Jason Ross

It could come through trade but I'm not convinced of that. They have plenty of room under the LT remaining and they seem highly unlikely to spend much via offense. They also have ways of shifting money via their rotation (I.E. moving Taillon in a money dump like they did Bellinger last off season). As of this point last off-season, the Cubs had done very little and their interest in moving off Bellinger wasn't really all that obvious, Kyle Tucker was not on the radar and most thought the Cubs would go big on SP and they went towards offense. I don't think we will see such a drastic shift this year (they have made it clear it's about pitching) but they didn't follow convention last year either. We will see where they go from here. I think reading into anything in any direction right now is premature. Good chance what the Cubs do won't fall under whatever the general consensus is that they will do anyways. I just think there are a lot of people, and not saying this at you specifically, who are very convinced as to what the team's plans are, but I'm not convinced of anything. I think we will see more what happens later and until then, I'm going to leave any pathway of acquiring pitching as equally as likely.

I'm not sure he doesn't adjust to the market so much; he just doesn't really get irrational. That's always been my issue with him too! I really like Imai, probably moreso than others, so if he's going to get irrational, I've got hope that a 27-year old IFA with no draft pick compensation is "the guy". Ultimately, I'm sure it won't be however. He has a tendency to disappoint. More likely they go value with King and you hope they build a better-than-normal bullpen (not that they build bad ones, I just mean instead of a bullpen that's good but non-elite, one that leans closer to shut down from day 1) to compensate.

We really don't have any idea where the Cubs sat here. We have some Bruce Levine connections a few weeks ago and a Sharma/Mooney light connection but what the Cubs offered, how interested they are or what they're working on is all pure speculation. I wouldn't have minded the Cubs offering the deal Cease signed with Toronto. I wouldn't have minded a little stronger offer, but 7/$210 is probably very close to "market value" as you'll find for him, too. We don't have any "we tried" signals coming from Cubs media or Cubs sources. What that means is up to you and your analysis; it could be that they never really tried, that they found better value and pivoted to a different thing, or that they simply misread the Cease market. But I'm not really jumping on the "well the Cubs weren't willing to go above and beyond for Cease" thing...yet. We have heard the Cubs are interested in a higher level of P this year...I don't mind right now if it isn't Cease that they're after. There are a handful of pitchers who I would have in the same general category as Cease.

Eh, I think we are missing the forest for the trees in being upset about the reports they were interested. Lots go into that. We really haven't gotten the "we tried" stuff from the Cubs here yet, and maybe that's incoming, but it's been pretty quiet other than some reports early that the Cubs liked him. It sucks we didn't get Cease but it's also very early in the off-season. If the Cubs walk away with one from the Imai, Gore, Ryan, Cabrera camp I'm going to be fine regardless. I might even be cool with Michael King as our best SP addition but the rest of the off-season would have to offset the drop in my confidence there. There might even be a few names in this group we don't know are available but who are actually available. Long off-season. I'd have been totally cool with a 7/$210 for Cease, but that it was Toronto is what it is. Lots of options, lots of routes. In a vacuum the Cubs are fine. No reason to panic yet. Talk to me in January, though.

7 years for the type of pitcher Cease is, is fine. Contrary to popular belief, SPs are aging better than hitters. There is always the concern of the TJS bomb in there, but science has come so far on that surgery that it's a speed bump more so than what it used to be. Cease has been very available for teams as well. Sucks it wasn't the Cubs here.

He added a new pitch last year and refined his fastball location. I'm not very worried about the walks moving forward.

Yeah, I would hope that the Cubs still add at least one good RHP, a LHP that steps into a trust worthy role, and then Leiter could enter the season where Yency Almonte, Julian Merriweather, or someone could enter in as. Or maybe he's seen as the "auxiliary" lefty of sorts. I think any of those positions in the bullpen, and I'd be very happy with his addition. But yeah, I kind of think that it's pretty inevitable. The Cubs love bringing back guys like Leiter Jr. after they don't work out elsewhere. And he'd be someone they could cut bait on in April or May if it just isn't working, too.

