The Chicago Cubs have added a much-needed left-hander to their bullpen signing veteran lefty Caleb Thielbar to one-year deal.
The Chicago Cubs came into the off season needing to add another lefty to their bullpen and they did just that with signing veteran left-hander Caleb Thielbar to a one-year contract per MLB Trade Rumors. The Chicago Cubs added depth to their bullpen earlier this off season with trading for middle reliever Eli Morgan from the Cleveland Guardians. As well as signing veteran right-hander Ben Heller to a minor league deal to also compete for a spot in the bullpen.
Thielbar
The soon to be 38-year-old Thielbar joins the Chicago Cubs after spending all eight of his seasons in the Major Leagues. However, signing with the Cubs will be the eighth team Thielbar has pitched for over the course of his career. A career record of 23-12 with a 3.38 ERA and 347 strikeouts in 320.0 career innings pitched. 2024 marked a down year in what has been a solid career for Thielbar, having a 5.32 ERA in 47.1 innings is not something you want to see out a late inning reliever.
It is not all doom and gloom however with Thielbar’s overall numbers and relievers numbers as a hole are a little bit deceiving. Thielbar proved to be more than capable of handling the seventh inning for the Minnesota Twins last season with that being the place he felt the most comfortable. Appearing in 15 games in which he had to pitch the 7th inning, Thielbar had a 3.09 ERA, with 11 strikeouts, and holding batters to a .175 average.
Cubs Bullpen
Adding Thielbar gives the Chicago Cubs another lefty option out of the bullpen. Thielbar joins Luke Little, Rob Zastryzny and Jordan Wicks as the only left-handed options out of the bullpen. Jordan Wicks could figure to see some time in the starting rotation if any injuries occur. As I said Thielbar will figure to be used in the seventh inning or really any late inning situation.
If for some reason or another Poter Hodges who figures to be the teams closer for 2025, struggles, goes down with an injury, or just isn’t able to go at one point, Thielbar is a viable choice for the ninth inning if need be. In eleven appearances (10 innings pitched) in which Thielbar had to pitch the ninth inning he displayed a 2.70 ERA, with 14 strikeouts, and holding opponents to a .216 average.
Overall signing Thielbar is an excellent move for the Chicago Cubs to make especially since adding a veteran left-hander with late inning experience was a must for them this off season. Being it’s, a one-year deal too is even better because the chances that Caleb Thielbar’s 2024 season being a fluke is highly likely. And having him bounce back to the career 3.38 ERA he really is, is what the Cubs need from him in 2025.
With Thielbar signing the Chicago Cubs only real need left is finding a high-end “Ace” like starter for the rotation. The Cubs adding that level of player will most likely come from the trade market and not the free agency market being all the top starting pitchers are off the board and the Cubs weren’t willing to spend for them. The money they could’ve spent for someone like a Corbin Burnes is better spent signing someone like a Caleb Thielbar because it betters the roster overall when teams can allocate funds to multiple areas and not just one.
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