The Detroit Tigers could be among the teams looking to add a major piece to their starting rotation this offseason, with former Chicago Cubs left-hander Shota Imanaga reportedly drawing interest from the organization.
According to MLB Network insider Jon Morosi, the Tigers have expressed interest in Imanaga and recently held a meeting with the veteran pitcher.
“I do believe the Tigers are among the teams with interest in Shota Imanaga. I was told they had a meeting with Shota over the last week,” Morosi reported. He added that it is time for Imanaga to begin a new chapter.
“I do believe the Tigers are among the teams with interest in Shota Imanaga…”@jonmorosi shares more on the free agent LHP and his market following the GM Meetings in Las Vegas. pic.twitter.com/rN4P74SVnQ
— MLB Network (@MLBNetwork) November 13, 2026
The 33-year-old left-hander is expected to be one of the more notable starting pitchers available in free agency. After three seasons with Chicago, Imanaga could give an interested team an established arm with plenty of experience pitching at the highest level.
Article Continues BelowImanaga finished the 2026 campaign with an 11-10 record, a 3.77 ERA and a 1.09 WHIP across 32 starts. He also recorded 174 strikeouts in 174 1/3 innings, giving him another productive season despite allowing a career-high 35 home runs.
Detroit makes sense as a potential landing spot. The Tigers have questions throughout their rotation and could use another experienced starter to complement Framber Valdez.
Imanaga has the ability to slot near the top of a rotation for plenty of teams around baseball. His command, strikeout ability, and experience make him an attractive option, even with the home-run concerns. It remains to be seen how many teams will seriously pursue the left-hander, but Detroit appears to be doing its homework early in the offseason.