After a long, drawn-out saga that featured multiple opt-outs and a lot of snide remarks from fans who fell on different sides of the equation, Shota Imanaga is officially returning to the Chicago Cubs in 2026. He has accepted the qualifying offer, which amounts to a one-year, $22.05 million deal.
It's an odd conclusion to the whole situation, considering the Cubs passed on his three-year club option (at a lower annual salary) and Imanaga passed on a one-year option (worth $15 million) before both sides effectively agreed to this new arrangement.
Considering how it appeared how Imanaga's tenure had ended -- with him watching from the sidelines on full rest in Game 5 of the NLDS -- it's fascinating to see him willingly return to a team that seemingly soured on him during the second half of 2025.