DA BEARS ARE THE NFC NORTH CHAMPIONS. That’s not the end goal in a season that has become as compelling as this one, but it’s absolutely something you want to achieve when the year starts. And something very few would’ve predicted back in September. So I’m gonna smile about it. (Now go get that number one seed …. )
We’ll have more analysis on the Hunter Harvey signing, because, like I said, I love the potential upside there. Here, though, I wanted to talk about the various implications of the signing, which was somewhat surprising inasmuch as I didn’t see the Cubs dropping another $6 million on a reliever. If the Cubs are going to stay under the $244 million first tier of the luxury tax in 2026 (we don’t know for sure that’s the plan, mind you, but it has become an unfortunate default assumption, especially in terms of offseason spending expectations), they have only about $30 million left available to commit in 2026 payroll (which would give them about $6 million left in in-season flexibility below the threshold, which isn’t a ton). That is plenty of room to add an impact starting pitcher via free agency still, or to add an impact bat, but probably isn’t enough room to add both, unless one comes via trade with a modest salary (i.e., the pitcher trade/Alex Bregman signing combo). As for the bullpen, the Cubs will assuredly add more minor league deal/waiver claim/flyer/reclamation types from here, but this has to be it for big league deals of any real financial import. When the Cubs add another starting pitcher – you hear me, Cubs? I said *WHEN* – that effectively pushes another arm into the bullpen anyway. Suddenly, a formerly barren group will start to look appropriately crowded. The Cubs have taken the bullpen reconstruction quite seriously. Signing FIVE relievers to big league deals in a single offseason (Harvey, Phil Maton, Hoby Milner, Caleb Thielbar, and Jacob Webb) is kind of a ton. Maybe the most the Cubs have signed to guaranteed big league deals in a long time? Only about $23 million in 2026 salary commitments, though, because all fall into a tier below the tip-top back-end guys, at least as far as the perception goes. Could’ve instead done one big impact guy, and then maybe two of the others. Not saying one approach is better or worse, necessarily, just interesting. Given the volume needs for the Cubs, this was probably the more conservative approach – and then you bet on your own ability to get the best performance out of these guys. Right now that reclamation group it’s basically just Collin Snider (Sam Mettert and Jace Beck are more like prospect signings for now, rather than near-term big league options), and that’s kinda wild, because typically they already have quite a few by now. There will be more, but I suppose one thing to think about is that the Cubs actually already have a couple of those “types” in-house, and they have as much upside as anyone the Cubs might bring in externally: Porter Hodge and Luke Little. They are guys who’ve had big league success before, had some struggles due to injury and/or mechanics, and now need to bounce back. They’re on the 40-man with options and all that, so they don’t quite fit the actual “reclamation” mold, but the profile is similar. Note on all of that: the pitching market on the whole has been slower to develop this year than typical, with the bulk of the late-inning guys only just going off the board in the last couple weeks. The trickling effect means that guys like Hunter Harvey aren’t signing until almost January, for example, and then guys who get smaller deals are pushed back further, and then guys who are on the cusp of a big league deal may not settle for a minor league deal until much later than that. The Cubs will be opportunistic in that last group for months and months, right on into Spring Training and well past it. Don’t forget that Drew Pomeranz, who had signed a minor league deal elsewhere, didn’t join the Cubs until the end of April. (Also, when the Tread and Driveline pro days come next month, we’re going to see more development/prospect type signings, too.) The Reds doubled up on outfield additions this weekend (I’ll have to look at this more deeply outside of the Bullets, because I’d like to do a little math on how much they did or did not improve their weakest area), signing A’s non-tender J.J. Bleday, and trading for Marlins fourth outfielder Dane Myers. Related to those moves, and apropos of what we just talked about on the bullpen side, the Reds DFA’d Keegan Thompson to open up a 40-man spot. You may remember that they signed him to a split deal very early in the offseason after he hit free agency. It is somewhat unlikely that Thompson gets claimed on waivers – though not impossible, if some club likes the split deal he signed with the Reds and now has a 40-man spot to spare – and if not, he’ll have the choice of taking an assignment to Triple-A, or going back out into free agency. If that happens, I wonder if the Cubs would re-engage about a new minor league deal. He was looking pretty darn good at Iowa late in the year, but by then, the Cubs’ bullpen group was very full up, so he never got a look. Ned Colleti told Bruce Levine that Anthony Rizzo has been invited to play for Team Italy in the World Baseball Classic, and he’s considering the offer. He’s retired and has a young kiddo, so I won’t yell too loudly about it, but … PLEASE DO IT, TONY! This doesn’t EXCLUDE other possible suitors (“three of the teams”), but there are a lot of rumors about these three teams, not so much about the Cubs:The Padres, Pirates, and Angels have been three of the teams that have shown interest in Japanese third baseman Kazuma Okamoto, per sources.
I simultaneously believe:1. Harper wasn't close to elite last year and it's kinda annoying to watch him push back so forcefully on an objective fact2. If this drives him to get his OBP back over .400 and his slugging percentage well above .500 again, then sure bud, get petty t.co/rMRGQisAWk
— Charlie O'Connor (@charlieo_conn) December 27, 2025 This really is unbelievable:Randy Johnson's 4-year stretch from 1999-2002 was UNBELIEVEABLE.'99: 17-9, 2.48 ERA, 364 K, Cy Young Award'00: 19-7, 2.64 ERA, 347 K, Cy Young Award'01: 21-6, 2.49 ERA, 372 K, Cy Young Award'02: 24-5, 2.32 ERA, 334 K, Cy Young Award pic.twitter.com/n30gu0tf35
— MLB Network (@MLBNetwork) December 27, 2025 You have to remember the run-scoring environment back then, too. A 2.50 ERA was almost 50% better than league average at the time. These days, a 50%-better-than-league-average ERA is about 2.00. Basically, during that peak, Randy Johnson was juuuust about what Paul Skenes has done, but for twice as many years and for 100 more innings per season(!). It’s really hard to overstate how obscenely good Randy Johnson’s – and Pedro Martinez’s – peak was. Oh, Expos … MORE CUBS FROM BLEACHER NATION: Go Ad Free | Subscribe to the BN Newsletter6-Leg SundayPlay a $10+, 6-leg entry and get a $5 bonus ticket? t.co/yIyH4ZdPpO pic.twitter.com/6rG3MumO2D
— Bleacher Nation Fantasy (@BN_Fantasy_) December 28, 2025Giannis Rage Bait, Vučević Throws Shade, Chicago Deadline Sellers? and Other Bulls Bullets t.co/w5OHftRvLe
— Bleacher Nation Bulls (@BN_Bulls) December 28, 2025Lardis’ Moment, Nestrašil’s On Fire, Spellacy’s Role, Behm Hat Trick, and Other Blackhawks Bullets #blackhawks t.co/5ZWOc4yrK1
— Bleacher Nation Blackhawks (@BN_Blackhawks) December 28, 2025Hence then, the article about the cubs bullpen build out continues payroll and roster construction rizzo hopes and other cubs bullets was published today ( ) and is available on Bleacher Nation ( Middle East ) The editorial team at PressBee has edited and verified it, and it may have been modified, fully republished, or quoted. You can read and follow the updates of this news or article from its original source.
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