Imanaga returns to Chicago on a one-year deal. Can he recapture his rookie magic and earn big dollars next offseason?
Left-handed pitcher Shota Imanaga officially accepted the Cubs’ one-year, $22.025 million qualifying offer on Tuesday afternoon for the 2026 season. This deal now ensures that Imanaga will spend at least one more season in the Windy City.
It was unclear whether Imanaga would accept the qualifying offer after both sides declined their ends of an option earlier this month. The Cubs declined his three-year, $57 million club option, and the southpaw declined his one-year, $15 million player option for this upcoming season.
However, the Cubs were obviously interested in bringing him back. They extended him the qualifying offer, and Imanaga will now play on a one-year deal before heading to free agency next offseason.
This move obviously works out for both sides. The Cubs don’t have to commit to Imanaga for multiple years, and the Japanese native can prove that he deserves top dollars on the free agent market next year following a turbulent 2025 campaign.
Imanaga started off the season on a strong note, maintaining a 2.40 ERA and 53 strikeouts in his first 13 starts. That was on par with how he looked in his rookie year, in which he made an All-Star appearance and finished fifth in National League Cy Young voting.
But the second half was a completely different story for the 32-year-old. He had a 5.17 ERA across his final 12 regular season starts and struggled to keep the ball in the ballpark. His 20 home runs allowed after the All-Star break were the most in baseball.
In the postseason, those struggles continued for Imanaga. He allowed two runs across four innings against the San Diego Padres in Game 2 of the National Wild Card Series and then gave up four runs across 2 ⅔ innings against the Milwaukee Brewers in Game 2 of the National League Division Series. The Cubs couldn't even rely on him to start a pivotal win-or-go-home Game 5.
Those struggles were ultimately why the Cubs likely didn’t want to commit to Imanaga for the next three years. Having him back for the 2026 season does make this Chicago rotation stronger -- assuming the southpaw returns to his 2024 rookie form.
Imanaga joins Cade Horton, Matthew Boyd, Jameson Taillon, Colin Rea, and Justin Steele as the team’s primary starters as it stands now for next year. His return, though, shouldn’t affect the Cubs’ offseason plans to acquire another starting pitcher.
With Imanaga, Boyd, and Taillon all set to be free agents next offseason, Chicago should still be in the market for another starting pitcher this winter.