After making waves by declining his player option , Shota Imanaga will be back in Chicago with the Cubs after all, signing his $22.025 million qualifying offer to return on a one-year deal.

Breaking down the news on social media after it became official, The Athletic's Patrick Mooney revealed that Imanaga made the decision just before Tuesday's deadline, ensuring that a top pitching option will not hit the open market until late 2026 . “Shota Imanaga will be returning to the Chicago Cubs on a one-year, $22.025 million contract, a league source briefed on his decision said before Tuesday's deadline to accept or reject qualifying offers,” Patrick Mooney wrote. Article Continues Below

Initially coming over to MLB after a successful career with the Yokohama DeNA BayStars of the NP

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