not love Shōta.
Via MLB.com.
Imanaga was also involved in a no-hitter this season, though his was a combined effort on Sept. 4 against the Pirates. The lefty tossed seven hitless innings before turning it over to the bullpen for the final two frames. That put an exclamation point on an incredible debut season for Imanaga, who went 15-3 with a 2.91 ERA and 174 strikeouts over 29 starts.
The Cubs signed Imanaga last offseason and in his first season in MLB the left-hander was the one constant performer in what turned out to be a turbulent year for Chicago’s starting rotation. Imanaga led the pitching staff with 173.1 innings, 29 starts, 174 strikeouts and his 2.91 ERA was tops among the starter as well.
The Cubs went 22-7 in Imanaga’s 29 starts, which included victories in his first seven starts and his final six starts of the 2024 season.
From day one, Shōta Imanaga has been all-in with the Cubs and the city of Chicago.
Hey, Shōta, whaddya say!? pic.twitter.com/yUXm6FkQwJ
— Chicago Cubs (@Cubs) January 12, 2024