The MLB offseason is officially beginning to pick up serious steam.
A day full of non-tendered contracts was the major headline until late Friday night when the Chicago Cubs dipped their toes into the free agency waters.
According to Michael Cerami of Bleacher Nation, Chicago is in agreement on a two-year contract with right-hander Phil Maton. MLB writer Will Sammon has reported that the two-year deal will also include a club option for a third season.
Maton, a nine-year veteran, has made seven stops in his MLB career, including four over the previous two seasons. Maton has been a trade piece each of the last two trade deadlines, but that should be prevented for at least one season with the two-year deal.
With a very respectable 3.98 ERA in his career, Maton will fill a much-needed role for the Cubs. Nearly all of Chicago's solid 2025 bullpen has hit free agency, leaving one of the better parts of its team last season needing replacements. The signing of Maton comes after a career best 2.79 ERA and 81 strikeouts across 61 innings last season.'
Maton may be the first addition to a bullpen that will need a major overhaul if it hopes to replicate the kind of success it had last season.
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