CHICAGO, January 30, 2026 — A stunning 62.6 percent of the Chicago Cubs’ 2025 relief appearances—337 out of 538—were made by pitchers no longer with the organization, a dramatic shift that underscores the scale of the team’s bullpen overhaul heading into the 2026 season. Only two of the 18 pitchers who logged more than five relief appearances for the Cubs last year—Daniel Palencia and Caleb Thielbar—are projected to be in Chicago’s Opening Day bullpen.
A New Look for the North Siders’ ‘Pen
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The Cubs are betting on a revamped bullpen after a busy offseason.
- The Cubs lost six relievers from their 2025 roster, including key contributors Brad Keller and Drew Pomeranz.
- Chicago added Phil Maton, Hunter Harvey, Jacob Webb, and Hoby Milner to bolster the bullpen.
- Porter Hodge and potential swingman starters could play expanded roles in 2026.
Despite finishing 11th in baseball with a 3.78 ERA in 2025, Cubs president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer clearly saw a need for change. The team is attempting to rebuild one of the better bullpens in baseball with a largely new group of pitchers.
Who Departed Chicago?
The Cubs said goodbye to a half-dozen relievers this offseason: Brad Keller, Drew Pomeranz, Ryan Pressly, Andrew Kittredge, Chris Flexen, and Taylor Rogers. While Pressly was brought in to be a late-inning option, it was Keller and Pomeranz who truly stood out.
Keller, who signed a two-year deal with the Phillies, was a revelation for the 2025 Cubs, leading the bullpen with 69 2/3 innings pitched and posting a sparkling 2.07 ERA—tied for 14th best among pitchers with at least 50 innings. His underlying numbers were equally impressive, with a 2.80 expected ERA and 2.93 FIP. Keller, who previously found success as a starter, proved to be a valuable reliever and will be missed.
Pomeranz’s resurgence was perhaps even more surprising. The veteran left-hander posted a 2.17 ERA in 57 outings (49 2/3 innings) after debuting for the Cubs on April 25. Pomeranz, who signed a one-year deal with the Angels, hadn’t pitched in the Majors since 2021 due to injuries.
Pressly struggled with a 4.35 ERA and 5.23 xERA in 41 1/3 innings and announced his retirement. Kittredge, acquired from Baltimore at last year’s Trade Deadline, was sent back to the Orioles in a November trade. Flexen was a pleasant surprise with a 3.09 ERA in 43 2/3 innings, while Rogers, acquired in a Deadline trade with the Reds, struggled to the tune of a 5.09 ERA in 17 2/3 innings.
New Faces in the Chicago Bullpen
The Cubs didn’t just lose talent; they also added it. Phil Maton, Hunter Harvey, Jacob Webb, and Hoby Milner are the new arms in the mix.
Maton, signed to a multiyear deal this offseason, is the biggest addition. The veteran right-hander is coming off his best year, setting career highs in ERA (2.79), FIP (2.60), and WAR (1.5, per FanGraphs). Maton’s curveball is a weapon, responsible for 203 strikeouts this decade—second most among all relievers.
Harvey is the biggest question mark, having missed most of last season due to injury and posting middling results in 2024 (4.44 ERA and 5.10 xERA in 50 2/3 innings). Before that, Harvey excelled with the Nationals, compiling a 2.70 ERA with 112 strikeouts in 100 innings from 2022-23. Injuries have plagued Harvey’s career—he’s only cleared 50 innings twice—but a healthy Harvey could be a valuable asset.
Webb has been quietly reliable, posting an ERA between 3.00 and 3.69 across at least 50 innings in each of the last three seasons. Milner, a left-handed specialist, has cleared 60 innings in four straight seasons and owns a career 3.82 ERA.
Who Will Step Up?
Beyond the new additions, Porter Hodge and potential swingman starters could emerge as key bullpen contributors. Hodge showed promise in his 2024 rookie campaign (1.88 ERA, 52 strikeouts in 43 innings), but struggled in 2025 (6.27 ERA, 5.89 FIP in 33 innings) and at Triple-A Iowa (6.61 ERA in 15 games). A return to his 2024 form would be a significant boost.
Colin Rea, Javier Assad, and Ben Brown could also operate as swingmen, and if Justin Steele returns from injury to a fully healthy rotation, Jameson Taillon could potentially take on a similar role.
