Astros linked to Cubs' 3.45 ERA All-Star in free agency

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Astros linked to Cubs' 3.45 ERA All-Star in free agency originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The Houston Astros could use another frontline starter to back up right-hander Hunter Brown. 

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Peter Lambert had a breakout season for the Astros, but Houston's lack of depth was one of the reasons for an 81-81 finish. Amazingly, that was good enough to win the AL West. 

Tarik Skubal may be out of the Astros' price range, but they should be in the market for starters one tier below the back-to-back Cy Young Award winner. 

The Athletic's Jim Bowden tabbed the Astros as a potential landing spot for Shota Imanaga, who spent the first three seasons of his Major League career with the Chicago Cubs. 

"His [Imanaga] best season was his rookie year in 2024, when he had a 2.91 ERA. His walks have gone up each year, and home runs have been an issue throughout his tenure with the Cubs. 

"His split-finger fastball is still an elite pitch, however," Bowden wrote about Imanaga. 

Besides the Astros, Bowden linked Imanaga to a reunion with the Cubs and the San Francisco Giants, who lack depth behind Logan Webb. 

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Currently, the Astros have no GM or manager after parting ways with Dana Brown and Joe Espada, respectively. 

This winter will mark a period of transition for the franchise, which hopes to stay in contention with Yordan Alvarez still in his prime. 

Signing Imanaga, who's projected to earn a three-year, $69 million contract by Bowden, would be a solid step in the right direction. 

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