The Chicago Cubs have dipped back into the bargain bullpen market. They’ve reached a one-year agreement with veteran right-hander Jacob Webb that includes a club option for 2027.
It’s another classic Cubs reliever play—low-risk money, intriguing underlying metrics, and the potential for big value if Webb keeps outperforming his price tag.
Cubs Land Jacob Webb on Value-Friendly Deal
According to The Athletic, the Cubs and Webb have agreed to a one-year pact. It fits right into Chicago’s preferred bullpen blueprint: short term, modest salary, and a club-controlled future.
Contract Details: Low Cost, Built-In Upside
Webb, 32, will earn $1.5 million in 2026, with a $2.5 million club option for 2027. The deal includes incentives that could boost those figures to $2 million in 2026 and $3 million in 2027 if he hits certain performance thresholds.
That’s a team-friendly structure for a reliever who’s put together three straight quality seasons. The option gives the Cubs flexibility if Webb holds his form or even takes a step forward.
Webb’s Performance Profile: Results vs. Underlying Numbers
On the surface, Webb looks like the kind of steady, underrated bullpen piece contenders are always chasing. Dig a little deeper, and you can see why the Cubs think there’s still value to unlock.
Three Straight Solid Seasons
Over the past three years, Webb has been reliable in both volume and results:
Those are numbers managers trust: innings, stability, and run prevention. Webb has given his clubs a chance to win when he’s called upon.
Command and Contact: The Mixed Bag
Some of Webb’s traditional peripherals tell a more complicated story. His 10.3% walk rate is worse than league average, and his 34.1% ground-ball rate shows he’s not a classic sinkerballer who lives off weak rollers.
He offsets that with a slightly above-average 23.5% strikeout rate, showing he’s got enough swing-and-miss to navigate tough spots. Advanced metrics seem a bit more skeptical of his shiny ERA.
His 4.11 FIP and 4.10 SIERA hint that his run prevention has outpaced the quality of contact and control indicators. That gap is fueled by a low .235 BABIP and a strong 77.6% strand rate, which often signal a bit of good fortune mixed in.
Why the Cubs Still Like the Profile
What keeps teams interested in Webb despite the regression signs is how he manages contact. Statcast data consistently paints him as a pitcher who limits damage:
In plain terms, when hitters make contact against Webb, they generally don’t square him up. That skill can help sustain a lower-than-expected BABIP and might explain why his ERA has outperformed some of the peripherals.
A Journeyman With Steady Results
Despite those steady numbers, Webb has bounced around more than you’d expect for a reliever with his track record.
Non-Tenders, New Homes, Same Production
In recent years, Webb has pitched for the Angels, Orioles, and Rangers. He’s repeatedly found himself non-tendered despite solid production.
With Texas in 2025, he delivered a 3.00 ERA on a $1.25 million deal, only to be cut loose again, even though his projected arbitration salary stayed modest.
This pattern speaks to the volatility of the reliever market. Teams often treat middle relievers as interchangeable parts.
It also helps explain why the Cubs, who love to fish in this pond, were eager to scoop him up.
How Webb Fits Into the Cubs’ Bullpen Plan
The Webb signing isn’t an isolated move. It’s part of a broader reshaping of Chicago’s relief corps for 2026.
Continuing the Cubs’ Bullpen Blueprint
The Cubs have settled into a pretty clear formula lately. They avoid long, pricey reliever contracts and instead load up on short-term, low-cost arms who either have promising underlying stats or a history of beating the projections. Webb fits both categories.
He joins recent pickups like Phil Maton, Hoby Milner, and Caleb Thielbar. That gives the Cubs a bullpen with a real mix of styles and handedness.
Webb probably slots into the middle innings or setup role. He’s got a knack for limiting hard contact, which should help settle games down before the ninth.
Here is the source article for this story: Cubs To Sign Jacob Webb
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