Were it not for an Achilles tear at the end of July, 32-year-old righty reliever Trent Thornton might not have been available in free agency at all, much less available on a minor league deal. He’d had a slow start to the season in the Mariners’ bullpen to be sure, but he’d been dominating since mid-June, and he had been a really good reliever in 2023 and 2024 (3.13 ERA (18% better than league average), 3.70 FIP (7% better), 24.6% K, 6.0% BB, 6.6% barrel, 34.6% hard hit).
As of the moment of that pop, Thornton simply looked like a guy who was going to be tendered a contract, and happily retained in the Mariners’ very strong bullpen.
But, unfortunately, the serious injury happened, and without the ability to predict just how effectively or when he would return, the Mariners non-tendered him after the season, and he’s been a free agent ever since.
That’s where the Cubs come in, after Trent Thornton clearly put in some serious work at Tread Athletics:
Check out the bullpen that helped him get a deal! pic.twitter.com/J64oCMPSkp
— Tread Athletics (@TreadHQ) January 19, 2026I haven't had the luxury of working with Trent Thornton (@Trent_Thornton1) for very long, but after an achilles tear in July, he is feeling GREAT and way ahead of schedule. He was looking for a 92 in his Pro Day bullpen and got it. 93 without hitters (which would be close to an… pic.twitter.com/uGAaKczgoi
— Turner Givens (@TurnerGivens) January 17, 2026The Cubs are signing right-handed reliever Trent Thornton, per @TreadHQ.Thornton missed time with injury in 2025, but in 2024 he was excellent, posting a 3.61 ERA across 72.1 innings.He’s got some filth, a 108 Stuff+ in 2024, including three different fastball looks. pic.twitter.com/P7Nlg5Qnno
— Carson Wolf (@TheWrigleyWire) January 19, 2026The Tread-to-Cubs pipeline continues apace thanks in large part to Tyler Zombro, and I hope the Cubs see a lot of productivity on the field in the years ahead. Not the worst thing in the world to have an inside lane on many of the best reclamation projects, especially when the Cubs had already demonstrated an ability to help those guys get the best out of themselves.
Thornton may well be ahead of schedule in his recovery, but I would speculate that, in situations like this, it’s in everyone’s best interest to slow play things through Spring Training. For Thornton, it allows him to get physically in the best possible place – and internalize/muscle memory/whatever he works on with the Cubs in Arizona – and for the Cubs, it allows them to keep Thornton at the ready to bring him into the big league bullpen when his readiness and the need permits.
Keep in mind, these guys signing minor league deals are generally coming without any minor league options remaining, so once they go on the 40-man roster, they HAVE TO STAY on the 26-man roster, in the big league bullpen, unless they thereafter become injured. So, while on the minor league deal, the Cubs have the flexibility to have the pitcher out in Arizona getting in work, or heading out to an affiliate to stay at the ready. Once they come up, they’re locked in, or you have to risk losing them on waivers.
Speaking of which, the Cubs are really putting together a strong group of these types of minor league signings this year, as we expected they would. Trent Thornton joins Corbin Martin, Tyler Beede, Jeff Brigham, and Collin Snider in that reclamation group so far.
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