New Cubs reliever Phil Maton's contract becomes official; terms revealed

Cubs Reliever Maton Signs Two-Year Deal with Club Option for 2028

The Chicago Cubs have announced the signing of right-handed reliever Phil Maton to a two-year contract with a club option for the 2028 season. The deal guarantees Maton $14.5 million, according to sources.

In light of the numerous bullpen spots available, it makes sense that the Cubs opted to secure Maton's services early in the offseason. By committing to a multi-year deal, they broke from their traditional approach of piecing together one-year deals and minor league signings with small trades.

Maton's recent performance warrants this longer-term commitment. In his last season with the Cardinals and Rangers, he posted a 2.79 ERA and improved his strikeout rate to 32.5%, which is among the best in his career.

The Cubs are currently rebuilding their bullpen almost from scratch, but Maton's durability and effectiveness on soft contact make him an attractive addition. His success relies heavily on spin and deception, traits that tend not to decline with age as much as velocity does.

With this signing, the Cubs' offseason focus remains on pitching, following left-handed starter Shota Imanaga's acceptance of his qualifying offer. The move sets the stage for what promises to be an intriguing final stretch of the offseason for the North Siders.

I'm loving how the Cubs are all-in on pitching this offseason ! Securing Maton's spot in the bullpen is a huge win, especially with his impressive numbers from last season. 2.79 ERA and 32.5% strikeout rate? That's some serious firepower ! I'm excited to see how he fits into the Cubs' rotation and helps anchor their bullpen for years to come . The fact that they're committing to a multi-year deal shows they believe in him, which is awesome . Now, let's hope the rest of the offseason goes just as smoothly and we get some more exciting signings !

idk why cubs waste money on maton tho like they're trying to throw money at problems or something

Wow The Cubs just signed Phil Maton and its gonna help them secure that bullpen spot in 2025 lol.

the cubs are really getting serious about their bullpen now they've signed maton and i'm curious to see how he does in chicago, his numbers were decent last year but we all know that teams can change a lot over one season what's even more interesting is that this signing kinda flips the script on how they're rebuilding... instead of just grabbing anyone off waivers or making minor league signings, they're going for someone who's shown they can keep up with the big leagues

omg i'm so hyped about phil maton joining the cubs!!! 2 years is a great commitment for him and i think he's gonna crush it, especially with that club option in 2028! his numbers last season were insane and i love how he relies on spin and deception to get those k's

Maton's deal makes total sense imo . He's been killing it in the minors and showed up big time last season . That 2.79 ERA is no joke! The Cubs are smart to lock him down for two years, considering they're basically rebuilding their bullpen from scratch . With his spin and deception skills, he's gonna be a great asset for them . And let's be real, who needs velocity when you've got that level of control? Plus, the club option for 2028 is just icing on the cake . Now, I'm hyped to see how this all plays out in the final stretch of the offseason !

idk why they're shelling out big bucks for maton, he's not that bad, i mean, 2.79 era is pretty standard for a guy with his profile . plus, spin and deception are skills that don't really age well, so maybe he'll still be good in 2028 . the cubs seem like they're making some weird signings this offseason, first it's shota imanaga, now maton... what's next?

I gotta disagree , two years is way too long for a reliever! I mean, guys like Maton are gonna get hurt or just plain old lose some gas in their mid-30s and suddenly become the guy who gives up 5 runs a pop . The Cubs should be looking to sign some younger arms that can still bounce back from injuries or have that 'it' factor for 4-5 years, not lock down someone's services till they're 37 .

omg i was just talking to my friend about baseball and he said something about the cubs being kinda rebuilding lol i dont really get it like why would they wanna do that?? arent they trying to win or something? anyway this phil maton guy sounds cool what does a club option mean tho is he basically locked in for 2028 or can they cut him if things dont work out

So, the Cubs have finally bitten the bullet and signed a guy who can actually get those soft contact guys out . Phil Maton is no joke, his numbers are legit 2.79 ERA and that strikeout rate of 32.5% is insane for a reliever! I mean, you gotta wonder what they were thinking with all the bullpen spots open - did they think they could just pick up anyone? Nope, this is the real deal.

The thing about Maton is his spin and deception work - it's like he's got some secret sauce that keeps hitters guessing. And yeah, velocity can be a bit of a wild card as you get older, but not so with spin and stuff like that . I think it's safe to say the Cubs have made a solid move here and now we're gonna see what kind of impact this guy has on their bullpen.

One thing that's got me curious is what this means for some of those other guys they were eyeing - are there going to be some shake-ups in the final stretch? Only time will tell, but for now, I'm feeling pretty good about this move .