The Chicago Cubs left spring training last year under the impression that they had their closer locked in and ready to go. The team had acquired veteran former closer Ryan Pressly from the Houston Astros that offseason after a failed bid to sign free agent closer Tanner Scott.
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Unfortunately, Pressly turned out not to be the Cubs’ late inning shutdown man and was eventually released.
Daniel Palencia, however, DID turn out to be that man, at least for a good, long while.
Palencia was called up from Triple-A Iowa in mid-April and would soon lay claim to the closer gig in an eye-catching run that made him a Wrigley Field fan favorite. As August began, the hard-throwing righty from Venezuela had posted an impressive 1.40 ERA and was working with the swagger of an accomplished veteran.
Then, things just kind of fell apart.
The late collapse of Daniel Palencia
Daniel Palencia (48) reacts after getting the final out on Arizona Diamondbacks shortstop Geraldo Perdomo (2) against the Arizona Diamondbacks during the ninth inning at Wrigley Field. Mandatory Credit: David Banks-Imagn Images
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Over the last two months of the season, Palencia fell to pieces. He posted a 7.07 ERA in 17 appearances during that stretch, with an IL stint after the first week of September to boot. In the playoffs, after clearly having drifted outside manager Craig Counsell’s circle of trust, he was just passable, with a 3.52 ERA in six appearances.
So, it was a fairly big surprise earlier this spring training when Counsell affirmed that, as of right now, the 26-year-old Palencia is their high-leverage man in the ninth inning.
“No one sitting here a year ago thought that he’d be pitching as a closer, pitching huge innings in the middle of the game in the playoffs,” Cubs president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer told media. “He did an amazing job. I think his maturation was obvious to everyone. We’re super excited about him.”
That optimism is not shared by all. To be honest, it’s hard to be all that optimistic about Palencia’s 2026 when he looked so vulnerable in the last part of 2025.
A media vote of confidence
Sep 30, 2025; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Chicago Cubs relief pitch Daniel Palencia (48) throws a pitch in the fourth inning against the San Diego Padres during game one of the Wildcard round for the 2025 MLB playoffs at Wrigley Field. Mandatory Credit: David Banks-Imagn Images
Joel Reuter of Bleacher Report, however, stills views Palencia with rose-colored glasses, recently naming him the Cubs’ “Breakout Pitcher” of 2026.
Per Reuter:
“The rise from fringe roster candidate to a 22-save season might already look like a breakout, and it was in many respects, but there’s still another gear for a pitcher with the stuff to be one of baseball’s elite closers. A few bumps in the road and a late injury kept Palencia’s 2025 from being a true ascent to elite status, but an early vote of confidence from manager Craig Counsell this spring and a fastball (99.6 mph)/slider (39.4% whiff) combo few can match hint at more to come.”
Palencia will sink or swim in 2026
Apr 25, 2025; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Chicago Cubs relief pitcher Daniel Palencia (48) celebrates a win against the Philadelphia Phillies at Wrigley Field. Mandatory Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn Images
With Palencia, the talent is clearly there. As mentioned above, he was exceptional for most of the season and cleanly won that closer job on a team clearly headed to postseason play. But then, he seemed to buckle under the pressure late in the season.
Will his mindset be different heading into 2026? If he fails to be the closer the Cubs need, that job will fall to incoming free agents, the oft-injured Hunter Harvey or Phil Maton. Maybe Counsell would commit to a closer-by-committee plan.
Meanwhile, Palencia, himself, seems confident that the end of 2025 will not extend through 2026.
“I learned that’s a tough situation,” Palencia said. “The game is on the line. Just trying to be calm, be myself. Trust myself.
“I always knew I was that guy. I know I’m that guy for that situation.”
As is always the case, time will tell.
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