Cubs nab an intriguing right-handed reliever on a minor-league deal

Jed Hoyer has a type when he goes about building out a bullpen each winter - and 33-year-old Ben Heller fits the bill: a guy who's never found success at the big-league level, has dominated in the minors and has always been a 'stuff' guy.

The Chicago Cubs have found a decent amount of success with pitchers that fit this profile over the years and it's been a key part of the organization's efforts to avoid lengthy, high-dollar contracts for relievers under both the Theo Epstein and Jed Hoyer regimes over the last 15 or so years.

Heller spent the 2024 campaign with the NL Central rival Pittsburgh Pirates, making eight appearances and posting an 11.25 ERA. That number alone doesn't paint an entirely accurate picture, though. In a pair of June appearances, the right-hander was obliterated for 11 earned runs over two innings of work. Pittsburgh called him back up in August and he was solid, pitching to a 3.60 ERA/2.87 FIP in a half-dozen relief outings.

A shoulder injury cut his season short, but there's no reason to expect that will be an issue heading into the spring. Heller has long been a dominant force at Triple-A, spending time with the high-level affiliates of the Pirates, Yankees, Twins and Braves in recent years - and compiling some downright gaudy numbers last year at Triple-A Indianapolis (40.7% K rate, 15 K/9 in 33 IP).

The Cubs are certainly going to play around with his pitch mix and probably find ways to make some adjustments there. He sits in the mid-90s with his fastball and his complimentary pitches have a ton of potential - and, at the end of the day, we all need to remind ourselves: this is a minor league deal that carries absolutely zero risk for Chicago.

It's not hard to understand what the Cubs see in Heller. The stuff has always been there. Hopefully, they can help him figure out how to use it effectively against big-league hitters - something he's struggled to do consistently during his career.