How is the Cubs¡¯ bullpen shaping up?

January 9th, 2025

This story was excerpted from Jordan Bastian's Cubs Beat newsletter. To read the full newsletter, click here. And subscribe to get it regularly in your inbox.

CHICAGO -- The one area of the Cubs¡¯ roster that still feels incomplete with one month remaining until Spring Training is the bullpen. Building depth for the relief corps was a priority -- and the North Siders have made a handful of additions -- but there may be work left to do.

Last season, Chicago¡¯s inactivity on this front carried over into the early part of the season, when injuries swept through the bullpen and the front office was scrambling to shore things up before things spiraled irreversibly. Heading into 2025, it was a stated goal to have more insurance behind the Major League cast.

¡°Very few teams go into the season like, ¡®I've got it figured out for my bullpen,¡¯¡± Cubs manager Craig Counsell said at the Winter Meetings in December. ¡°I think if you do, you're going to be making a mistake.¡±

There are still some intriguing options available in free agency -- led by Tanner Scott, Jeff Hoffman, Carlos Est¨¦vez and Kirby Yates, among others -- but let¡¯s look at where things stand for Chicago¡¯s bullpen right now.

Additions: Eli Morgan, Cody Poteet, Caleb Thielbar, Rob Zastryzny

The 37-year-old Thielbar signed a one-year deal worth $2.75 million to give the Cubs a veteran lefty. Morgan (acquired from the Guardians) is also a virtual lock, but he does have one Minor League option left. The righty also boasts an elite changeup, so he will have every chance to seize an important role in the ¡®pen.

Poteet was acquired from the Yankees in the Cody Bellinger trade, but he could offer depth for both the rotation or bullpen (he has Minor League options). Zastryzny (out of options) was an early November waiver claim, but he gives Chicago another experienced lefty to consider.

Returnees out of options: Tyson Miller, Keegan Thompson, Julian Merryweather

Miller (2.15 ERA in 49 games with the Cubs) was a stabilizing force for the bullpen last year after things were collapsing in early May. Consider this: Chicago¡¯s bullpen had a 4.61 ERA through May 13 (ranked 13th in the National League), but then posted a 3.50 ERA (third in the NL) after Miller¡¯s arrival via trade on May 14. He¡¯ll be a front-runner for an Opening Day job.

Thompson has dealt with mixed results over the past two years, while Merryweather is coming off an injury-marred ¡®24 after working as a dominant setup man two seasons ago. Both relievers avoided arbitration with the Cubs and will be given the chance to be with the Opening Day group.

Late-inning front-runners: Porter Hodge, Nate Pearson

Hodge joined the bullpen in May last year and turned in an impressive rookie performance, posting a 1.88 ERA with 52 strikeouts and 19 walks over 43 innings (39 games). The young righty was handling high-leverage moments by the end of the year. Barring more additions, Hodge could be lined up as the primary closer to start the upcoming season.

Pearson was acquired from the Blue Jays at the Trade Deadline and turned his season around with the Cubs. After logging a 5.63 ERA in 41 games for Toronto, the hard-throwing righty dealt a 2.73 ERA in 19 games for the Cubs. Overall, he racked up 74 strikeouts against 21 walks across 66 1/3 innings.

Swingman options: Javier Assad, Ben Brown, Caleb Kilian, Jordan Wicks

Assad is lined up for a rotation job, but the righty could be pushed to the bullpen if Chicago were to add another starting pitcher. Similarly, Brown, Kilian (Cubs' No. 30 prospect) and Wicks offer rotation depth, but have the ability to shift into relief, if needed. All three dealt with injuries last year.

Other names to note

Lefty Luke Little was growing into an impact part of Counsell¡¯s bullpen last year before a shoulder setback cut his season short. The 40-man roster also includes relievers Michael Arias (No. 18 prospect), Jack Neely (No. 17 prospect), Gavin Hollowell, Daniel Palencia and Ethan Roberts. Three non-roster invitees added to date are Phil Bickford, Ben Heller and Brooks Kriske.

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