REUNION: Chicago Cubs bring back Caleb Thielbar to bolster bullpen

REUNION: Chicago Cubs bring back Caleb Thielbar to bolster bullpen

Caleb Fieldbar is back. We tell you what this means for the bullpen. >> You are Locked on Cubs, your daily Chicago Cubs podcast, part of the Locked on Podcast Network. Your team every day. >> You are Locked On Cubs, part of the Locked On Network. Now the number one sports podcast network. We are your team every day. I'm Matt Cozy. I'm a lifelong fan taking my passion into a discussion with you on all things Cubs. Today's episode is brought to you by FanDuel. If you want to be right in the middle of the action this season, visit fanuel.com and place your NFL live bets all season long. We are moving into the three episode formation through January. Uh that's pending bonus episodes or breaking news. will pretty much be three episodes a week uh for about a month and a half. And uh pending bonus episodes, well, there's a huge one this Thursday night, the holiday party. Uh Locked on Cubs holiday party starts at 700 PM Central time live on YouTube. Please join us live if you're an Apple listener. Spotify, iHeart Radio, uh if you're an audio peep of ours, if you're even a big video on demand person, would really encourage you to join us live. Take take a part uh take part of this experience with us in the moment. There's going to be a lot of cool surprises. There could be listeners in and out all night. So, uh really excited about that. That's this Thursday. I do have a guest co-host in for Sam today. You could hear him on WGN radio here and listen to him on CHGO. He is also like myself from the Northwest suburbs. He's a Kerry Grove grad, a school that I think of fondly as that is where I spent my first three years teaching. Uh some CG nuggets later in the show. Also the offseason preferred plan, maybe some more clues about that. We're gonna start with Caleb Fieldbar. Kevin, thank you so much. Kevin Wells, thank you so much for being on. >> Yeah, man. Uh, thanks for having me on, Matt. I appreciate this. It's always a fun opportunity to talk baseball in the debt of winter here in Chicago. So, I'm excited to hop on. We got some pretty cool news today. Caleb Theelbar coming back. You know, we'll take what we can get. It may not be the uh the large backbreaking offseason signing, but you know, this we'll we'll take the news and nuggets we can get this moment in time. So, yeah. No, man. I'm happy to be here. This is uh it's an honor to be on the show. >> Yeah, absolutely. And the Cubs have made three signings this off season so far, all in the bullpen. >> I think that does quell a little bit of my worries uh with how they were going to rebuild this thing. And uh last December, the Cubs signed Field Bar one-year deal, $2.75 million. We await on the terms of this deal, but he turned in one of the best years of his careers. So, uh, this he'll likely get a nice raise. Uh, but I think it's a a positive reunion here for Theelbar and the Cubs. He posted a 2.64 ERA in 67 games. Allowed just five runs in his first 31 games. Good fast ball plus curve. Couple stats that stood out to me uh outlining today. walk rate of just 6% last year and a hard hit rate in the 97th percentile. Kevin, he I I do when I think of Theelbar, I think of that that bender, the the curveball that he has, the slow curve, but he really was outstanding this past year. >> Loved him against, you know, the lefty righty matchup, the reverse splits, I think, was what really drew me in to Theo Bar. It's a it's a name they know well. The durability factor, I think, is going to be the most important thing for the Cubs bullpen, you know, in 2026. And this is a guy who played all year. Uh he's turned in a consistent product his entire career. Even going back to Minnesota was really solid with them. And like you said, I mean, it wasn't, you know, it wasn't a career year for Theo Bar. You know, he's had a couple years where he's been a little bit better, but in terms of the hard hit rate and keeping the ball in the ballpark, I mean, all positive signs. And the other thing is there wasn't, you know, there wasn't a ton of lefty relief stars left. You know, there still aren't. There's a couple names out there in terms of free agents, but this is a guy, you know, well, it's cheap. It's a lowrisk move. One year most likely here. I mean, this is it's a signing that I I you you would welcome if you're a fan. And I think there's a couple other guys in that bullpen you look forward to bringing back. But in terms of lefty and a guy that you can bring in in a high leverage situation, it it makes it makes sense. You know, for the money, it's it's cheap and easy. And I think you set the goal with him now. He threw almost 60 innings last year. I think he'd probably