“We obviously value Shota a ton. He was amazing for us as a pitcher and a teammate, and I don’t want to close that door completely.” — Jed Hoyer, Cubs President of Baseball Operations, hints at a possible reunion with Shota Imanaga despite contractual differences.
The Chicago Cubs are making waves in the MLB with a calculated, high-stakes game of contractual chess involving pitcher Shota Imanaga. In a move that left many analysts speculating, the Cubs opted not to exercise their team option on the 32-year-old lefty starter, which would have activated a $57 million three-year extension. Instead, Imanaga was allowed to decline his $15 million player option, making him a free agent. But this wasn’t the end of the story—it was only the beginning of a complex negotiation play by the Cubs.
In a surprising but strategic move, the Cubs extended a qualifying offer of over $22 million for the 2026 season, adding another layer to their intricate chessboard. If Imanaga chooses to sign elsewhere, the Cubs stand to gain draft pick compensation. But even more intriguing is the possibility of bringing Imanaga back at a lower cost, potentially securing him for a team-friendly deal. The Cubs, in essence, appear to be betting that the market for Imanaga will be less than expected due to his shaky 2025 season.
Coming off a rough year where injuries and inconsistency (especially with home runs) hindered his performance, Imanaga struggled to find his footing. Despite a 3.73 ERA in 2024, the 2025 season exposed cracks in his game. His poor September (6.51 ERA) and even worse playoff performance (8.10 ERA in two starts) left many questioning if the league had figured out his pitching style. Yet, the Cubs are clearly not ready to let go of him just yet, with Hoyer commenting on the importance of a potential reunion.
“It’s a complicated structure. Ultimately, we didn’t think that the club option was the right value, and he didn’t think the player option was right for him,” Hoyer said. Despite these differences, the door remains open for talks, and the Cubs seem confident that Imanaga could return on a deal more suited to both sides’ needs.
While Jon Heyman of the New York Post reports that Imanaga is likely to decline the $22 million offer, it doesn’t completely shut the door on a return to the Cubs. With Imanaga’s market value potentially lower than anticipated, the Cubs may offer him a two-year deal with a lower base salary, but with performance-based incentives to increase his potential earnings.
As the clock ticks toward the November 18 deadline for Imanaga to accept or decline the Cubs’ offer, the entire MLB is watching. Will Imanaga take a chance on free agency, or will the Cubs’ gamble on a reunion pay off? With both sides needing each other in a market that’s not guaranteed to be kind to Imanaga, the situation remains fluid. And in this game of high-stakes baseball, anything can happen.
“I’m just focused on winning for the team, but the records keep stacking up, and it’s an honor to be mentioned with the best.”
— Jared Goff on his record-setting performance in Detroit Lions’ dominant 44-22 win against the Washington Commanders.
Jared Goff’s incredible season continues to turn heads across the NFL as the Detroit Lions’ starting quarterback adds yet another chapter to his historic career. In a commanding 44-22 victory over the Washington Commanders, Goff not only propelled his team to a 6-3 record but also reached new heights that solidified his status as one of the league’s top quarterbacks.
Goff’s 320 yards and three touchdowns against Washington are just the latest in a season that has seen him shatter multiple Lions’ records. With this victory, Goff’s total passing yards for the season now stands at 2,235, with 20 touchdowns—tied for the second-most in franchise history in a single season. He now ranks alongside Lions legend Matthew Stafford (who threw 20 TD passes in 2011) and Bobby Layne (24 TD passes in 1954), and only Stafford’s 41 touchdowns in 2011 stand ahead of him.
But Goff’s accomplishments don’t stop there. His career-long ability to reach the 300-yard passing mark continues to impress as he recorded his 44th career game with 300+ yards, putting him in the company of NFL greats like Dan Marino and Drew Brees for the most such games in the first 10 seasons of a career. With eight games still remaining in the season, Goff has a real chance to close the gap on Patrick Mahomes and Matt Ryan, who sit ahead of him with 49 and 45 300-yard games, respectively.
On top of his yardage and touchdown milestones, Goff also set a new NFL record for the most consecutive away games with a completion percentage over 70%, marking his eighth straight game with such a feat. His performance in Week 10 added to his legacy, with his passer rating also surpassing 100 for the 65th time in his career, ranking him fourth in NFL history for quarterbacks in their first 10 seasons.
Most notably, Goff’s completion rate of 74% this season is the best in the NFL, making him one of the most efficient quarterbacks in the league and cementing his place among the elite. With his stellar numbers and continued improvement, Goff’s 2025 campaign is shaping up to be the best in Detroit Lions’ history, outpacing even legendary quarterbacks who came before him.
As Goff’s name continues to climb the ranks of NFL history, it’s clear that his decision to return to Detroit in 2021 was a pivotal moment. With head coach Dan Campbell’s leadership and the support of a top-tier offense, Goff is turning into one of the most dangerous quarterbacks in the league. While Stafford has excelled with the Los Angeles Rams, Goff is proving that his place in Detroit’s legacy is only just beginning, and his best years are still ahead of him.
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