The Chicago Cubs have been quiet active throughout the first half of the month of January. Trading for Edward Cabrera and signing Alex Bregmen to a multi year contract are the attention grabbing headlines, but as evidence from a season ago, sometimes under the radar moves end up making a massive difference, and that is what Chicago has been doing recently.
In January alone, the Cubs have added several pitchers, including claiming Ryan Rolison off waivers, and signing Tyler Beede plus John Brigham to minor league deals. They now have added two more high-upside arms, as Tyler Ras and Corbin Martin have joined the organization.
Chicago Cubs sign high-upside arms Tyler Ras and Corbin Martin
Chicago Cubs manager Craig Counsell (11) walks back the to dugout after a pitching change during the seventh inning against the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park. Mandatory Credit: Rafael Suanes-Imagn Images
Ras, who was originally drafted by the Cubs in the 33rd round of the 2018 MLB Draft, but then went onto be a two-way player in college at Alabama, later was selected in the 14th round of the 2021 MLB Draft by the Colorado Rockies. Since debuting as a professional, he has also spent time in the Independent League in 2024, and more recently the Houston Astros farm system a season ago.
Chicago electing to sign Ras came shortly after he impressed at a Tread Athletics Pro Day. During his showcase, he sat 95-96 MPH with his fastball, while also showing a low 90-s cutter and splitter. Due to Tyler Zambro’s presence in Chicago, and his ties to Tread Athletics, expect more of these signings to follow.
As for Martin, he has excellent stuff, but has been plagued by injury and command issues throughout his career. He has a mid to upper 90s fastball, slider, and curveball, all of which have high swing and miss ability. By signing him to a minor league deal, he becomes a darkhorse candidate to impact the club in 2026, as he appeared in 17 games a season ago for the Baltimore Orioles.
Both signings reflect the Cubs’ continued willingness to take calculated bets on upside, particularly with pitchers who possess standout raw stuff. While neither addition guarantees immediate impact, both fit the Cubs’ recent pattern of targeting talented but overlooked pitchers and trusting their development infrastructure to turn them into meaningful contributors down the line.
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