Re-Grading the Cubs' 2024 Offseason Additions After First 3 Weeks

Fans wanted to see changes made after the Cubs missed the playoffs in 2023 because of the bullpen's struggles in the last month of the season. However, heading into the 2024 season, the team only made a few additions to their starting lineup. 

Will these few new additions be enough to make the Cubs a playoff team in 2024? While it is way too early in the season to tell if the Cubs will be a playoff team this season.  accessing the new additions' performances over the first three weeks of the season might help predict how the Cubs' season could end. 

1. Shota Imanaga: A+

On January 11, 2024, the Cubs agreed to terms with Japanese star pitcher Shōta Imanaga. During his eight seasons in Japan, Imanaga had an accumulative ERA of 3.18. While that's a very impressive
accumulative ERA, the level of competition in Japan and the MLB is different, so it wasn't guaranteed that he could come over and dominate the MLB.

However, that's exactly what Imanaga has done in his first three regular season starts with the Cubs. In his first three MLB appearances, Imanaga is 3-0 as a starter with 19 strikeouts and a 0.84 ERA. In the game that is not accounted for on his record, he got pulled out in the fifth inning after starting the day, allowing two hits and having three strikeouts. 

If Imanaga keeps having dominant outings then there is no reason why he can't become the Cubs ace by next season. Becoming the team's ace would only further cement Imanaga as an A+ singing for the Chicago Cubs.