Surprise contract decision suddenly shakes up winter plans for Reds' rival

Chicago just got its frontline lefty back for another year, but not on the terms the front office had in mind.

Chicago Cubs pitcher Shota Imanaga | Brandon Sloter/GettyImagesWhen the offseason began, the Chicago Cubs looked like a team gearing up for a very different kind of winter — one built around keeping their books clean, shuffling money into new areas, and hunting for upgrades at a few carefully chosen weak spots on the roster.

That’s why Shota Imanaga’s surprising decision to accept the qualifying offer hit like a thunderclap across the division, instantly reshaping a plan that had been drawn up with his departure all but penciled in.

For months, the expectation around the league was…