As the calendar inches closer to the new year, the Chicago Cubs find themselves at a crossroads that could define the shape of their pitching staff for seasons to come. With the January 2 signing deadline for Japanese star Tatsuya Imai rapidly approaching, the North Siders are locked in a high-stakes battle with the New York Yankees and the Philadelphia Phillies for the 27-year-old right-hander’s coveted signature. Yet, with Christmas just passed and the rumor mill in full swing, the Cubs’ path forward is filled with both tantalizing opportunity and pressing uncertainty.
On December 23, 2025, the landscape of the Imai sweepstakes shifted dramatically. Jack Curry of YES Network, a voice well-attuned to the pulse of the Yankees’ front office, delivered a decisive update on the Bronx Bombers’ pursuit—or lack thereof—of Imai. “The vibe between Imai and the Yankees does not exist,” Curry declared on YES Network’s Hot Stove segment, adding, “He believes Imai will not sign with them.” That’s a stark turn for a franchise that’s rarely shy about splashing big in the international market. Instead, Curry floated Ryan Yarbrough as a more likely option for the Yankees, who continue to grapple with a rash of injuries decimating their rotation.
With the Yankees seemingly bowing out, the Cubs’ front office, led by Jed Hoyer, has a clear runway to make a defining move. Hoyer has worked diligently to cultivate a sterling reputation in Japan, a strategy that has already borne fruit. The successful transitions of Seiya Suzuki and Shōta Imanaga from Nippon Professional Baseball to Major League Baseball stand as ringing endorsements of the Cubs’ commitment to supporting Japanese stars. Both players have not only adapted but thrived in Chicago, further burnishing the franchise’s standing as a welcoming landing spot for imports seeking MLB stardom.
Adding Imai’s electric velocity to the Cubs’ rotation would inject a new dimension into a staff that, as currently constructed, skews toward softer-throwing arms. The Cubs, fresh off a 92-win campaign in 2025, are eager to build on that momentum, but they know that their budget likely precludes multiple headline-grabbing acquisitions this winter. The consensus around Wrigleyville is clear: if Hoyer and company land Imai, their top-market shopping spree is over, shifting focus to giving prospects a shot to round out the lineup and pitching depth.
That brings the conversation to another pivotal figure on the Cubs’ pitching staff: Ben Brown. Entering his tenth professional season in 2026, the 26-year-old right-hander is at a career crossroads. Once a Top 30 prospect, Brown now faces mounting pressure to convert his undeniable promise into consistent Major League performance. He debuted in the big leagues in 2024, but his journey has been anything but straightforward since being selected by the Phillies in the 33rd round of the 2017 MLB draft and traded to Chicago in 2022 as part of the deal that sent reliever David Robertson to Philadelphia.
Brown’s profile is intriguing—he stands a towering 6-foot-6, giving him the leverage and angle that scouts covet. His arsenal is somewhat unconventional for a starter, relying almost exclusively on a four-seam fastball and a curveball. According to Baseball Savant, he threw his fastball 56% of the time in 2025, averaging a robust 95.8 mph—just above league average for right-handers. His curveball, which he deployed 40% of the time, averaged 87.2 mph, a full tick above the typical righty’s breaking ball. The velocity is there, but the challenge lies in harnessing it.
“When he’s locating consistently, when he’s locating at the top and the bottom of the zone, he misses a lot of bats,” Cubs general manager Carter Hawkins explained to The Athletic during the MLB Winter Meetings. “But when he’s locating in the middle of the zone, he doesn’t. And we’ve seen that. That’s been some of the damage that he’s given up.” Hawkins’s assessment cuts to the heart of Brown’s predicament: the raw stuff is tantalizing, but the command and consistency have yet to materialize over a full season.
The 2025 campaign was a mixed bag for Brown. Serving as both a swing starter and reliever, he posted a 5-8 record with a 5.92 ERA across 25 games (15 starts). The strikeout numbers, however, leap off the page—121 punchouts in 106.1 innings, with his fastball velocity, whiff percentage, strikeout percentage, and walk percentage all ranking above the 70th percentile in MLB. “A really good major-league pitcher is in there,” Hawkins insisted, and the data backs him up—at least when Brown is on his game.
Yet, there’s a flip side. Brown’s barrel percentage and hard-hit percentage were among the worst in baseball in 2025, indicating that when hitters made contact, they made it count. It’s a classic case of high risk, high reward. If Brown can refine his pitch shape and location, leveraging his size and velocity to keep hitters off balance, he could cement himself as a reliable starter or high-leverage reliever. If not, the Cubs may have to consider moving on from a once-promising arm who has yet to deliver sustained results at the highest level.
Against this backdrop, the Cubs’ pursuit of Imai takes on even greater significance. With Imai’s signing deadline looming, the front office faces a critical decision. Do they double down on proven international talent to anchor the rotation, or do they continue to hope that internal options like Brown will finally break through? The answer could shape the team’s fortunes not just for 2026, but for years to come.
For now, all eyes in Chicago—and across Major League Baseball—are fixed on Imai and the Cubs’ next move. Will Jed Hoyer’s efforts in Japan pay off with another marquee signing? Can Ben Brown finally turn promise into production and solidify his place on a contending roster? The days ahead promise clarity, but as of now, the drama is far from over. The Cubs’ offseason, much like their rotation, remains a work in progress, with the stakes as high as ever.
