Chicago Cubs Make First Free-Agent Signing

The Chicago Cubs have already made a free-agent move. 

The Cubs have signed right-handed pitcher Gabe Klobosits to a Minor League Deal. Klobosits was with the team last season on a Minor League deal, and he will return for a second straight season in the organization. 

Klobosits actually threw the ball well in his first season in the Cubs organization. He posted a 3.51 ERA, 1.410 WHIP, and 39 strikeouts across 33 ⅓ innings with the Iowa Cubs. The 6-foot-8 right-hander appeared in 27 games at the Triple-A level. 

The Iowa Cubs primarily used Klobosits out of the bullpen in 2026. He made two starts as an opener, finished 17 games, and earned five saves. His numbers from a season ago are why Chicago wanted to bring him back for another season. 

There were a lot of encouraging things that Klobosits showed in his first season in the organization and his first season back in the minors. The 31-year-old played in the Independent League for three straight seasons from 2023 to 2025 before the Cubs gave him a shot last offseason with a Minor League contract. 

In those three seasons, Klobosits had a combined 2.05 ERA, 1.273 WHIP, and 95 strikeouts across 88 innings pitched. His best all-around season in the Independent League came in 2024, when he finished with a 2.18 ERA, 46 strikeouts, and 11 saves over 45 ⅓ innings pitched with the Gastonia Ghost Peppers. 

The big right-hander showed some of that potential this past season with the Iowa Cubs. He had a .310 expected slugging against, 3.6% barrel rate, 27.3% strikeout rate, 30.3% chase rate, 38.1% whiff rate, 78.2% zone-contact rate, and an 18.4% swinging strike rate. 

The thing that obviously sticks out here with Klobosits’ metrics is the swing-and-miss stuff. Ranking in the 73rd percentile in chase rate, the 94th percentile in whiff rate, and the 95th percentile in swinging strike rate. He obviously showed that his stuff can play well. 

Klobosits has a six-pitch mix that features a four-seam fastball, splitter, slider, sinker, changeup, and cutter. However, the right-hander primarily leans on his four-seam fastball (61%), splitter (18%), and slider (17%) to get batters out. 

Re-signing Klobosits is a pure depth move. The Cubs clearly wanted to bring him back after throwing the ball well in the minors this past year. He’ll likely start the season at the Triple-A level again and could see an opportunity in the big leagues at some point.