The Chicago Cubs continued reshaping their bullpen by agreeing to a one-year, $6 million contract with veteran right-hander, a deal that includes up to $1.5 million in performance incentives. Jon Heyman of the New York Post first reported the agreement.
At 31, he brings upside when he’s on the mound. A former first-round selection by the Baltimore Orioles in 2013, he has compiled a solid major-league track record, posting a 3.11 ERA over 185 career innings with Baltimore, Washington, and Kansas City while striking out 201 hitters.
His strongest run came with the Nationals from 2022 through 2024. During that stretch, he logged a 3.17 ERA, fanned nearly 28 percent of opposing batters, and regularly worked in high-leverage situations, including save opportunities. His upper-90s fastball paired with a biting curveball makes him particularly effective against right-handed hitters.
Health, however, remains the biggest question mark. Injuries limited Hunter Harvey’s 2025 campaign with the Royals. A teres major strain sidelined him from April until late July, and a Grade 2 adductor strain followed in August. He appeared in only 12 games, totaling 10.2 innings, but was dominant when available, allowing no runs while striking out 11 and issuing just one walk.
That light workload came after previous back issues and a lengthy injury history dating back to his days as a top prospect, raising concerns about his durability across a full season.
Cubs president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer has been active in overhauling the relief corps following multiple departures. Along with Harvey, Chicago signed Phil Maton to a two-year, $14.5 million deal, added Hoby Milner and Jacob Webb, and re-signed Caleb Thielbar.
While Daniel Palencia is expected to see most of the save chances, Harvey gives the Cubs another late-inning option and adds much-needed velocity to the bullpen. It’s a classic low-risk, high-reward move aimed at building depth without a major financial commitment.
Harvey now joins a revamped bullpen under manager Craig Counsell, who is known for leaning heavily on his relievers. With roster flexibility and no major splashes so far, Chicago is prioritizing dependable depth and upside.
If Harvey can remain healthy and recapture the form he showed in Washington, he could emerge as a key late-inning piece. For a team looking to rise above recent middling finishes, this under-the-radar bullpen rebuild could prove meaningful in the NL Central race.