Shota Imanaga became a free agent after the Chicago Cubs declined to exercise the three-year option in his contract, U.S. media reported Tuesday, while the San Diego Padres said fellow pitcher Yu Darvish will miss all of 2026 following right elbow surgery.Imanaga went 15-3 with a 2.91 ERA in his stellar debut season last year when he was an All-Star, but a hamstring injury suffered in early May blighted him this year as the lefty went 9-8 with a 3.73 ERA in the regular season and 0-1 with an 8.10 ERA in the postseason.The Cubs declined their three-year, $57 million club option for 2026-28, …READ FULL ARTICLE
