Inside the Cubs' Bullpen Philosophy: Volume, Value, and a Bet on Development
As the MLB offseason heats up - especially in the relief pitching market - the Chicago Cubs are sticking to their blueprint. While other contenders are diving headfirst into big-money bullpen deals, the Cubs are taking a more measured route. It's not about being cheap; it's about being smart with where the dollars go.
President of baseball operations Jed Hoyer has been transparent about the team’s approach. In his view, relievers are simply too volatile to justify massive contracts.
One year, a guy's lights out. The next, he's struggling to get outs in Triple-A.
That kind of unpredictability makes it tough to build a bullpen around stars and long-term commitments.
Instead, the Cubs are betting on development, depth, and data. In an era where pitch tracking, biomechanics, and advanced analytics are reshaping how pitchers train and perform, the Cubs are leaning into the idea that you can coach up talent - and maybe even find your next late-inning weapon in the most unexpected places.
“Every team has to make their own decisions on how they allocate resources,” Hoyer said. “Other teams may choose to put really big blocks in the bullpen.
That’s up to them. How I see it is: I would rather use those big chunks of money to go get (something else), whether it’s starting pitching or position players.”
That strategy is reflected in how Chicago is navigating the market. They’ve shown interest in starters like Michael King, Tatsuya Imai, and Zac Gallen, but not in a way that suggests any of them are "must-haves."
King, a New England native, might prefer an East Coast landing spot. Imai, a standout from Japan, has evaluators split - is he a middle-of-the-rotation piece or something more?
And how do you price that uncertainty when he's never thrown a pitch in the majors?
The Cubs aren’t short on options. They’re still in the mix for All-Star third baseman Alex Bregman.
They’ve got position-player depth they can trade from. And with seven open spots on the 40-man roster, there’s room to maneuver.
Brad Keller’s Breakout and the Cubs’ Development Pipeline
One of the best examples of the Cubs’ bullpen philosophy in action is Brad Keller. Signed to a minor-league deal last winter, Keller turned into a Swiss Army knife for a 92-win team - eating innings, handling high-leverage spots, and eventually becoming a trusted reliever in October. Now, he’s cashing in with a two-year, $22 million deal from the Phillies.
That’s not just a win for Keller - it’s a signal to other pitchers that Chicago might be the place to reboot a career.
Veterans Drew Pomeranz and Caleb Thielbar followed similar arcs. Both spent time out of the majors before finding new life in Chicago’s bullpen. Now, Pomeranz is heading to the Angels on a one-year, $4 million deal, while Thielbar is staying put with the Cubs on a one-year, $4.5 million contract.
Those success stories matter. They build credibility.
When the Cubs pitch free agents - or Zoom with pitchers looking for a shot - they can point to real results. “We’ve done a good job bringing the best out of guys, so I think that certainly is noticed,” Hoyer said.
A League-Wide Bullpen Arms Race
While the Cubs are opting for value and volume, the rest of the National League is going full throttle in the bullpen arms race.
- The Phillies, already stacked, added Jhoan Duran from the Twins, meaning Keller won’t need to close games.
- The Mets scooped up Devin Williams (three years, $51 million) and Luke Weaver (two years, $22 million) to help replace Edwin Díaz and reshape their bullpen identity.
- Díaz, meanwhile, joined the Dodgers on a three-year, $69 million deal - another example of L.A.'s willingness to spend big.
- The Braves added Robert Suarez on a three-year, $45 million deal to set up Raisel Iglesias, who returns on a one-year, $16 million pact.
- Emilio Pagán re-upped with the Reds for two years and $20 million after the Cubs reportedly showed late interest.
- Phil Maton landed a $14.5 million deal - a number that’s higher than what the Cubs typically spend on relievers, but still just 12th among this winter’s bullpen signings.
What the Cubs Already Have - and What’s Still to Come
Despite sitting out the top-tier bullpen bidding, the Cubs aren’t exactly starting from scratch. With Maton, Thielbar, lefty Hoby Milner, and closer Daniel Palencia, they’ve got a solid foundation. Add in Gold Glove-caliber defenders behind them, and this group has the potential to be quietly effective.
There’s also flexibility built into the staff. Colin Rea and Javier Assad can swing between the rotation and bullpen, especially if the Cubs add another starter.
And if Cade Horton, Matthew Boyd, Shota Imanaga, and Jameson Taillon are healthy by Opening Day, the depth chart looks even stronger. Justin Steele, recovering from elbow surgery, should be back in the mix later in the year - a potential midseason boost with frontline upside.
Then there’s the wild card factor. Porter Hodge and Ben Brown aren’t penciled in for high-leverage roles, but both flashed potential last season. If either takes a step forward, the bullpen could get a major internal jolt.
Manager Craig Counsell summed it up perfectly: “What we thought about our bullpen going into the season - we were wrong.” And that’s not a knock.
It’s a reality check. Bullpens evolve.
Roles change. Unexpected arms emerge.
“It just shows (you) get a bunch of good arms and kind of see what happens,” Counsell said. “And have enough abilities to pivot when you have to during the season.”
That’s the Cubs’ bullpen playbook in a nutshell: build depth, trust your development, and stay nimble. It might not grab headlines in December, but come October, it just might be the formula that holds up.