Cubs News: Grading the Caleb Thielbar signing |
It may have taken a little while, but the Chicago Cubs finally went back to the free-agent market to make an MLB signing. While this isn't one of those blow-your-socks-off signings that will take your team to the next level, it was a signing that fills a position of need, which is all you can ask for from this team.
As has been the case for the past five years, the Chicago Cubs bullpen has been about as volatile as you can possibly have a pen be. Sure, there were times when the Cubs unorthodox approach has worked in their favor, but you also have times where it has backfired with last season being the biggest backfire of them all. Entering the offseason with more questions than answers regarding their bullpen, the Cubs are in better shape overall in the bullpen but still need to do more. Trading for Eli Morgan early in the offseason gave them another middle to late-inning arm they could play with, but it would take more than just him to fix the pen. Entering Tuesday, the Cubs had plenty of arms capable of stepping up when needed, but without a true lefty in the pen things weren't looking good. Should Luke Little return to form following his shoulder injury, it would be a massive lift to the Cubs pen, but until that happens, the Cubs needed to do what they needed to do to find a left-handed reliever for the pen. That is where Caleb Thielbar comes into play as the Cubs and Thielbar came to terms on a one-year contract. The long-time veteran is no spring chicken as he is already 37 years old, but don't let his age fool you, as he has been one of the better left-handed relievers for quite some time. In a league where many fans look at your career as what have you done for me lately, they would hate this signing based on the season he had last year. For just the second time in his career, Thielbar posted an ERA north of five. Still, with the other time coming over a limited five-appearance sample size, the 2024 season was the worst of his career as he compiled a 5.40 ERA in 59 appearances. A big reason for that was his massive uptick in walks, as he went from walking around two hitters per nine innings to nearly five last season. He still struck out over 10 batters per nine innings, so from a stuff side of things, he can still get hitters out. Given his age and the season he is coming off, many fans wonder if Father Time has caught up to him and if his best days are behind him. That is a valid concern, but when you look at his track record from 2013 on, there is no reason why he isn't worth an opportunity for a bounce-back season. Thielbar has been an excellent reliever in his eight-plus year MLB career and has filled various roles. Even with his rough season last year, he has still posted an impressive 3.38 ERA across 347 games, which shows the work he has put in. Take away last season, and his ERA would be around 3.00 or even a tad under, which is all you can ask for in a reliever. Armed with a 93-94 MPH heater, Thielbar is all about command on the mound as he walks just under three hitters per nine innings while averaging close to 10 punchouts. Along with that comes the impressive stat of not hitting a single batter since 2021 and allowing roughly one home run every 7-8 appearances. A big reason for that is his lethal 12-6 breaking ball that has emerged as one of the best secondary pitches in the game. He uses that pitch often against left-handers, but he can spin it to right-handers and isn't afraid to change speeds at any point in the count. This is one of those low-risk, high-reward signings that makes a ton of sense and will give the Cubs a very reliable option in the pen.
Grade B: I know what most of you are thinking. Why would the Cubs sign a 37-year-old lefty coming off his worst career season? The answer is simple: Thielbar has a proven track record of success and is a much better pitcher than he showed last season. Sure, maybe Father Time has caught up to him, and his best days are behind him, but even at that, he is a tremendous left-handed option that any pen would love to have.
Thielbar will not only give you the innings you look for when you need them but is also a matchup specialist. He dominates lefties and can be used in that role. He has also seen time in high-leverage situations in both the seventh and eighth innings while earning minimal save chances. That versatility alone can go a long way in building a strong bullpen, and Thielbar will play a massive role in getting that done this season.
