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.

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.

All four players faced very different realities with free agency on the horizon. Torres and Grisham are veteran players coming off career seasons. They may have been concerned teams would approach them with skepticism on the market, not wanting to commit multiple years and big money toward players who could decline next season.

Imanaga and Woodruff are both coming off injury-riddled years. While both players pitched well, Imanaga struggled mightily with home runs in his second season in the majors. Woodruff failed to regain his fastball velocity after returning from a serious shoulder injury.

While all four had significant questions, it’s possible some of them could have still signed multi-year contracts worth more than $22.025 in total. Instead of testing the market to see if that was the case, all four players opted to stick with their old clubs.

A total of 13 qualifying offers were extended to MLB free agents following the 2025 season. Grisham, Imanaga, Torres and Woodruff all accepted those offers.

The following nine players opted to reject the qualifying offer and hit the market:

• Kyle Schwarber, DH, Philadelphia Phillies

• Ranger Suarez, SP, Phillies

• Bo Bichette, SS, Toronto Blue Jays

• Dylan Cease, SP, San Diego Padres

• Edwin Díaz, RP, New York Mets

• Zac Gallen, SP, Arizona Diamondbacks

• Michael King, SP, San Diego Padres

This story will be updated.