The offseason plan from Chicago Cubs general manger Carter Hawkins has been as clear as day; improve the bullpen.
According to Patrick Mooney of The Athletic, Chicago is in agreement with right-handed reliever Jacob Webb on a one-year deal worth $1.5 million. The deal can reportedly increase to $2 million if certain incentives are reached by Webb.
Webb is now the fourth reliever signed by the Cubs this offseason, joining fellow right-hander Phil Maton as well as left-handers Caleb Thielbar and Hoby Milner. It has become evident that Chicago is hoping to improve on a bullpen that ranked No. 11 in ERA across MLB last season.
Webb, a 14th round draft pick by the Atlanta Braves, has put together a solid major league career. He's bounced around a bit since making his debut in 2019, as he's spent time with four teams across parts of six seasons. A career 2.99 ERA spanned across 247 appearances is quite the number for a 14th round pick.
The most likely spot for Webb in the Cubs bullpen will be a middle reliever/low leverage role. With an average fastball of 93.4 mph, Chicago will likely want a harder throwing arm in the high leverage role. Another solid big-league season could put Webb in position for a multi-year contract headed into the 2026 offseason.
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