guy going on 39 40 years old. You know, you probably want to set the goal around 50 innings. And if you get there, total home run. If you don't get there, if you get 35 to 50, I think it's still a really nice signing. >> Yeah. right or wrong, my biggest doubt about him actually coming back was was that he's older. Uh he's going to be 39 this year. Uh but but they did they did it and it it does give me confidence in in what they're they're building in the pen. Uh now you have five people you know you could rely on >> and in most ways you feel good or really good about. Valencia, Maton, Milner, Theelbar, and Ray who will likely begin the year in the rotation with steel on the IIL. Uh, but what is what stands out about about that group? Because I I feel like that five that does that spark confidence in you right now? >> It's a higher floor than 2024, 2025 to start the year. Um, just because I thought >> Sure. in terms of three main guys that they had that they thought were going to be big pieces of that bullpen last year immediately were out injured or really were sent down to Triple A and did nothing of magnitude for you whatsoever. Uh Presley being the other guy who made it halfway through the year before you was cut. there just wasn't enough to feel good about or maybe the Cubs felt good about it, but you heard council at the winter meeting say, "We completely misjudged our bullpen last year." >> That's right. >> So, they're taking a new approach this year and the two-year deal to Phil Meton, a guy with a pretty solid floor raises, you know, your win potential, I think, right away early on in the year. I still feel as though the bullpen is unbalanced. I don't and that's to be expected, right? It's not a knock on front. There's still two months until >> real baseball's played, but it feels like there's still a move to be made in terms of a high leverage arm, whether that's Pete Fairbanks, the biggest name still on the market or coming in terms of a trade. It still feels like that is going to happen just based on where the amount of names they have in AAA right now who just have not been able to crack. They remain on the 40man, but they just have not been able to crack significant innings for council. They were given opportunities last year, Gavin Hollowell and some of those other names that just it's just not enough, you know, and I think I think they realize that and that's why I still feel as though it's a I'm going in with a you know, I feel better earlier, but I still need to see some moves kind of towards the the richer end. Some some contracts, some guys that, you know, you I hate the term closer, and I know council does, too. So, I don't want to say throw Fairbanks in the ninth inning. I just I think more high leverage arms is the way they need to look at it here over the next few weeks. And I I have confidence, full confidence that they will do that. >> Yeah. And I like that phrase, raising the floor. I I I think it's a better starting point in the last couple of years. Certainly, >> I appreciated council admitting, hey, we got it wrong. >> And they reunite with Theelbar. You brought up Keller. I wonder if a reunion could be in the cards there. I think Fairbanks for me is hard to see just because I don't know if they're going to go three years on a guy like Suarez got three years. Um Rogers got three years. I would be surprised if Pete Fairbanks didn't get that. Maybe I'm maybe I'm wrong. I know they've been connected to Ryan Stannic uh really for a couple years, but also this offseason. Jesse Rogers has dropped his name. uh the athletic guys Sahadav and Patrick have as well. Uh so I think that addition is coming. Let's review right now. I I have in front of me, Kevin, the projected opening day bullpen. >> Sure. Yeah. >> And we're going to review that right after this. Today's episode is NFL and suddenly everything feels different. That's what makes live betting with FanDuel so exciting. You're not just watching the game. You're reacting to it in real time. With FanDuel, you can place bets as the action unfolds. Every drive, every momentum swing, every highlight moment. Live betting is best when the game starts to shift, a receiver gets hot, a defense tightens up, or the momentum flips after a turnover. FanDuel lets you jump into the moment with live spreads and money lines that adjust instantly. player props update as guys heat up and more. Right now, the Bears are one and a half point underdogs hosting the Packers this Saturday night. 