Shota Imanaga, Trent Grisham among record 4 players to accept qualifying offer and return to their old team

In previous winters, MLB players declining a qualifying offer was essentially a formality. Since teams only extend those offers to good players, the overwhelming majority of those players decline the qualifying offer to seek a mega-contract on the market.

But that changed in 2025. A record four players — including Chicago Cubs ace Shota Imanaga and New York Yankees outfielder Trent Grisham — accepted their qualifying offer Tuesday.

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Because of that, Imanaga, Grisham, Detroit Tigers second baseman Gleyber Torres and Milwaukee Brewers starter Brandon Woodruff will all return to their previous MLB franchises on one-year, $22.025 million contracts.

This story will be updated.