Japanese left-hander Shota Imanaga has reportedly agreed to a tentative deal with the Chicago Cubs, according to USA Today‘s Bob Nightengale and MLB Network‘s Jon Heyman.
Nightengale reports that the deal will become official after Imanaga undergoes a physical in Chicago on Thursday.
The 30-year-old become a free agent late in November after he was posted by the Yokohama BayStars of Japan’s Central League. He struck out 174 and walked 24 in 148 innings.
Imanaga got the win for Japan in this year’s World Baseball Classic final against the United States.
Recognizable for throwback style high socks, Imanaga is 64-50 with a 3.18 ERA in eight seasons with Yokohama, striking out 1,021 and walking 280 in 1,002 2/3 innings.
His fastball averaged 93.5 mph in the WBC final, when he allowed one run and four hits in two innings, giving up a home run to Trea Turner.
– With files from the Associated Press
