Cubs Still Linked to Imai and King

But what is the appetite for risk?

December 16, 2025 • Estimated Reading Time: 6 minutes

Outside of a stray Zac Gallen report that initially inadvertently reported a signing, I would say the two free agent starting pitchers who’ve been most seriously linked to the Chicago Cubs this offseason are Japanese ace Tatsuya Imai and outgoing Padres righty Michael King. Each offers significant upside, but comes with his own significant risk (for Imai, it’s the transition to MLB; for King, it’s his robust injury history).

Each also has a contract projection that is a little tough to peg, again, thanks to the combination of front-of-the-rotation upside stacked against the very real risks of little-to-no impact contribution if things go very wrong.

When I put it that way, I suppose I’m jarred for a moment, as the Cubs don’t typically go after free agents with that kind of boom-or-bust potential, since they – sigh – aren’t an organization that is ready to paper over any financial mistakes.

Consider the Shota Imanaga signing, for example. The Cubs were in all the way, but it was only once it became clear that he wasn’t going to get a monster deal that the risk-reward calculus probably started to make more sense, and, even then, his deal was uniquely structured to protect the Cubs (and, to a lesser extent, Imanaga) if things went very badly.

Full Story (via Brett Taylor):

Cubs Still Being Attached to Tatsuya Imai and Michael King - What's the Appetite for Risk? - Bleacher Nation

Two of the best starting pitcher free agents on the market still get paired up with the Cubs. But are they actually going to risk it?

www.bleachernation.com/cubs/2025/12/16/cubs-still-being-attached-to-tatsuya-imai-and-michael-king-whats-the-appetite-for-risk

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