Cubs Sign Veteran Reliever Phil Maton to Multi-Year Deal

The Chicago Cubs just made a bold move to shore up their bullpen, signing veteran reliever Phil Maton to a multi-year contract. Bleacher Nation first reported the news, and The Athletic confirmed it soon after.

The deal locks in Maton for two guaranteed seasons, with a club option for 2028. That’s a rare kind of commitment from the Cubs to a reliever—honestly, the last time they did this was with Craig Kimbrel back in 2019.

Let’s dig into why this matters, check out Maton’s numbers, and see what his arrival could mean for the Cubs’ season ahead.

The Details of the Deal

Phil Maton’s signing shows the Cubs are really trying to fix their bullpen depth for next year. He’ll be 33 in March, so there’s plenty of experience there, and his stats are steady year after year.

This two-year deal, plus the option for 2028, gives the Cubs veteran stability and some wiggle room to shape their roster down the line.

A Rare Multi-Year Commitment

Since 2019, the Cubs have basically avoided multi-year contracts for free-agent relievers. Deciding to invest in Maton now says a lot about the front office’s faith in his ability to bring real value, even though he doesn’t light up the radar gun.

Maton’s Performance Profile

Looking at 2025, Maton put up some eye-popping numbers. He split his time between the St. Louis Cardinals and Texas Rangers, finishing with:

• 2.79 ERA on the year
• 1.06 WHIP
• 22 holds and five saves
• 81 strikeouts in 61.1 innings

Dominance Without Velocity

Maton doesn’t rely on velocity to get outs—his fastball averages just 89.6 mph, which is pretty low these days. He’s in the third percentile for speed, but that hasn’t stopped him from limiting hard contact and getting plenty of swings and misses.

Advanced stats back him up, too. His .195 expected batting average put him in the 95th percentile across the league.

Long-Term Consistency and Experience

Maton’s been around for nine MLB seasons, quietly becoming a steady bullpen piece. His career numbers look like this:

• 3.98 ERA
• 1.26 WHIP
• 478 games pitched
• He’s played for seven different teams

Postseason Pedigree

When it comes to the playoffs, Maton’s got the goods. He’s pitched 26 times in the postseason and owns a 2.57 ERA.

He played a big role for the Houston Astros during their 2021 World Series run. For a Cubs team hoping to make noise in October, that kind of experience is tough to put a price on.

What This Means for the Cubs

The Cubs lost a few bullpen arms this offseason, so adding Maton feels both smart and necessary. He’ll likely become a trusted late-inning option alongside young righty Daniel Palencia.

That mix of experience and youth could be just what the doctor ordered.

Building a Versatile Relief Corps

Maton can handle a bunch of roles—middle relief, setup, whatever’s needed. That gives manager Craig Counsell some real flexibility.

He’s not just a matchup guy. With his command and pitch mix, he can get hitters out on both sides of the plate, which is exactly what modern bullpens need.

Final Thoughts

This move signals a shift in the Cubs’ approach to building their bullpen. They’re going for proven performance instead of just chasing big fastballs.

By bringing in Phil Maton, Chicago’s betting on a reliever who really gets the art of pitching at the highest level. He adapts, even with some physical limitations, and he’s shown he can handle high-pressure moments.

For fans, it’s not just about patching up the bullpen anymore. The Cubs look like they’re putting together a group that can actually shut games down late.

—

If you’d like, I can also provide **SEO keyword suggestions** for this blog post so you can maximize traffic from Cubs fans and baseball followers. Would you like me to create that list?
 
Here is the source article for this story: MLB rumors: Cubs signing veteran pitcher Phil Maton on multi-year deal