The Cubs have been busy reshaping the bullpen over the last few weeks, bringing in multiple veteran arms. Cubs fans can add Hunter Harvey to that list, as the hard-throwing right-hander has reportedly agreed to join the team for 2026.
A Look at Harvey
Over a decade ago, Hunter Harvey was a high-end starting pitching prospect with the Baltimore Orioles. Fast forward to today, and Harvey — the son of former closer Bryan Harvey — has found success in his dad’s old role as a reliever.
The Nationals picked Harvey up in March 2022 off waivers from the Giants and stuck him in the bullpen. He found immediate success with a team willing to give him time, as he posted a good .272 wOBA and struck out 45 over 39.1 IP. Harvey followed that up with 67 strikeouts, juxtaposed to 13 walks, over 60.2 IP in 2023.
Harvey, amidst a rebuild in Washington, was traded to the Royals in 2024 as part of a deal that brought in Cayden Wallace and an MLB Draft pick for the Nationals. However, Harvey barely pitched in his time with Kansas City. Back tightness limited him to six appearances with K.C. in 2024. Then, in 2025, a teres major strain and a right adductor strain cost him most of the year.
However, when he was healthy, Harvey was very good this past season. The 31-year-old right-hander struck out 11 over 10.2 IP, walked one, and didn’t allow an earned run. He also posted 30+% Whiff% and Chase% rates this past year in a limited time.
The new Cub has largely been a three-pitch pitcher, primarily using a hard fastball, a curveball, and a splitter.
The splitter is a pitch that he won’t heavily lean on in terms of usage; Harvey used it roughly 15-19% of the time over the last five seasons. Nonetheless, it’s a pitch that can be used to induce groundballs — which he has — and keep hitters off the fastball.
Harvey’s four-seamer has above league-average induced vertical break (17.3” in 2025) and played up in the zone. And while his velocity has dipped slightly over the past few years, Harvey was able to ratchet it up to 99 MPH this past season. Two years ago, it capped out at 101 MPH and regularly hit 99-100 MPH.
As for the curveball, it’s a pitch that, like the splitter, was able to induce swings out of the zone. It’s a harder curveball, one that’s not a big bender but will sit in the low-80s.
Lastly, Harvey began to utilize the slider more. That pitch gets more usage against right-handed hitters.
The New York Times first reported that the Cubs had an agreement with Hunter Harvey.
Analysis
The Cubs hit big with under-the-radar reliever additions last year. Between the in-season acquisition of Drew Pomeranz, plus bringing in Brad Keller and Caleb Thielbar last winter, Chicago was able to construct a formidable group of relievers at a low cost.
Harvey has the chance to be a similar type of impact reliever.
The right-hander has a track record for eliciting swings and misses both up and down the zone, and a four-pitch mix that can be used for both left-handed and right-handed hitters.
This is also yet another addition for what will be a different-looking bullpen for the Cubs. Brad Keller signed a two-year, $22MM deal with the Phillies, while Drew Pomeranz and Andrew Kittredge are gone.
Chicago did bring back Caleb Thielbar but has gone the inexpensive route to set up Daniel Palencia. Phil Maton was signed last month to a two-year deal and will make $5.5MM in 2026. The Cubs will play Jacob Webb ($1.5MM) and Hoby ($3.75MM) for less than $5MM each, bringing in three on affordable deals.
That’s notable, given what Kittredge ($9MM) and Keller will make next season.
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