Cubs sign division rival journeyman with one skill their bullpen desperately needs

Beyond the overall need the Chicago Cubs have for pitching this offseason, they need pitchers capable of missing bats. In their first addition to the bullpen this winter, the Cubs turned to a journeyman who had a stop with the St. Louis Cardinals last season. Bleacher Report's Michael Cerami was first to report that the Cubs have signed right-hander Phil Maton.

2025 was easily Maton's best season at the Major League level, posting a 2.79 ERA in a tick over 61 innings pitched. Opening the season with the Cardinals, Maton was dealt at the MLB trade deadline to the Texas Rangers. What likely caught the Cubs' eye was the fact that Maton struck out over 32% of the hitters he faced last season. While that mark was a career-high for the 32-year-old righty, his career mark sits at 26.7%.

Cubs find their first offseason bullpen addition, signing swing-and-miss reliever Phil Maton.

Coupling his strikeout rate with a swinging strike rate of 15.6%, Maton was one of the best relievers in baseball last season in terms of swing-and-miss. While he doesn't exactly have the high velocity that has been the trend of bullpen arms in recent years, Maton does offer a different element for the Cubs' pitching staff.

Above all else, what the playoffs proved is that the great teams have arms in the bullpen capable of missing bats. While the Cubs have a defense that is more than capable of turning batted balls into outs, the ability to strike a hitter out will always be where the bread is made.

Maton will likely be the first several new arrivals for the Cubs' bullpen this offseason, considering Brad Keller, Caleb Thielbar, and Drew Pomeranz are all free agents.

With Thielbar and Pomeranz likely not returning, it would seem that the next addition to the Cubs' bullpen will be a veteran southpaw. The Cubs did add left-handed prospect Riley Martin to their 40-man roster earlier this week, but a free agent like Hoby Milner could make sense.

After Friday's non-tender news, the Cubs' 40-man roster stood at 30, meaning Maton's signing won't require a corresponding move. Confirming the details of Maton's deal, The Athletic's Will Sammon added that it was a two-year agreement with a club option for a third season.