Shota Imanaga has a growing list of suitors this winter, and the Detroit Tigers are now in the mix.
Jon Morosi reported on Nov. 13, 2026, that the Tigers are showing interest in the left-hander “among other free-agent starting pitchers.” That puts Scott Harris’ club alongside the San Francisco Giants, who had already been tied to Imanaga in free agency rumors as they look for help after their rotation finished 24th in ERA last year.
The fit makes some sense on the surface. San Francisco plays in Oracle Park, a venue that can help soften the damage from Imanaga’s home-run issues.
Detroit’s Comerica Park is not as forgiving as Oracle, but it was still friendlier to pitchers than Wrigley Field in 2026. The Cubs’ home park ranked as the sixth-most hitter-friendly in the league this season, while Comerica came in 25th.
San Francisco was 28th. Long term, Comerica grades out as neutral, but there’s a real question whether teams that play in hitter-friendly parks will be cautious with Imanaga this winter.
Chicago, meanwhile, doesn’t appear to be making a reunion with Imanaga a priority. The front office has not fully shut the door, but the signs point toward the Cubs and the lefty moving in different directions.
That leaves the Cubs hunting for pitching in a market that has barely moved. Tarik Skubal is expected to meet with multiple teams next week and is projected to sign before the anticipated Dec. 2 lockout. Beyond that, the GM Meetings have been quiet, with Emilio Pagan and Evan Phillips standing out as the only notable free-agent signings this week.
Carter Hawkins said the Cubs are exploring just about every option available as they try to rebuild a rotation that can match an offense and defense that were both at the top of the sport in 2026.
“There’s certainly uncertainty,” he said this week. “We’ve made no secret that we’re going to be looking for pitching this offseason. That’s what the majority of our conversations in the first three hours of the offseason here today have been, and I imagine it’s what a lot of conversations on the trade front will be.”
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