Key Players and Rotational Depth

Chicago Cubs manager Craig Counsell is placing a significant amount of trust in the performance of Shota Imanaga and the continued development of Edward Cabrera, two key players who are expected to bolster what could become one of the strongest pitching rotations in Major League Baseball. Imanaga, a 32-year-old left-hander from Japan, has been a crucial part of the team’s success over the past few seasons, despite some challenges.

Counsell emphasized the importance of Imanaga’s role during the Cubs’ annual fan convention, stating, “Shota Imanaga is critical to our success this year, absolutely critical. I think he’s in a really good spot to have a lot of success.” This sentiment highlights the high expectations for Imanaga as he looks to bounce back from a challenging season.

Imanaga’s journey with the Cubs began in 2024 after eight seasons in Japan’s top league. He made an immediate impact, posting a 15-3 record with a 2.91 ERA and earning All-Star honors as a 30-year-old rookie. However, his season was marred by a left hamstring injury that occurred during a game against Milwaukee on May 4. Despite returning in June and showing signs of improvement, Imanaga struggled in August and September, finishing the regular season with a 9-8 record and a 4.38 ERA.

The Cubs managed to make it to the postseason for the first time since 2020, but Imanaga’s performance in the playoffs was less than ideal. He faced challenges in both the wild-card series and the NLDS, contributing to the team’s struggles.

New Additions and Team Strategy

Edward Cabrera, a hard-throwing right-hander acquired via trade from Miami on January 7, is another player that Counsell is optimistic about. With a fastball that can reach triple-digit velocities and a changeup clocking over 95 mph, Cabrera showed promise during his time with the Marlins, posting an 8-7 record with a 3.53 ERA last season. Counsell believes that Cabrera has the potential to take off and achieve great things in the coming season.

In addition to Imanaga and Cabrera, the Cubs have several other pitchers who could contribute to the rotation, including Matthew Boyd, Jameson Taillon, Cade Horton, Colin Rea, and Javier Assad. Justin Steele is also expected to return from a left elbow surgery that kept him out of action last April.

Future Plans and Roster Adjustments

The Cubs have also made some notable additions to their roster, including the signing of Alex Bregman, an All-Star third baseman, who agreed to a $175 million, five-year contract with the team. This move is seen as a significant step in strengthening the team’s lineup.

Jed Hoyer, the Cubs president of baseball operations, has indicated that the team may not be done making moves. Counsell has expressed a desire for more depth in the roster, emphasizing the importance of having a stable group of players who can consistently perform at a high level.

Counsell also highlighted the need for the team to stay healthy, noting that even small setbacks can have a significant impact on the overall performance of the squad. “We’ve got a really stable nine to 10 guys that we want to play a lot, right? But if you take two of those guys out or you take three of those guys out, everything looks a lot different. And frankly there’s a big dropoff. So keeping them in the lineup is of the utmost importance.”