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Cubs fans have a lot to say about the Hoby Milner signing, and it's not the best look for them. Sure, it would have been great for the Cubs to emerge from the Winter Meetings and finalize a trade for Edward Cabrera. However, to react to Milner signing as if it's another example of the Cubs striving for mediocrity (psst, they won 92 games last season) just shows the laziness with how some every Jed Hoyer's steps this offseason.
Don't be ridiculous, this is an insult to the fans. Enough of settling for these trash players, it's a disgrace, it's a mockery@Cubs
— Luis Prieto (@luisprietob86) December 11, 2025
To remind everyone, while they may not have had a defined closer for large portions of last season, the Cubs' bullpen was quite good last year. The success was largely tied to Brad Keller, Drew Pomeranz, and Caleb Thielbar. Three moves that saw Cubs fans rake Hoyer over the coals, only to be silenced with their success.
Yes, if we reach February and the Cubs haven't added a top-of-the-rotation starting pitcher and Alex Bregman is back with the Boston Red Sox, hand us rake. We're not at that point, and on the surface, Milner is a fine addition to the Cubs' bullpen.
Hoby Milner joins the Cubs, and the writing might be on the wall for a 2025 bullpen star
Milner likely takes over as the left-handed specialist, and rightfully so, he is very good at getting left-handed hitters out. Lefties slashed .208/.226/.300 against Milner last season while striking out 27 times. For the second straight offseason, the Cubs acted with intent to bring in a left-handed reliever, and they found a pretty good one this offseason.
They also found a pretty good one last season in Thielbar. After a down year with the Minnesota Twins, Thielbar rebounded to the tune of a 2.64 ERA in 67 outings with the Cubs while striking out 25.5% of the hitters he faced.
If we're being honest, it wouldn't be a shock to see him land a contract worth more than the $3.75 million Milner signed for with the Cubs. In other words, don't expect Thielbar to return to the Cubs next season. He was great last season, but if Milner continues the line of the Cubs identifying the right bargain-bin free agents for the bullpen, Thielbar won't be missed.