Shota Imanaga has accepted the Cubs’ qualifying offer for the 2026 season.
According to multiple reports, left-handed pitcher Shota Imanaga has accepted his qualifying offer from the Chicago Cubs.
After both parties between Imanaga and the Cubs rejected their player/team options, it was questioned whether the lefty would return to the Cubs in 2026.
Coming off a stellar rookie season, in which Imanaga finished in the top-five of the NL Cy Young voting in 2024, the lefty experienced a little bit of a sophomore slump last season. In 25 starts he posted a 9-8 record with 117 strikeouts, 26 walks, a 3.73 ERA, a 0.998 WHIP, and gave up 31 home runs in 144.2 innings pitched.
Imanaga’s second half in 2025 is what really caught Cubs’ fans attention last year. Post All-Star break he gave up 20 home runs in just 13 games while posting a 4.70 ERA.
The qualifying offer from the Cubs for $22.025 million will basically act as a one-year contract for Imanaga. He will enter free agency at the end of the 2026 season.
Story continues below.
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If Imanaga can bounce back from his subpar season in 2025, this could be a big win for the Cubs in 2026. Now let’s just hope Jed Hoyer can find himself an ace caliber arm this offseason to add to a solid group of starting pitchers.