Chicago Cubs Won't Pursue Top End Relievers in Free Agency...For Now

[Matthew Lenz]

The Chicago Cubs enter the offseason needing to add weapons to their bullpen, so surely they'll be aggressive in the free agent market, right? Right!? Not so fast.

In an article posted to The Athletic, Sahadev Sharma was told by league sources "not to expect the Cubs to jump in on big-name free agent relievers, at least not early on." In other words, Cubs fans might feel like they're in the twilight zone, reliving last offseason.

Though it shouldn't be a surprise, it's not the update Cubs were hoping to hear as the team has lost four bullpen arms four days into the offseason. Yesterday, they traded Andrew Kittredge to the Orioles, and Brad Keller, Drew Pomeranz, and Caleb Thielbar entered free agency at season's end. In short, the Cubs will need to replace more than 170 innings of sub-3 ERA - a tall task when you're not going after the big fish. However, those names weren't towards the top of the pool last year, and it turned out all right for the Cubs.

Once again, the Cubs will be operating on the margins, looking to sign cost-effective arms to rebuild a bullpen. As a whole, the 2025 bullpen was roughly league average, posting a 4.03 FIP (16th) and accumulating 3.1 fWAR (19th).

Do you think the Cubs should be more open to adding a top-end relief arm in free agency? Let us know in the comments!

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[JunkyardWalrus]

Ohhh, the Cubs are dumpster diving? So novel!

[Layoutman]

As a young child, some of my first memories of sporting events, are of attending KC Royal games with my Grandfather, who had season tickets for many years.  Collected some cherished signed balls (Frank White, Dennis Leonard, and George Brett) and more importunately memories of games with grandpa. Even though a lifelong Cub fan, I still followed the Royals to talk baseball with 91 years old Grandpa. 

Where am I going with this?

2015 Was a World Series winning year for the Royals. With a mediocre at best starting rotation I thought they had no chance and told that much. Grandpa kept reminding how much of a weapon the bullpen the bullpen was.  He was right.  And it was. The Royals were shortening the game to 6 innings. If their starters and front half of the bullpen could get them 6 good innings and keep them close (Royals had 1 starter with an ERA under 4 and 1 ((Jeremy Guthrie over 6)) they had a +.550 win percentage. The bullpen had the depth to cover a Greg Holland injury. They shortened the game using this template:
7th: Herrera 8th: Davis - (Madson when Holland went down) 9th: Holland

Relievers are volatile from season to season, The Cubs proved you can build from the scrap heap this year. It's an ugly process without a guarantee of success that takes in season time that wastes some of the team's best efforts which directly impacts morale. Rather than Hoyer's typical nickel and dime approach of signing a plethora of low to mid range FA BP arms, Why not pony up for an arm that takes the 9th inning away and makes everyone else one slot better? Who fills the 7th 8th and 9th slot right now? 

[Neuby]

Williams will get a pillow contract from the Cubs this offseason. Book it.

[Bull]

This is the year the farm produces elite bullpen arms. I’m still in the Luke Little bandwagon.

[Tangled Up in Plaid]

So I guess re-signing Keller is off the table?

[Bertz]

2 hours ago, Tangled Up in Plaid said:

So I guess re-signing Keller is off the table?

Might depend if he will settle for two years.  Like of you look at the top FAs list from MLBTR

https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2025/11/2025-26-top-50-mlb-free-agents-with-predictions.html

There's four relievers who they expect to get three+ year deals: Edwin Diaz (4/82), Devin Williams (4/68) Robert Suarez (3/48) and Keller (3/36).  After that there's a bunch of guys expected to get two years and 10ish million a year.  My guess is those latter guys are firmly on the table but 3+ years or 15+ per year probably aren't?

[mk49]

I want to keep Keller.  The dude said he wanted to stay, and he was good.

Unfortunately, I started feeling like the Cubs won't sign anybody "top end", unless it's a 1 yr contract.  Maybe, there's an exception, but not many.  Hopefully, I'm wrong on this.

Edited November 10, 2025 by mk49

[We Got The Whole 9]

Sign him for 3, you idiots. 

[Bertz]

The Athletic had a blurb on this this AM

Quote

 

In reconstructing their bullpen, the Cubs recognize that they can’t only offer one-year contracts to relievers. It’s possible that they will invest multiple years in the right late-inning arms.

That doesn’t mean signing All-Star closer Edwin Díaz to a $100 million contract. Devin Williams, who closed for Cubs manager Craig Counsell during their time with the Milwaukee Brewers, is generating enough early interest to suggest that his next deal will go beyond Chicago’s comfort zone.

But the Cubs are planning to spread their resources around and provide Counsell with several viable options. Pete Fairbanks, the former closer for the Tampa Bay Rays, is a name to keep in mind. A reunion with Brad Keller, who thoroughly enjoyed his time in Chicago, also can’t be ruled out quite yet.

 

So expect a couple of arms that are at least closer-adjacent as opposed to one big fish.

I will say if this is the plan I have no idea how Kittredge at $9M didn't make sense to keep but whatever.

[Dfan25]

It’s a shame on Williams because I read that his preference is to sign with a Midwest team .  

If they were willing to give 4 years to Scott last offseason , they should be willing to do so this offseason IMO . Coming off a playoff appearance , seems like a new competitive window has now open . 
 

Williams met with the Reds by the way . On a positive note it seems like there is a chance they will pursuit one of the top SP . 

Edited November 14, 2025 by Dfan25

[Neuby]

Cubs are a sleeper team on Williams but my guess is Jensen is one of the many arms they add to the pen.