Jed Hoyer has made a habit of turning overlooked arms into reliable bullpen contributors for the Chicago Cubs, and in 2025, that trend continued. Brad Keller, Caleb Thielbar, and Drew Pomeranz all found new life in Chicago, but one name that quietly slipped through the cracks was Chris Flexen - a pitcher whose season was a tale of two very different chapters.
Flexen came to the Cubs on a minor league deal last offseason, a classic low-risk move designed to bolster depth at Triple-A Iowa. He wasn’t expected to play a significant role in the big-league bullpen. But baseball has a way of rewriting plans, and injuries to Justin Steele and Shota Imanaga opened the door for the 31-year-old right-hander to step in as a swingman.
And for a while, Flexen made the most of that opportunity - in a big way. He didn’t allow a single earned run through his first 21 innings with the Cubs.
That kind of run, especially from a guy who started the year off the radar, is the stuff front offices dream about. He was efficient, composed, and gave the Cubs exactly what they needed in a moment of uncertainty.
But baseball’s a humbling game. After that scoreless streak, Flexen’s numbers took a sharp turn.
Over his final nine outings, he was tagged for 17 earned runs and served up seven home runs. The command wavered, the contact got louder, and the magic that carried him through his first few weeks in the bullpen ran out.
It became clear that the version of Flexen the Cubs had early in the year wasn’t sustainable, and eventually, he was no longer a viable option for manager Craig Counsell.
By early August, the Cubs released Flexen. But his playing career isn’t ending - it’s just shifting continents.
Flexen has signed with the Doosan Bears of the KBO, a move that’s becoming increasingly common for pitchers looking to reset and refine their game. It’s also likely a more lucrative opportunity than any minor-league deal he might’ve received stateside this winter.
We’ve seen this path work before. Pitchers like Cody Ponce have used the KBO as a springboard back to MLB, and Flexen will be hoping to follow a similar script. If he can find consistency overseas, there’s always a chance he could re-enter the big-league conversation down the line.
As for the Cubs, the bullpen remains a work in progress heading into the offseason. The signing of Phil Maton was a solid first step - a sign that Hoyer might be willing to look beyond his usual reclamation projects - but the Cubs have already missed out on bigger names like Ryan Helsley and Devin Williams.
There’s still time, and another proven arm would go a long way toward stabilizing the back end of the bullpen. But knowing Hoyer’s track record, it’s a safe bet he’ll also be hunting for the next under-the-radar pickup - just like Flexen was a year ago.
Whether that pitcher sticks long-term or flames out quickly, the Cubs’ front office will keep taking swings. And every once in a while, they’ll connect.