Cubs' Holmes, Harvey, Rea, Thielbar Become Free Agents, Webb Reaches New Deal
The moves leave the four pitchers free agents as Chicago reshapes its bullpen and payroll after a 3.90 team relief ERA last season.
- On Monday, the Chicago Cubs re-signed reliever Jacob Webb to a one-year, $2 million contract while right-handers Clay Holmes, Hunter Harvey, and Colin Rea, plus left-hander Caleb Thielbar, entered free agency after their 2027 options were declined.
- During the 2026 season, Webb served as a dependable Chicago reliever, posting a 3.36 ERA with 9 saves over 67 innings pitched and recording a mid-season stretch of 24 consecutive scoreless appearances.
- Webb's new agreement includes a $4 million club option for 2028 with a $500,000 buyout and reflects his 33.3 percent whiff rate, achieved through a two-pitch combination of a four-seamer and change-up.
- Jed Hoyer plans to prioritize pitching improvements this offseason following a campaign where team relievers finished with a 3.90 ERA; the Cubs also claimed right-handed reliever Eric Orze off waivers from the Twins on Monday.
- Holmes, Harvey, Rea, and Thielbar now join the open market, leaving the Cubs to navigate a bullpen rebuild as the team aims to avoid a repeat of 2026, when late-season performance issues hindered their playoff push.
21 Articles
21 Articles
Cubs Put Their Sights on Tarik Skubal After Bringing Back Veteran Bullpen Arm Amid Free Agency
The Chicago Cubs have already started making noise in free agency, beginning with a familiar bullpen arm. Jacob Webb has agreed to return on a 1-year, $2 million deal, with a $4 million team option for 2028. This move, added to the Tarik Skubal rumor, shows that the Cubs are going into the market to […]
Jacob Webb gets new deal in wake of summer as Cubs’ go-to reliever, despite late-season struggles
<p>The first move in Jed Hoyer’s offseason quest to improve the Cubs’ pitching staff stayed in house.</p><p>The team announced a new one-year deal with righty reliever Jacob Webb that contains a club option for 2028.</p><p>Webb had some notable stumbles down the stretch, blowing four saves in his final 11 relief outings. But prior to that bumpy ride – one that infuriated fans and contributed to the Cubs’ inability to secure home-field advantage …
Yakima Herald-Republic
Cubs' Holmes, Harvey, Rea, Thielbar become free agents, Webb reaches new deal
Chicago Cubs right-handers Clay Holmes, Hunter Harvey and Colin Rea became free agents long with left-hander Caleb Thielbar after their 2027 options were declined, while right-hander Jacob Webb agreed to a $2.5 million, one-year contract. Holmes, a 33-year-old acquired from…
Chicago Cubs Bring Back 7-Year MLB Player Amid MLB Free Agency
It’s officially hot stove season across Major League Baseball, and things are already under way in the free agent market. On Monday afternoon, the Chicago Cubs made a notable move by bringing back reliever Jacob Webb. MLBTR.com’s Darragh McDonald was quick to hit the news, and he wrote: “It’s a $2MM deal with a $4MM […]
Winnipeg Free Press
Cubs' Clay Holmes, Hunter Harvey, Colin Rea and Caleb Thielbar become free agents
CHICAGO (AP) — Chicago Cubs right-handers Clay Holmes, Hunter Harvey and Colin Rea became free agents on Monday along with left-hander Caleb Thielbar after their 2027 options were declined.
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