Ranking the 5 most valuable offseason additions for the Cubs to this point

Chicago Cubs president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer added a lot of new faces to his team's roster in the offseason, and many of them have turned into vital contributors in the first six weeks of the 2025 season.

These initial weeks have seen the Cubs run through a gauntlet of talented teams like the Dodgers, Giants, Padres and Diamondbacks, all of whom seem destined to compete for playoff spots at the this year. The Cubs emerged from this brutal stretch of the schedule in first place in the National League Central, and these five players were major factors in that success.

5. Brad Keller

Reliever Brad Keller has been an unexpected surprise for the Cubs' relief corps. The 29-year-old is enjoying one of the most successful stretches of his career with a 3.38 ERA and 21 strikeouts in 18 2/3 innings pitched in his first 17 outings. Notably, Keller has only surrendered an earned run in three of those 17 appearances this season, giving manager Craig Counsell a sturdy option for high-leverage situations.

One of the most surprising aspects of Keller's resurgence is the fact that his fastball velocity, which is averaging 96.9 MPH this year, is the fastest it has been in years. Keller has flashed elite command of this pitch, and his wipeout slider, to generate a lot of soft contact and ground balls (59.2 GB rate), while limiting walks to a 7.8 percent clip.

Hoyer outdid himself when he signed Keller to a minor league contract in February, and taking a chance on giving him a roster spot after spring training. So far, Keller looks like a home run addition to the 2025 Cubs who gives the team much-needed stability in the bullpen.

4. Colin Rea

Starting pitcher Colin Rea looked like an average signing when the Cubs inked the 35-year-old to a one-year contract with an option for 2026 back in January. But this is another low-risk high-reward deal that has greatly benefitted the Cubs. Rea began the season as a long reliever out of the bullpen, but he slid into the Cubs' starting rotation after Justin Steele went down with elbow surgery.

The veteran right-hander has been fantastic since joining the rotation, compiling a 2.48 ERA through his first nine games and six starts, with 29 strikeouts in 36 1/3 innings pitched. The former Brewer is also limiting opposing hitters to a 6.1 percent walk rate and he is challenging hitters by attacking the strike zone in his starts.

Rea has been vital for the Cubs with Steele, and fellow starters Shota Imanaga and Javier Assad, on the injured list. Until the latter two return from their respective injuries, Rea looks like he is staying put as long as he can keep giving the team chances to win when he's on the mound. Notably, Rea's contract features a club option worth $6 million for 2026, which the team would undoubtedly exercise if he continues to perform like he has.

3. Carson Kelly

The Cubs went into the offseason needing another catcher to supplement starter Miguel Amaya, and Carson Kelly has done that and much more so far this season. Kelly is leading all MLB catchers with a 206 wRC+ (minimum 90 plate appearances), and is slashing .303/.443/.671 with eight home runs and 23 RBI.

Kelly also hit the first cycle from a Cubs hitter in over 30 years in a game against the Athletics in April. This offensive explosion has given Counsell enough confidence to move Kelly into the fifth and sometimes fourth spot in the Cubs' lineup, giving him more high-leverage and RBI opportunities.

The 30-year-old also brings 10 years of MLB experience to the Cubs clubhouse, giving his teammates another veteran presence to look up to. Kelly's bat has contributed to the team's historic run-scoring potential and been vital in resurrecting production from the catcher position for the Cubs, which was near the bottom of the league last year.

2. Matthew Boyd

Lefty Matthew Boyd has been an anchor for the starting rotation this year, and he is leading Cubs starters in ERA (2.78), strikeouts (45), and innings pitched (45 1/3). There were doubts the 34-year-old could be effective since he has undergone multiple elbow surgeries and failed to eclipse more than 71 innings in a season since 2021.

But Boyd is on track to blow that number out of the water and he has looked very effective while doing it. The former Detroit Tiger already has five quality starts in his first eight games while hard hits and walks. Without Boyd in the mix, the Cubs would be in serious trouble and his two-year contract looks like a stroke of genius on Hoyer's part.

1. Kyle Tucker

Kyle Tucker is clearly the Cubs' most valuable offseason addition, and one of the most valuable players on the team in the first six weeks of the season. The three-time All-Star is on track to nabbing his fourth appearance in the Midsummer Classic as he is pacing the team in several offensive categories like runs (33), on-base percentage (.376), hits (44) and OPS (.913) through 42 games.

Tucker is also one of three players in the league to record at least 10 home runs and 10 stolen bases through the first 40 games of the season, along with teammate Pete Crow-Armstrong and 2024 National League MVP Shohei Ohtani. His elite hitting is supplemented by above-average defense in right field and outstanding baserunning, making Tucker the superstar-level talent that Chicago was hoping for when they traded for him in December.

The only question is whether the Cubs can keep the 28-year-old in Chicago long-term, as he is set to reach free agency after the 2025 campaign and his price tag is seemingly increasing by the minute.