Ah. Makes sense. I can't read, either, which is an issue.

We're jumping the shark here. Imanaga has 318 IP since coming to America. He has a 3.73 ERA, a 4.03 xFIP, and has been worth 4 fWAR. He has the same fWAR as Bailey Ober and Bryan Bello. He doesn't "need to be in the bullpen" he's clearly an MLB caliber starting pitcher. He needs some work to get his arm slot back (which I think caused issues) and he needs to be healthy, because I think fastball velocity suffered for it. But he's clearly a SP. He has plus fastball shape and a nasty splitter. They tunnel really well. And he has a sweeper he can show if need be.

Hard to be mad at that. That's a pretty solid deal. And if you assume he's the Kittredge replacement, you saved a little AAV.

Some combination of grip, arm slot and likely some sort of seam shifted wake. We live in a world now where pitchers can literally defy spin; by releasing the ball and messing with the seams, they can create a wake pattern that makes it appear to a hitter that the ball is spinning in one direction, while it moves in another. For Imai, I'd imagine a lot of work is being done with his very shallow arm angle. He's also a small guy, I'd imagine he's not the biggest hand-size guy either. That probably is doing some work.

Image courtesy of © Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn Images As we enter the holiday season, the concept of reuniting with family members and loved ones is on the mind. While there may be a few people we're a little less than thrilled about sharing a table with (maybe it's that know-it-all cousin of yours you never really got along with?), there will also be some folks we haven't seen for quite some time who will fill our evenings with joy and laughter. We'll realize, in that moment, just what we've been missing. Right then, even if for a short time, we are whole again. It's in this vein that the Chicago Cubs will be looking fill out their 2026 roster, and a "family reunion" of some sorts may just be what the doctor ordered. There are a handful of heroes of past Cubs rosters who are looking for homes next year, and it may be that they choose the familiar home they once had instead of a brand-new city in which to settle down. I'll examine three candidates: designated hitter Kyle Schwarber, and relief pitchers Mark Leiter Jr. and Andrew Chafin. Together, we can endeavor to decide just how likely it is for them to sit down at the Cubs' dinner table for the foreseeable future. Reunion Candidate #1: Designated Hitter Kyle Schwarber Kyle Schwarber was one of the more beloved Cubs hitters during his time in Chicago. From hitting a ball atop the right-field scoreboard in the 2015 NLDS to heroically returning for the 2016 World Series (after missing the lion's share of the season due to an unfortunate knee injury), the left-handed hitter made his mark in Chicago. His time was cut short when the team decided to non-tender him, ultimately spending the same money on Joc Pederson instead ahead of the 2021 season. Now, the Cubs will have a chance to rectify that error by bringing Schwarber home. Since 2021, the left-handed DH has been among the best in baseball, averaging a 135 wRC+ for the Nationals, Red Sox, and Phillies. Once a strict platoon bat, Schwarber even has some some mojo against left-handed pitchers, finishing with a 162 wRC+ against them in 2025. He's strictly a DH, but his bat is so good that it doesn't really hold him back from being useful. Why Schwarber might fit into the Cubs' plans: The Cubs are slated to lose (arguably) their best hitter to free agency, in Kyle Tucker. The team could swing their incumbent at DH, Seiya Suzuki, back to right field for the 2026 season, which would open up a perfect spot for Schwarber. His left-handed bat was actually better than Tucker's was last year, and he would add significant thump to the lineup. Why Schwarber might not fit into the Cubs' plans: The Cubs just don't put a massive emphasis on DH most years. They value positional flexibility, and Schwarber offers none of that—though he might be capable of moonlighting a little at first base. As well, they have two rookies in Owen Caissie and Moisés Ballesteros, who both hit from the left side. Either could conceivably slip into the position. How likely is a reunion? About as likely as that one uncle of yours not getting political this week at the dinner table. There are already rumors that the Philadelphia Phillies are going to try to keep him (and they aren't afraid to jump a market). According to ESPN insider Jeff Passan, the market is hot for the DH. Could the Cubs decide that Schwarber, who probably won't need a seven-year commitment, is the player they should get irrational about? Perhaps, but it feels like another team will decide to do that instead. As fun as it would be, it seems like a reunion here is unlikely. Reunion