The Cubs have signed right-handed pitcher to a major contract contract, according to the transactions listed on his MLB.com player page.
Top star, 27, was originally selected by the Mariners in the 15th round of the 2017 draft but was dealt to the Rays in 2018 as part of the trade for Alex Colomé. He spent several years in Tampa Bay’s system and made his MLB debut in 2022. However, he struggled in limited action, allowing a 7.71 ERA over 4 2/3 innings, leading to a DFA. The Nationals claimed him off waivers, but things didn’t improve—he gave up eight runs (six earned) in just 3 2/3 innings for Washington. Although he remained on the Nats’ 40-man roster through the season, they non-tendered him that November.
He rejoined the Nationals on a minor league deal a few months later and served as a swingman for their Triple-A team in 2023. His results weren’t great—he posted a 5.44 ERA with a very high 15.2% walk rate. Later in the year, he signed with the Giants and performed better for their Triple-A affiliate in Sacramento, putting up a 3.14 ERA across 72 2/3 innings, with a 22.1% strikeout rate and 12.4% walk rate. While the walk numbers were still elevated, his performance was especially impressive given the hitter-friendly conditions of the Pacific Coast League. Across his minor league career, Romero owns a 3.08 ERA, and 2023 marked the only season he’s had an ERA above 3.24 at any level.
Despite his solid résumé, Romero did not open the 2025 season in affiliated ball. Instead, he pitched in the Mexican League for the Guerreros de Oaxaca, where he struggled in two starts, giving up a 7.27 ERA. Now back in the U.S. with the Cubs, Romero provides organizational pitching depth. While he’s not a realistic replacement for frontline starters like Justin Steele or Shota Imanaga, the Cubs have also lost key depth options—Javier Assad and Brandon Birdsell—to injury. Meanwhile, Cade Horton and Chris Flexen have both been called up to the majors, creating holes in the Triple-A rotation.
Romero could slot into one of those Triple-A openings and, if he performs well, potentially earn a big league call-up if injuries continue to pile up. The current rotation mix includes Jameson Taillon, Matthew Boyd, Ben Brown, Colin Rea, Horton, and Flexen—an injury-prone group that also features two younger arms who may be on innings limits. There’s a need for depth, though other arms like Jordan Wicks and Connor Noland are likely ahead of Romero in the organizational pecking order.