7:20 p.m. Central kickoff on Saturday. Uh minus 104 the Bears are minus 112 the Packers. This is uh pretty much an even split right now. Overunder point total 46 and a half. Uh should be a close one. on the lakefront. So, if you want to be right in the middle of the action this season, visit fanuel.com and place your NFL live bets all season long. FanDuel, the game moves fast and so can you. Thank you for making Lockdown Cubs your first listen of the day. And thank you for making Lockdown the number one sports podcast network. You already live your team every day. Now take it up a level and go ad free. Join the Everyday Club today and get Locked on Cubs with no interruptions. All for just $5 a month or $50 a year. Go to lockdown cubs.supcast.com or check the link in this episode description. Kevin Wells from WGN Radio and CHGO is with me. And uh we've brought up the the five players that the Cubs could likely rely on beginning the year. Palencia, Mton, Milner, Fieldbar, and Ray. Uh though Ray will likely begin the year in the rotation with Steel on the IIL. Kevin, I think Hajj is a question mark, but he's in my projected uh pen that I'm going to reveal in a second. Little's a question mark, but right now I I actually do have him in there. You mentioned Hollowell, he's still on the 40man. Jack Neely, remember he was a part of the return for Mark Lighter Jr. at the deadline a couple years ago. Um Ethan Roberts is still around. Uh Ben Brown could be making a full-time switch to being a relief pitcher and maybe as a short reliever and not long. That's that would be my preference. Uh Javier Assad could be a nice swing man this year. Maybe even a scheduled swing man like a piggyback option for Boyd or Horton or Steel or Shota. They could get creative there if they want to. So let me show you this right now. So my projected pen, Palencia, Maton, Milner, Theelbar, Hajj Brown, Little Assad, the latter four names, I think that's where it starts to get a little thin, even though Haj and Brown have shown good uh flashes as short relief guys. Uh what do you think about that that part of the group right now pending an addition or two? I think for the most part, yeah, I mean, the the first four obviously locks, all on major league deals, all I I don't know if Palencia has any options. Um, but I know that the other three do not. Um, Hajj is a guy that I think I think they're approaching this the right way and in which they're still in talks for another, you know, high leverage guy because you just don't know where he's going to be at after the injury. I think, you know, he it's a it's a very volatile situation with him. I do expect him to be on the 26 man to start the year. Uh Luke Little, I don't know. I don't I'm not sure what his fate is. I just there just has not been nearly enough um there's not been nearly enough of a sample size for me to put him on the 26 man to start out the year just because I don't I think in terms of a go for a year which the Cubs are no doubt in I think that they will try to fill that with another signing >> I tend to I keep looking at I keep looking at Brent Sudter as a potential there another another left-handed arm and Javier Assad. Yeah, Javier Assad's gonna make the team. I know they they love this guy. Uh he is, you know, basically your your hybrid. He is the ultimate out getter. That's what I like to call him. He's the ultimate throw him in in any situation. Starter, reliever, long-term relief. Um he battled some injuries last year. You hope that you you take it a little bit easier with him this year, maybe limit some of his innings, don't have them start right away. I I would expect him to be in the bullpen to start. And then you mentioned the other two. I mean, Ben Brown and and and Jordan Wixs. I know they weren't. I know Brown was on there, Wix wasn't, but that's what I mean by unbalanced right now. It just seems like when you resign Colin Ray, >> it tells me maybe I'm not super sold on a guy that I want flip-flopping between the rotation and long-term relief. That's what that says to me. And Colin Ray was excellent last year. >> You get him on a really club friendly deal, but to me, one of those guys like is just screaming trade. That that's how it feels to me. It's just screaming club control, trade them to a cont a team that's kind of slowly entering a rebuild, a team like Minnesota, something like that. That's that's how that feels to me. And again, it might not happen. I don't know. But they have a lot of those guys who can flip between and that and that's a position of strength. I just don't expect all of them to be in the bullpen on day one. >> Well, I I consider Brown and Wix fringe. They're fringe guys right now. Sam and I talked about it the other day. We we identified those two as fringe and trade candidates and also uh Kevin Elcontra. It's really those three are the strong the strong candidates I think to get a change of scenery. Open the the season in the majors but in a different a different uniform. And I think a lot of your points continue to reinforce