Bleacher Report floats Cubs trade that sounds like a second chance

Odds are the Chicago Cubs' bullpen in 2026 will look quite different from what it looked like during the team's playoff run this season. As it stands, Daniel Palencia is the only high-leverage relief pitcher who is certain to be with the Cubs next season. Outside of Andrew Kittredge's $9MM club option, the rest of the experienced relievers from the Cubs' 2025 bullpen are all set to become free agents.

It seems that the Cubs will make overtures to see what it would take to bring Brad Keller, Drew Pomeranz, and Caleb Thielbar back, but re-signing veteran relief pitchers hasn't been common practice for Jed Hoyer's front office.

It seems to be a philosophy that Bleacher Report's Kerry Miller is aware of, suggesting that the most likely trade target for the Cubs this offseason is a relief pitcher. Miller identifies Jimmy Herget of the Colorado Rockies as the trade for the Cubs.

This Bleacher Report Cubs rumor feels like a mulligan

There would be some form of irony in the Cubs trading for Herget, considering they claimed him off waivers from the Atlanta Braves at the end of the 2024 season. Herget had four scoreless outings with the Iowa Cubs but was released by the team during the offseason.

Despite the Rockies flirting with being the worst team in the history of baseball this season, Herget was one of their few success stories. In 59 appearances out of the Rockies' bullpen, Herget posted a 2.48 ERA while striking out over 23% of the hitters he faced.

With there being a flurry of moves at the trade deadline involving relief pitchers, there was some surprise that the Rockies held onto Herget. That said, this remains a Rockies team that is several years away from contending, and they likely wouldn't be opposed to moving the 32-year-old this winter.

At first blush, the move feels similar to when the Cubs traded for Eli Morgan last offseason. While the Cubs seemed to have misvalued the prospect they gave up for Morgan, Herget should be an affordable trade target, assuming Hoyer takes the same approach this offseason that he had last year.