Phil Maton's nickname says everything Cubs fans need to know about this fit

The Chicago Cubs went out of their comfort zone to start their offseason moves of consequence, signing veteran relief pitcher Phil Maton to a two-year deal. Jed Hoyer and Co. haven't made a habit of signing veteran relief pitchers to two-year deals, but considering the overhaul that was needed for the bullpen, it makes sense for the team to deviate from their strategy for Maton.

While Maton doesn't have the high velocity you would come to expect with a pitcher who struck out over 32% of the hitters he faced last season, he features some of the best movement of any veteran relief pitcher in baseball. With a cutter that tops out around 91 mph and a devastating curveball, Maton has reworked his mechanics to become a prolific swing-and-miss pitcher.

Phil Maton's nickname speaks to why the Cubs wasted no time in signing him this offseason.

Look no further than his outing against the Cubs in 2025 while pitching out of the Cardinals' bullpen. Maton has mastered the idea of generating spin on his pitches, so much so that his nickname is "Spin Rate".

The spin rate is proving effective and should make Maton one of the top arms in the Cubs' bullpen next season. Outside of Andrew Kittredge's 39% strikeout rate last season, Maton's mark of 32.7% would have been the highest of any Cubs' reliever. The next closest was Daniel Palencia, striking out 28.4% of the hitters he faced.

As was made clear with their work with Brad Keller last season, and altering Jameson Taillon's changeup grip, the Cubs' pitching infrastructure thrives on getting the most out of pitchers with weird movement. For that reason, while the free-agent market included big-ticket names such as Devin Williams, Ryan Helsley, and Edwin Diaz, Maton's profile fits perfectly with the Cubs' teachings.

Quickly, while on the subject of Keller, it would seem that Maton's arrival all but guarantees he won't be back with the Cubs. Like Maton, Keller is in line for a multi-year deal this offseason, and some teams have expressed interest in him as a starting pitcher. Not to mention, the next priority for the Cubs' bullpen is finding a veteran left-handed option.

Nonetheless, if there was going to be an exception for Hoyer's front office when it comes to constructing bullpens, Maton was the obvious choice.