Bullpen Not A Big Need For Cubs This Offseason

The Chicago Cubs have some question marks all around their roster right now. 

The biggest is obviously the starting rotation. With Clay Holmes, Kevin Gausman, Shota Imanaga, Matthew Boyd, and David Peterson all free agents this offseason, the Cubs have to find some replacements in the rotation before the start of the 2027 season. 

The corner outfield also remains a mystery heading into the beginning of free agency. Ian Happ and Seiya Suzuki are both free agents, and the Cubs could lose both this winter. If they lose one or both, the front office has to find a replacement. 

If there is one position group the Cubs might not need to aggressively pursue this offseason, it is the bullpen. 

Now the North Siders could certainly use some bullpen help. This group was very up-and-down a season ago, and adding one high-leverage reliever could go a long way toward turning the bullpen into a much more dangerous unit. 

The Cubs will have every opportunity to add that top-of-the-line bullpen arm this offseason, with several key relievers set to hit free agency. Adrian Morejon, Raisel Iglesias, and David Bednar are three bullpen arms Chicago’s front office could go after. 

However, this Cubs bullpen is in a much better spot than it was last offseason. 

The Cubs don’t need to completely overhaul the bullpen this offseason. They already have some quality arms returning for 2027. Those names include Daniel Palencia, Ryan Zeferjahn, Jacob Webb, and Ryan Rolison. 

Palencia has shown in the past that he can be an elite closer. Zeferjahn has the stuff to take his game to the next level. Webb was reliable for most of the 2026 season, outside of a rough stretch in August/September. Rolison is coming off his best season, posting a 3.14 ERA and 55 strikeouts over 63 innings pitched. 

The Cubs will also have relievers like Phil Maton and Shelby Miller in the bullpen to start the season. 

Maton obviously had a disappointing 2026 campaign (6.18 ERA over 27 ⅔ innings), but the potential is there for him to return to his old form. The 10-year veteran posted a 2.79 ERA and a 32.5% strikeout rate with the St. Louis Cardinals and Texas Rangers in 2025. 

Miller will officially be back from his elbow injury. The 36-year-old reliever tried to return late last season and spent about a month on a rehab assignment before the Cubs shut him down for the season. The veteran finished with a 2.74 ERA in his last season in 2025. 

If the Cubs can add just one high-leverage reliever in free agency, this can be a solid group for 2027.