Bleacher Bums Forum

…By avoiding a huge commitment to a reliever thus far this offseason — the Cubs have signed Webb, Phil Maton, Hoby Milner and Caleb Thielbar for $24.25 million combined — the club is presumably leaving more room in the baseball budget to potentially acquire an accomplished starting pitcher and an established hitter."..

Actually, it’s $17 (CBT) for the above four relievers—less than $17 if not counting buyouts—not $24.5.

Indeed, the entire bullpen may be less than $24.5 because the remaining current candidates are pre-arb (except for Assad and Rea who may or may not be relievers).

Not crazy about this approach. If it allows Hoyer to net a significant bat, on top of a very good SP, then okay. Let’s see the plan as  achieved.

In any case, Hoyer seems to think that whatever off-season bullpen he puts together, it’s going to be very different as the season progresses—as happened in 2025. Risky, with the bullpen candidates on board now, I think.