Cubs sign flame-throwing former Cardinals prospect as latest bullpen project

The Chicago Cubs have made a free-agent signing during the GM Meetings, though, it's not one that's expected to move the needle for pitching at start of the 2027 season. The Cubs have signed former St. Louis Cardinals pitching prospect Bruno López to a two-year minor-league deal with an invite to spring training.

It's not often that you see a team sign a multi-year, minor-league deal, so that does suggest that the Cubs do have some hope that López can figure things out over the next two seasons. López made his professional debut in the Cardinals' system during the 2021 season when he was just 19 years old,

Injuries have stunted López's development, and part of the reason why the Cubs signed him a to a two-year deal is that his entire 2026 season was wiped away due to elbow surgery. Not to mention, given that spring training next year could be wiped away due to the pending MLB Lockout, it makes sense for the Cubs to want another year of control.

Setting the injuries aisde, the appeal in López's profile is that he has a fastball approaching triple digits. During the 2025 season, López made 21 appearances across the Cardinals' summer league affiliate and in Class-A, and he struck out over 40% of the hitters he faced. Nonetheless, it's easy to see why the Cubs would have interest.

Bruno López likely won't help the Cubs in 2027, but it was a worthwhile gamble

Given that it's yet another diamond-in-the-rough project for the pitching staff, some Cubs fans are likely to be skeptical. Especially on the heels of reporting that the Cubs are likely to sit out of the bidding for Tarik Skubal, and have financial concerns about meeting Michael King's asking price. The sense is that, for better or worse, the Cubs are once again trying to be too cute with fixing their pitching problem.

If we get to the start of the 2027 season, and the Cubs haven't made significant additions to their pitching staff, it would be fair to have those conversation. As it pertains to the signing of López, this is the type of signing that the Milwaukee Brewers have mastered. That doesn't mean that López will turn into a success story for the Cubs, but it's a gamble that the front office always needs to be open to and the cost is virtually nothing.

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