The Chicago Cubs and right-handed pitcher Tyler Beede have agreed to a minor league deal, as reported by Ari Alexander of 7News Boston. Beede is expected to receive an invitation to big league spring training.
A Winding Road Back to the Majors
The Cubs are taking a low-risk flyer on a pitcher who’s seen it all.
- Beede, 33 in May, has bounced around several leagues in recent years after showing early promise as a first-round pick.
- His 2025 season was challenging, with stints in the Twins’ system, independent ball, and the Mexican League.
- The Cubs have a history of building competitive bullpens by identifying overlooked talent on minor league contracts.
- Beede’s experience includes a successful stint in Japan’s Nippon Professional Baseball league in 2023.
Beede’s journey to this point has been anything but linear. After being initially drafted by the Toronto Blue Jays in 2011, he opted for Vanderbilt University before being selected 14th overall by the San Francisco Giants in 2014. While he logged 187 innings through 2022 with the Giants and Pirates, a consistent breakthrough eluded him.
What’s the biggest challenge for pitchers returning from overseas? Finding their rhythm and adjusting to the different style of play can be difficult, but Beede seemed to adapt well during his 2023 season with the Yomiuri Giants in Japan, posting a 3.99 ERA. He induced ground balls at a solid 57.4% clip, though his 16.4% strikeout rate wasn’t particularly impressive.
A return to North America in 2024 brought mixed results. He signed a minor league deal with the Cleveland Guardians, briefly making their Opening Day roster, but struggled to a high 8.36 ERA in 14 innings before being released in early May. Prior to that, he spent time with the Twins’ Triple-A affiliate, St. Paul, allowing eight earned runs in nine innings, and also pitched for the Long Island Ducks of the independent Atlantic League (5.48 ERA) and the Diablos Rojos in the Mexican League (7.43 ERA in three starts).
The Cubs, known for their shrewd bullpen construction, aren’t likely expecting Beede to be a savior. From the end of the 2019 season through the end of 2025, the team largely avoided multi-year deals for relievers, instead assembling a serviceable corps through a series of under-the-radar acquisitions. Players like Brad Keller, Drew Pomeranz, and Caleb Thielbar were key contributors.
That trend has continued into the 2026 season. While Phil Maton received a two-year, $14.5MM contract, the Cubs have primarily handed out one-year deals to Thielbar, Hunter Harvey, Hobby Milner, and Jacob Webb, each worth $6MM or less. Recent minor league signings include Collin Snider and Jeff Brigham, adding Beede to a growing list of arms vying for a spot.
Beede has transitioned to more bullpen work in recent seasons, a role where the Cubs often find value.
