Shōta Imanaga’s Heartfelt Vow Silences Doubts: “I Only Think About Wrigley” Amid Cubs Contract Storm.vc
Chicago, October 27, 2025 – The Wrigley Field locker room fell silent after practice, not from defeat, but from the weight of a single sentence. Shōta Imanaga, the Cubs’ Japanese ace, stood amid swirling rumors of a free-agent exit and delivered a gut-punch of loyalty: “I don’t think about anything else. I only think about Wrigley, about this blue.” The “Throwing Philosopher” didn’t just quiet the chatter—he reignited Cubs Nation’s hope. With a $57.75M club option looming, a 2025 season of brilliance (3.73 ERA, All-Star nod) and late struggles (5.17 ERA in final 12 starts), and a fanbase craving his splitter-fueled magic, Imanaga’s words were more than a quote—they were a love letter to Chicago. As Jed Hoyer weighs a pivotal decision, one thing’s clear: Shōta’s heart beats for Wrigley.
The Context: Rumors and a Rollercoaster 2025
Imanaga’s 2025 was a tale of two halves. After a 15-3, 2.91 ERA rookie campaign in 2024, he dazzled early—9-8, 3.73 ERA, 117 Ks in 144.2 IP, including a combined no-hitter vs. Pittsburgh on September 4. His 6.21 K/BB ratio and Tokyo Series start (4 scoreless IP vs. Dodgers) cemented his star status. But a May hamstring injury (7 weeks out) and a late-season collapse—20 HRs in 69.1 IP post-July 25, an 8.10 ERA in two playoff starts—fueled doubts. The Cubs’ Game 5 NLDS loss to Milwaukee, where Imanaga was benched for a bullpen gambit, sparked whispers of a free-agent exit.
His contract complicates things: a $57.75M, three-year club option ($20.25M for 2026–27, $17.25M for 2028) or a $15.25M player option for 2026 if the Cubs decline. If both pass, a $22.025M qualifying offer looms, with draft-pick compensation if he leaves. Posts on X buzzed with worry: “Shōta’s HR issues scare me—$57M too risky?” countered by “He’s our soul! Keep him!”
The Moment: Imanaga’s Wrigley Love
Then came Imanaga’s post-practice bombshell. “I don’t think about anything else. I only think about Wrigley, about this blue,” he said, his voice steady through translator Edwin Stanberry, gesturing to his Cubs jersey. The room froze—teammates like Seiya Suzuki and Pete Crow-Armstrong exchanged glances, the weight of his loyalty sinking in. This wasn’t the reserved NPB veteran; this was the “Shōta Boys” icon, whose guitar-strumming, “Go Cubs Go” serenades won Chicago’s heart. His 2024 press conference charm—“Spider-Man” hotel quips, dubbing himself “Mike Imanaga II” for Starbucks ease—made him a Wrigley darling.
“Imanaga’s not just pitching—he’s living Chicago,” Craig Counsell said post-NLDS, praising his “joyful ferocity.” Fans on X erupted: “Shōta’s ours! #WrigleyForever” trended with 15K likes, drowning out trade rumors.
The Decision: Hoyer’s Crossroads
Jed Hoyer faces a gamble. Imanaga’s 2.98 ERA over two years (262.2 IP) and .219 BABIP suggest regression risks, but his 91 mph fastball and elite splitter (35% whiff rate) scream upside at 32. Wrigley’s pitcher-friendly winds (lowest HR rate in MLB) masked his 31 HRs allowed in 2025; without them, Steamer projects a 3.66 ERA. Yet, his $16M AAV is a steal compared to Matthew Boyd’s $14.5M/year for less production. Declining the option risks Imanaga opting out, with a qualifying offer tying him to draft-pick compensation, potentially scaring suitors like the Dodgers or Yankees.
Hoyer’s hint—“We’d have taken his production in a heartbeat”—leans toward the $57.75M option, especially with Imanaga’s marketing pull (second-most jerseys at Wrigley) and Japan recruiting clout. Imanaga’s own words tilt the scales: His love for Chicago’s “blue” outweighs free-agent dollars.
Conclusion
Shōta Imanaga’s “I only think about Wrigley” isn’t just a soundbite—it’s a vow that binds him to Cubs Nation. Despite a rocky 2025 finish, his All-Star arm, infectious joy, and Wrigley romance make him indispensable. Hoyer, heed the “Shōta Boys”: Lock in the Philosopher for $57.75M. Chicago’s blue runs through his veins—2026 awaits his redemption.
