Jed Hoyer’s 2025 bullpen build for the Chicago Cubs wasn’t just good - it was surgical. The Cubs found value in places most teams overlooked, and under the steady hands of manager Craig Counsell and pitching coach Tommy Hottovy, those arms didn’t just contribute - they dominated.
Let’s start with Drew Pomeranz. The veteran left-hander hadn’t thrown a pitch in the majors since 2021, but when he returned to the mound in 2025, he looked like he hadn’t missed a beat.
In fact, he looked better. Pomeranz opened his season with 26 straight scoreless appearances - a stretch of dominance that turned heads across the league.
After a tough July, he rebounded down the stretch and capped off his comeback by starting Game 5 of the NLDS against the Brewers. That’s not just a nice story - that’s trust from your manager in the biggest moment of the season.
By the end of the year, Pomeranz had logged 49 2/3 innings with a 2.17 ERA. For a guy who hadn’t faced big-league hitters in nearly four years, that’s nothing short of remarkable.
He wasn’t just a feel-good story - he was one of the most reliable arms in the league. Now, he’s heading west to join a revamped Angels bullpen that also just added Jordan Romano.
That group is starting to look a lot more formidable.
Back in Chicago, the Cubs are reloading with some familiar faces and a few new ones. Caleb Thielbar, another savvy addition from last offseason, is returning to the North Side.
At 38, he turned in one of the best seasons of his career, bouncing back from a rough 2024 in Minnesota to post a 2.64 ERA and a sparkling 0.879 WHIP over 67 appearances. He wasn’t overpowering, but he was efficient and smart, limiting hard contact and keeping hitters off balance - the kind of pitcher who thrives in high-leverage spots.
Joining Thielbar is Hoby Milner, who inked a one-year deal with Chicago this week. Milner is a familiar face for Counsell from their time together in Milwaukee, and he fits the mold of what this Cubs front office looks for: command, deception, and the ability to get outs without relying on triple-digit heat. Like Thielbar, Milner isn’t going to light up radar guns, but he knows how to pitch - and that still plays.
Even with these additions, the Cubs bullpen isn’t quite a finished product. There’s still a need for a late-inning hammer - someone who can consistently shut the door in the ninth.
The market for those arms has moved fast this offseason, and it’s possible the Cubs are already pivoting. One internal option?
Daniel Palencia. The hard-throwing righty could be in line to take over closing duties, with Thielbar, Milner, and veteran Phil Maton setting the table.
It’s not the flashiest group on paper, but there’s a clear strategy here. The Cubs are building a bullpen that leans on experience, versatility, and pitchability. And if 2025 taught us anything, it’s that this front office - and this coaching staff - knows how to get the most out of their arms.