⚾ STRATEGIC MOVE BY THE CUBS: The Chicago Cubs have officially extended qualifying offers to stars Kyle Tucker and Shota Imanaga, securing compensation draft picks should either player walk in free agency. The move signals that Chicago intends to keep its core intact — or, at the very least, get valuable assets in return. As front-office insiders describe it, this is the “chessboard phase” of the offseason, where every offer could shift the balance of the Cubs’ 2026 roster.
The Chicago Cubs extended qualifying offers to outfielder Kyle Tucker and left-hander Shota Imanaga before Thursday’s 4 p.m. deadline.