the the Cubs goal of adding starting pitching. I my belief entering this week and exiting the winter meetings was I think their preference is to trade for a starting pitcher and sign a hitter. I don't think that hitter is going to be Alex Bregman unless something weird happens or they trade from the so-called core pieces. uh the veteran corps that make money. >> Uh that is where are you at with starting pitching whether it's a trade or a free agent terms of who piques your interest the need the fit or otherwise. >> I mean Joe Ryan is clearly the bell at the ball for me. That is the ultimate pitch lab Tommy Hotty guy. I I would >> do cartwheels >> uh to see Joe Ryan at Wrigley Field next season from the Twins. Um, he is one of my favorite pitchers to watch. Struggles with the home run ball and I know that that can be kind of volatile at Wrigley Field, but I think with the way he uses the sweeper and the offspe stuff, it's perfect for how the Cubs have crafted guys who throw hard and hey, let's let's let's teach him how to use the sweeper. I think they've done that with a few guys. So, >> Joe Ryan is my clear number one favorite trade target. I don't know if that's going to happen. We saw Ken Rosenthal say two weeks ago that the Twins aren't looking to move him. >> Now, I don't know how serious the Twins are because again, they said they're going to sign hitters and they go out and sign Josh Bell, who's the ultimate flip him at the trade deadline type of guy. I think he's been traded at like three straight trade deadlines or something like that. So, Joe Ryan, I think he can still be had, but it's going to cost you money. Two years of club control. the other starting pitchers who are available. Obviously, MI is is probably we keep I'm like everybody else in in this. You rely on YouTube clips and some game highlights and what the expert scouts are saying because we just haven't seen him. It's it's hard to kind of cultivate your own opinion on a guy that you haven't seen live or you haven't, you know, have a a super high sample size on on looking at. But from where he is and the intangibles and and it kind of where a lot of these Japanese pitchers have come over and had not success right away, but they show you signs of really growing into ace level pitching. I think that that's pretty promising and he looks like he could be a very good addition. Now, are the Cubs going to give out the richest contract in franchise history to a guy who's never played in the major leagues before? I don't know because that's probably what it's gonna take, right? It' probably be that >> 180 to 200 million. >> Yeah, it's gonna be nice. >> Yeah, >> I like McKenzie Gore, >> obviously. I think McKenzie Gore is a few years younger than Joe Ryan. He's still a little bit raw. There's some things that the the Cubs can really do to hit him in his stride. I don't think he's hit his prime yet. He's 26. If anything, he's just entering it. Joe Ryan is firmly in his prime. So, he's the guy that I want. I I I would be happy with any of those three, but in terms of the rotation in general, I I really would like to see them be bold here because I'm just not sure where Justin Steel stands. I think the guys, the two highest ceiling starting pitchers the Cubs have in their entire organization have had arm injuries and arm issues. you know, Kate Horton and Justin Steel, you know, albeit, you know, Kate Horton healthy up until the end of last year and he'll be fine to start the year. Those two guys have the highest ceilings in your organization, but they have had serious injuries. And I think that accounting for that and maybe bringing in more starting pitching depth at the high end of your rotation would be something I would rather see them do. Obviously, I want to see them get Alex Bregman, too. Who wouldn't? But if the money has to go somewhere, I prefer it to go to pitching and hopefully guys like Bisteros and Shaw take a bigger step offensively and Michael Bush is the best hitter on your team again in 2026. And that's where the offense comes from. I hope all that kind of makes sense. I would rather see them spend money on high-end pitching than hitting. And I think they I think ultimately they're going to I I don't I don't see how they make a trade for a starting pitcher whether it's their preferred plan or not. Well, if you're going to count on Bayeros, Shaw, Casey positionally, well, they can't be traded and that that's their biggest their biggest trade chips. Uh so I think they're going to invest money in the rotation. Bregman's a nice idea. I thought last year was the year to bring him in with the high AV. Um they thought differently. You know, their offer came in lower than the the Red Sox, lower than the Tigers terms of AAV. And uh I would love to know if