For only the second time in MLB history, four players—including pitchers Shōta Imanaga and Brandon Woodruff—accepted their one-year, $22.025 million qualifying offers.
In a notable deviation from recent trends, Shōta Imanaga of the Chicago Cubs and Brandon Woodruff of the Milwaukee Brewers each accepted their club’s one-year qualifying offer (QO) for the 2026 season, according to reports.
Both pitchers, along with Gleyber Torres and Trent Grisham, join a select group of just 18 players overall who have accepted QOs since the system was established in 2012.
13 players received the one-year, $22 million qualifying offer
DECLINED: Bo Bichette, Dylan Cease, Edwin Diaz, Zac Gallen, Michael King, Kyle Schwarber, Ranger Suarez, Kyle Tucker, Framber Valdez
ACCEPTED: Trent Grisham, Shota Imanaga, Gleyber Torres, Brandon Woodruff pic.twitter.com/klqmD658FO
— Talkin’ Baseball (@TalkinBaseball_) November 18, 2025
Imanaga, 32, posted a 3.73 ERA in 25 starts despite a hamstring issue, and had declined both a three-year, $57 million club option and a $15 million player option, clearing the path to free agency. Meanwhile, Woodruff returned from shoulder surgery to pitch 12 starts with a 3.20 ERA and career-best strikeout and walk rates.
Both likely concluded that the QO’s one-year security at $22.025 million made more sense than the uncertainty of multi-year markets, especially with the MLB collective-bargaining agreement looming for renewal.
Strategic implications for clubs and market dynamics
For the Cubs and Brewers, retaining these arms at a set figure gives the organizations breathing room amid a playoff window push.
Chicago can now approach its pitching strategy with Imanaga locked in for one year, while Milwaukee continues to manage Woodruff’s injury risk with known cost. Both clubs maintain flexibility for the offseason while preserving competitive continuity.
Final accounting on qualifying offers, per sources:
Trent Grisham (Yankees), Gleyber Torres (Tigers), Brandon Woodruff (Brewers) and Shota Imanaga (Cubs) all accepted the one-year, $22.025 million contract to return for 2026.
The nine other players offered rejected the deal.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) November 18, 2025
On the broader market front, this wave of QO acceptances reflects a rare moment of caution among players with deep track records. Teams assessing high-end free agents must now weigh both the risk of draft-pick compensation and the availability of elite arms choosing security.
The trend may shift negotiations, tighten budgets, or influence how clubs deploy qualifying offers in the future.
A microtrend with macro impact
Shōta Imanaga and Brandon Woodruff opting into their qualifying offers tells a layered story. Individually, it speaks to risk-adjusted planning by veteran pitchers coming off health or performance questions.
Organizationally, it underscores how clubs value certainty and controllable costs when building contention strategies.
In a free-agent environment increasingly fraught with labor uncertainty and market volatility, this moment may mark a strategic turning point in which one-year deals gain renewed traction. For fans and analysts alike, the true test will be how this decision affects both the 2026 rotation picture and the contours of future contracts.