Candidate #2: Reliver Mark Leiter Jr. Leiter spent two and a half seasons in the Windy City after the Cubs helped to revive the then-31-year-old's career. He hadn't pitched an inning in the majors since 2018, but by the middle of 2022, he had established himself a key cog in the Cubs' bullpen. Flashing a plus splitter that was devastating to left-handed hitters, the reliever had finally found a home—that is, until the trade deadline of the 2024 season. With the Cubs staring at decision point (choosing between making a run for it and selling off some assets for the future), the New York Yankees made an offer for the right-hander pitcher that the Cubs couldn't turn down. The Cubs acquired young reliever Jack Neely and infielder Ben Cowles, and Leiter was sent to the city that never sleeps. While Leiter was pretty good in New York, the Yankees made the decision to non-tender the 34-year-old last week. making him a free agent. Why he might fit into the Cubs' plans: The Cubs bullpen is currently wide open and quite unsettled. Returning closer Daniel Palencia will be coupled with recently-signed Phil Maton, but there is little clarity regarding the rest of the bullpen. One area in which the Cubs are lacking; anyone who specializes, specifically, in getting left-handed hitters out. Despite being right-handed, Leiter uses his splitter effectively against opposite-handed hitters, finishing with a 2.61 xFIP against lefties last season. Why he might not fit into the Cubs' plans: While the Cubs are looking to rebuild their bullpen, they may aim higher than Leiter. Though he'd offer the comfort of familiarity, Leiter really struggled against right-handed-hitters, posting significantly worse numbers against them; a strikeout rate of just 12.1% and an xFIP well over 5.00. If there's enough concern that he's too specialized, the Cubs may not see a place for him in their revamped 2026 bullpen. How likely is a reunion? As likely as I am to pull a hamstring during the Turkey Trot: 50/50. The Cubs need a lot of relievers this offseason, and you'd have to imagine that if there's an organization out there who believes they can get the most out of Leiter, it's the Cubs. With all of their left-handed specialists leaving, it makes Leiter that much more attractive. So while I wouldn't gamble my hard-earned money on it, I think there's a good chance this one could happen; much like a white Christmas remains possible, Reunion Candidate #3: Reliever, Andrew Chafin Chafin feels like he was part of the Chicago Cubs for longer than he was, but the left-handed reliever only spent some inactive time in 2020 and half of the 2021 season with the team. Admittedly, it was a great 31-game sample, as the left-handed pitcher put up a 2.06 ERA and 0.9 fWAR (which is a lot for a partial season!), ultimately earning a trade to Oakland that would bring back Triple-A outfielder Greg Deichmann and a minor leaguer with an electric arm—Daniel Palencia. Since 2021, Chafin has been signing for playoff non-contenders and then being traded at the deadline to a playoff hopeful. Now 35 years old, the reliever is once again looking for a new home. Why he might fit into the Cubs' plans: As I detailed with Leiter, the Chicago Cubs' bullpen is currently empty. They've lost most of their bullpen, which also includes the non-tender of depth piece Eli Morgan. The team will need a lot of relievers, and Chafin could fit back in as a left-handed option, The Cubs have not shied away from older lefties; their primary options just a year ago were the 37-year-old Drew Pomeranz and 38-year-old Caleb Thielbar. Comparatively, Andrew Chafin represents a youth movement. Why he might not fit into the Cubs' plans: On the surface, he looks like he might be done as a big-league pitcher. Chafin's fastball has declined to the wrong side of 90 mph, so while his ERA remained sterling (2.41), his xFIP climbed to nearly 4.00 last year. His strikeout rate dropped by 3%, and his walk rate ballooned to 13.3%. The Cubs already have a lack of velocity in their pen, so adding another soft-tosser may not be the best gamble to take. How likely is a reunion? About as likely as I am to eat a second slice of apple pie on Thursday On the surface it may seem like a good idea (my eyes being larger than my stomach), but once I think about it, it probably isn't so, at my age. Chafin has a lot of signs of decline, and I'm not sure that the Cubs will be in a place to see if he still has it. Maybe they see something within his biomechanics and think they can squeeze and find 2 mph on his fastball again, but I think it's more likely (as he hits the back end) of his 30's that he's trending toward the end. What do you think of these reunion candidates? Do you have a favorite one? Maybe there's a reunion out there that I didn't think of? Let us know in the comment section below! View full article