they were in like on Okamoto, a corner infielder that could help. Would they have like an interest or mild interest in Aoenio Suarez if it was for a year or two? Um, to me it seems like, okay, let's get a starting pitcher. Uh, let's see how the the field plays out with with the free agency field with position guys and then continue to fortify uh the the bench and the bullpen. >> Yeah. And I I think they're going to do exactly what you said. It does feel as though they will trade for a starting pitcher and it feels like they will go out and sign another hitter, maybe bullpen guy. I just think with where we saw a lot of the rumors during the winter meetings, it seems, you know, they they weren't interested in the high-end reliever. So that leads me to believe they're saving that money for a starting pitcher. >> Yeah. >> And that's just that's that's an assumption. There's no I don't have any inside information on that. It just >> Well, it costs a lot. Even Zack Gallon would cost a lot, >> right? And and if you're going to pay that much for a starting pitcher, you know, I know Gallon, you know, has been pretty solid, too. And you know, the injury history isn't as high as it's been. Like, you know, that's an arm you can rely on. I think the Cubs are due for something bigger. I think they're due for someone that four and a half to five war pitcher who by the way I think Kate Horton will be next year. But if you can get another one of those guys and then you can kind of lead Justin Steel along and kind of hope that he's okay because again he he's coming back. We know he's coming back but there's going to be that ramp up period. Craig Consell said he'll get the bulk of the season. Mhm. >> So that to me says late May, June, maybe mid June, but then there's that ramp up period. They're going to take a long time with him to get him up to speed. So I want there to be an insurance plan and I want there to be significantly higher floor level starting pitching than what they've showcased over the last couple of years. And yes, they won 92 games last year with all of their depth. And that was great. I mean, it was ultimate managing job and getting the best out of some of your relief pitchers, but imagine if they got this right from the jump. You know, imagine if they got the bullpen right from the jump and added a really great starting pitcher and in April and May you maybe you're winning some more of those games and you're you don't have to rely on so many guys from TripleA and guys you didn't expect to rely on earlier. I I think that that to me is kind of what I would like to see. I'd like to feel a little bit more comfortable going into the year with higher leverage arms. >> All right. Um, we're going to debut a segment called One Last Question and it's really a name only. I got a couple things here for Kevin to close out the show right after this. Reminder of our holiday party, 700 p.m. Central Start Time this Thursday. Hopefully a surprise or two along the way. even to begin the show uh as well reflection on the year. Certainly a listener celebration and uh really showing our our thanks and appreciation for being able to do this show which we which we've done since July of 2022. And uh Kevin Wells is with me and for Sam today. Uh Kevin, tell us where well tell us when, excuse me, tell us when we could hear you on WGM and what capacity and the different roles you have there. >> Yeah. So, for starters, uh my my main position there, I'm the morning news reporter on 7:20 a.m. So, I'm on the Bob Serat morning show. Wow. >> 6 a.m., 7 a.m., 8 a.m., and 9:00 a.m. You can hear me do a live story. It's usually about a minute, minute and a half. And outside of that, I I fill in at all the anchoring positions. So the difference between reporter and anchor, the anchor does the whole newscast and the reporter usually just does the story. So when the afternoon anchors out, I'm filling in two to six. Uh when the midday anchor out, etc. So Monday through Friday, you can hear me pretty much every single morning. And then on Wednesday afternoons during football season when our sports reporter Kevin Powell's up at Halis Hall, I'm on the sports anchor desk from 2 to 6:30. So you can hear me do every sports update there. Uh so yeah, wear a lot of hats over there at GN. It's a great place to work. Obviously >> Legacy Station. >> What's that? >> Legacy Station. >> Yeah, it's an honor to it's an honor to be a part of it. You know, it's an honor to share the same airwaves that uh our guys Pat Hughes and Ron Sano and Ronkumer used to share. So, it's very cool to be a part of that station. >> That's awesome. All right. Well, yeah, we'll have to catch that. My dad's a loyal Bob Surat listener in the morning. So, he's gonna get a kick out of >> Bob's the