Jacob Webb and the Chicago Cubs have agreed to terms on a one year deal with a 2027 option, per reports. Webb is guaranteed $1.5 million with $500K in potential incentives bonuses, it is being reported. The 2027 option is for $2.5M with $500K in potential incentives.
Webb was signed by the Texas Rangers last year after he was non-tendered by the Baltimore Orioles. Webb had a $1.25 million base for 2025 along with $1.5 million in incentives which he appears to have reached.The Rangers opted to non-tender Webb after the 2025 season, a somewhat surprising decision, given that his projected arbitration salary was $2 million, though the contract tendered by the Rangers would also have to include the same incentive bonuses as his 2025 season. This has resulted in complaints that the Rangers had to non-tender Webb because the team was too broke and couldn’t afford to pay him $2 million.
I’ve been more of the view that the front office didn’t think that Webb would be worth what he would potentially get in arbitration. Given that Webb, as a free agent, got just $1.5M guaranteed with another $500K in incentives, it would appear that the league as a whole agreed with that.
The Cubs, interestingly enough, have now signed three members of the 2025 Rangers bullpen. Along with Webb, they have also added Phil Maton and Hoby Milner.