It is a slider. What makes it odd is the movement. Sliders typically have glove side run, in, they run towards the glove. Imai throws what is called a "reverse slider", it has more arm side run meaning its movement path is more towards the thrower's arm side. It's the closest to a screwball, but it's still technically a slider and pitch modeling will classify it as such (as it did in NPB's version of Statcast) and Imai also classifies it as a slider.

Clicking the article he does mention the Athletic, but also seems to be alluding to a connection to his previous source in the BP? Hard to fully tell.

I think the answer is that either Caissie or Ballesteros will be the primary DH against RHH and they will bring in some sort of a platoon bat for them.

Two things can be true simultaneously: 1. Relief arms are volatile due to sample size. 2. The under the hood stuff matters Here is Brad Keller's statcast: Here are Pete Fairbanks since he's lost two mph on his fastball: So, sure, RP's can be random it feels, but Brad Keller's 2025 stands above anything the latter has done for two years and 100 IP. Unless there is something that Brad Keller is doing that we can't see in the savant data that would cause for concern, something medically we wouldn't know, than there isn't much of a reason to doubt that Brad Keller is anything but a very good reliever. Randomly, Pete Fairbanks could be better than Brad Keller; sure, because RP's do that. But by this light, we can make an argument for any mediocre RP being better than Keller or Fairbanks in any year - something I'm just not going to do. So while there is variance baked into RP's we can also make judgement calls on who is more likely to be good. And I think Keller is the better bet. Which isn't to say "don't sign Fairbanks" - I think he could be a good reliever still! And even better if you can squeeze a little velo juice out of him again. But it is to say that I'm not going to ignore all of this stuff just because RP's can be a little wonky, either. Nothing in the Keller profile suggest a collapse coming.

Everything under the hood from Keller last year has been better than Fairbanks the last two. He's younger as well. I wouldn't be "sure" of anything with a reliever, they're volatile. I also feel much more comfortable saying as of today, I expect Brad Keller is the better bet to be good. Him having only been a reliever for one year doesn't really factor much into this for me.

Brad Keller was the third name listed by BN and Cerami from the article I posted above. Again, none were listed as much more than speculation, but considering Cerami is both the guy who nailed the Maton signing and is the guy with the source here those names seem likely in terms of what his report was about as well

Yeah, and between those three, he's the least desirable. His K% has dropped with the decline in fastball. But you could probably tell yourself that a winter with Zombro and Tread Athletics that he could get some back. And at that point he's almost as good.

His fastball dropped from averaging around 99 mph to 97mph back in 2024. He maintained that level of fastball in 2025. Fairbanks may be someone they are interested in, but his 97mph fastball is about where Brad Keller is as a reliever. Devin Williams probably fits the most in terms of "what the Cubs like". He has a shallow arm angle that we have seen the Cubs gravitate towards.

Per Cerami and BN: Cubs are aiming "even higher" than Phil Maton still. Article mentions by name Devin Williams, Brad Keller and Pete Fairbanks, though more speculative than definitive on those names. https://www.bleachernation.com/cubs/2025/11/22/cubs-free-agent-relievers/

To be fair to Maton, he walked 1.3% more hitters than Keller last year which resulted in...one extra walk. Maton walked 23 hitters and Keller walked 22 (Keller did throw 8 more innings). We didn't really add a bunch of walks.