best, man. He's He's a great guy to work with. Ultimate Cubs fan, too. >> Yeah, he is a diehard Cubs fan. >> Huge Cubs fan. He That's right. He comes in in the morning, he wears hard wears it on his sleeve, too. He's just like me. Okay. Whole playoff run, he's stressed out the entire morning. I mean, he's That's a That's a triedand- trueue fan. Uh, Cubs did put out some teasers for the convention the other day, >> including a 2016 World Series reunion. Uh, I'm try I'm going to connect this to Philip Rivers. Kevin, ready? >> Sure. >> Philip Rivers came out of retirement. He played the one game on Sunday. Apparently, he might he might play this weekend, too. But if you had to choose one former 2016 Cubs player to play in one single game this year, uh, excluding active players right now because there's a few of them. Who would it be and why? >> John Lester. Uh, because >> Cubs need starting pitching. I don't know. If I get the John Lester from a few years ago, it's him. >> Yeah. Yeah. >> If I get the 40-year-old John Lester, I'm not sure. But that guy is uh my favorite Cub of all time. >> Okay. >> I really enjoy his demeanor. I enjoy his leadership. I think having a guy like that in this pitching staff with some of these young guys, you know, he helped shape Justin Steel. I think he'd be a really great voice to have in that locker room this year. >> That's a cool answer. I I would go with the pitcher seems riskier even for one game. >> Jason, >> I I think I have to go with Rizzo. Yeah, I mean great backup first base option for Bush. >> I think he could at least get on base that day. At least get hit by a pitch or something. >> Yeah, I was trying to think of like if I would choose like an outfielder or something, but the Cubs are so loaded on outfield and >> you know Danby and Nico are both iron men. They don't really give up spot like they don't really miss games. >> Pitching, man. I I would have to go pitching. >> All right, so Carrie Grove state champs in ' 09, 18, 21, and 23. the state runner-ups in ' 04, 12 and 14. In your opinion, which is the best team in CG history? >> So, I was at the game in '08. That was a great football team. I think the best team in team history, though, was a couple years ago, uh, Quinn Pester, >> uh, team with Prester. Yeah. >> Absolute stud of an athlete, great great pitcher, great wide receiver for that Kerry Grove team. >> Yeah, >> that team was dominant. They were 14 and0. They were that defense was incredible and I mean I think every time I tuned in or listened to a game so I mean they were throttling teams on their way to that title and they I think they beat East St. Louis I want to say >> well that was in 21 they and I was there for that they beat and on the staff they beat uh Luther Burton current Chicago Bear in East St. Louis. >> That's right. Yes. >> In 18 and they beat him in 23 in 18 with Quinn Pier current uh Milwaukee Brewer. >> Yeah. Milwaukee. >> Um I don't remember who they beat. I think it might have been Providence or something >> but yeah St. Louis twice including >> Providence Catholic because 2015 my senior year we were 13 and0 >> and then they lost in the state title game that year >> and it was a really close game. >> Uh but that was to Laquan Laquan Treadwell. Do you remember him? >> Oh yeah. A lot of pro players. Yeah. >> Yeah. So it's East St. Lewis is a powerhouse for football players and you know Carrie Groves produced some great athletes on their own too. Uh Quinn Priest obviously being the cream of the crop now. Uh totally forgot he I don't know why I forgot he he was on the Brewers. I was just thinking of the draft pick and the fact that the Pirates took him in the first round, but >> yeah. >> Yeah, we we support our own. It's it's it's difficult rooting for him uh in Milwaukee, but I'm always pulling for Quinn. Uh he's he was an awesome awesome guy to root for on the football field and baseball field for us up in the up in the BBS up there. So, shout out to him. >> All right, Kevin, thank you so much for joining me and uh maybe we could do it again soon. >> Yeah, Matt, this was great. Thanks for having me. Anytime. >> Thank you for making Lockdown Cubs your first listen of the day. For those of you on video, we're about to send you out to the 247 National Lockdown Podcast Network YouTube channel. And if you're on audio, make sure your second listen is locked on. MLB for Kevin Wells. I'm Matt Cozy. This is Locked On Cubs.

Matt and Kevin Wells from WGN Radio discuss Caleb Thielbar returning to the Cubs, how it impacts the bullpen, and much more.

Follow & Subscribe on all Podcast platforms…
🎧 https://lockedonpodcasts.com/podcasts/locked-on-cubs/

Locked On MLB League-Wide: Every Team, Prospects & More
🎧 https://lockedonpodcasts.com/leagues/mlb/

#Cubs #ChicagoCubs