In a surprising move, left-handed pitcher Shota Imanaga will return to the Chicago Cubs after accepting the team’s one-year, $22.025 million qualifying offer. The decision, first reported by Patrick Mooney of The Athletic, keeps Imanaga in Chicago after his departure had seemed imminent following a series of declined contract options from both the player and the club.
The complex situation stems from the four-year, $53 million deal Imanaga signed in January 2024. This offseason, the Cubs first chose to decline a three-year, $57 million club option that would have covered the 2026-28 seasons. Subsequently, Imanaga declined his own $15 million player option for the 2026 season, making him a free agent. By accepting the qualifying offer, Imanaga will earn over $7 million more next season than he would have under his player option.
This one-year agreement sets Imanaga up to re-enter the free-agent market next winter without the restriction of a qualifying offer attached, which should broaden his appeal to potential suitors. His ability to secure a more lucrative long-term contract, however, will depend on a stronger and more consistent performance in the upcoming season.
In his 2025 campaign with the Cubs, Imanaga posted a respectable 3.73 ERA across 144 2/3 innings, demonstrating elite control with an exceptional 4.6% walk rate. However, his underlying metrics raised concerns. His 20.6% strikeout rate was below the league average, and he was prone to hard contact, surrendering 31 home runs—the third-most among all MLB pitchers.
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