2025 Chicago Cubs Season Preview: Middle Relief |
Dustin Riese
-
- 2 hours ago
While most of the Cubs' bullpen was a struggle last season, as indicated by how many games they blew, middle relief was the strength of the pen most of the season. There is a reason why many of the guys who were pitching in middle relief to begin the season wound up in high-leverage innings as the season went on. The main reason was that they were the only ones producing, which earned them the trust of Craig Counsell.
With many of these names moving back to the high-leverage role they saw last season or different roles to help the 2025 Chicago Cubs, Jed Hoyer took it upon himself to address this area of the pen the most as it needed the most work. As is the case for the long relief options, Chicago will have close to 10 names to choose from for middle relief options, and many strong candidates will be left out. Looking at the current names on this team, you could make a case that three pitchers expected to pitch in middle relief are guaranteed spots, while an additional spot could be opened based on who makes the team and what roles they will fill. Offseason additions Eli Morgan and Ryan Brasier must be considered the right-handed options for middle relief, as both were acquired via the trade market. Starting with Morgan, as he was the first big ticket item of the offseason for the Cubs. Acquired in exchange for Alfonsin Rosario, Morgan had a successful run with the Guardians, capped off with a strong 2024 season that saw him hold down several bullpen roles, including high-leverage spots in the playoffs. He is best suited for sixth or seventh-inning duties, where the Cubs are expected to put him to begin the season.
The Cubs' most recent acquisition was the trade of Brasier in exchange for cash from the Dodgers. Like Morgan, Brasier has been on quite a roll the past few seasons, but his last two seasons with the Dodgers stood out the most. Despite dealing with injuries throughout the season, Brasier returned to the mound late in the season and began to round back into form at the perfect time.
He then became one of the Dodgers more reliable high-leverage arms in the postseason and hopes that trend can continue with his new team. Someone who has held virtually every role you can think of in the pen, look for Brasier to be a seventh-inning arm with eighth and ninth-inning potential based on matchups and situations.
The third most likely arm to be plugged into middle relief duties is left-hander Caleb Thielbar. Signed as a free agent to a one-year deal, Thielbar is the only lefty on the MLB roster expected to land in the pen. That alone is why many feel he is a lock to make this team, as the Cubs can't afford to go into this season without a true lefty.
2024 struggles aside, Thielbar is a reliable arm that has been good for a long time. He did hit a wall last season, but he and the Cubs are confident that was a minor setback, and he will look to get back on track this season.
Sticking with the left side for a moment, Luke Little is another name that comes to mind, as he will again look to make an impression in camp.
After bursting onto the scene in 2023, Little went out and had a great Spring in 2024, pitching himself onto the MLB roster. He then used his strong spring to jumpstart a quick start to the 2024 season before some command issues forced him to spend some time in the Minors. Little would eventually pitch his way back to the majors, but a late-season shoulder injury ended his season and has put his availability into question for 2025.
Little may have the best pure stuff in the system that plays well at any level. Knowing what he is capable of, the Cubs would love to add another lefty to their pen, so expect him to get plenty of looks this spring.
That brings us to their most significant question, what happens to Julian Merryweather?
It's a question worth addressing, especially when you look at how last season went and how the roster currently looks. Merryweather signed as a minor league free agent with the Cubs in 2023 and had a great spring to make the team. He then became arguably their most consistent reliever that season, making up 1/3 of their three-headed monster in the late innings.
Expected to do that again last season, Merryweather was never right. He dealt with command issues from start to finish and was limited to less than 15 innings due to a series of injuries. He is another arm that is out of options and is potentially pitching for his job this spring. That can be a good or bad thing, depending on how you look at it, as he will have to prove he deserves one more shot in Chicago.
