{"id":569577,"date":"2026-02-13T05:38:13","date_gmt":"2026-02-13T05:38:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/569577\/"},"modified":"2026-02-13T05:38:13","modified_gmt":"2026-02-13T05:38:13","slug":"cubs-name-2026-closer-as-roster-rounds-into-form","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/569577\/","title":{"rendered":"Cubs Name 2026 Closer as Roster Rounds Into Form"},"content":{"rendered":"

MLB Spring Training games are only eight days away. This winter, the Chicago Cubs have done a fantastic job adding weapons to their roster. The biggest question surrounding the roster now is which 13 pitchers the team will deploy<\/a> come Opening Day. Yesterday, ESPN\u2019s Jesse Rogers met with Cubs skipper Craig Counsell<\/a> and wasted no time getting right to the point.<\/p>\n

After the announcement that Daniel Palencia<\/a> is officially slated for ninth-inning duties, the Cubs\u2019 bullpen is mostly set. Colin Rea<\/a>, Hoby Milner<\/a>, Jacob Webb<\/a>, Caleb Thielbar<\/a>, Phil Maton<\/a>, and Hunter Harvey<\/a> do not have minor league options. That means there are only a select few options we should keep an eye on heading into Spring Training.<\/p>\n

I asked Craig Counsell if Daniel Palencia would get the ninth inning if the reg season was starting now. Instead of the usual \u201cwe have outs-getter\u201d answer, he simply said \u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u2014 Jesse Rogers (@JesseRogersESPN) February 11, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

Cubs Roster Rounding Into Form Ahead of Spring Training
\n Who\u2019s Fighting for the Last Bullpen Spot?<\/p>\n

Javier Assad<\/a><\/p>\n

Ben Brown<\/a><\/p>\n

Luke Little<\/a><\/p>\n

Porter Hodge<\/a><\/p>\n

Jordan Wicks<\/a><\/p>\n

A quick glance at the Cubs\u2019 RosterResource<\/a> and various places has Javier Assad projected to make the team. That shouldn\u2019t be etched in stone, however. Though effective when healthy, he still has two option years remaining. The Cubs won\u2019t hesitate to use those options if Assad falters or if somebody looks better this spring.<\/p>\n

Ben Brown is the name you can expect to be seriously considered for the final spot. Brown has terrific underlying peripherals, and a breakout season appears to be on the cusp.<\/p>\n

Brown 2025 Stats: 5.92 ERA, 4.08 FIP, .347 BABIP, 106.1 IP, 121 Ks<\/p>\n

2026 ZiPS projections: 4.10 ERA, 3.69 FIP, .288 BABIP, 98.7 IP, 106 Ks<\/p>\n

2026 Steamer Projections: 3.39 ERA, 3.36 FIP, .292 BABIP, 49 IP, 56 Ks<\/p>\n

Many projection systems are bullish on Brown finding a consistent stride in 2026, due to the improvement of several statistics. A key analytic will be his BABIP, which, if he keeps around .300 as projected, will lead to better results. Given the Cubs\u2019 elite defense across the field, his .347 BABIP in 2025 appears somewhat fluky.<\/p>\n

The problem Brown has run into is that his two-pitch mix fails to keep hitters guessing. With the average hard-hit rate in MLB around 35%, Brown\u2019s 47.3% mark in 2025 must improve. It\u2019s no secret: the harder you hit the ball, the higher your batting average tends to be. Implementing a third pitch into his arsenal can make him a breakout candidate in 2026. A third pitch would better keep hitters off balance, leading to weaker contact and improved results across the board.<\/p>\n

The Rest of the Bunch with a Chance<\/p>\n

The other three \u2014 Jordan Wicks, Luke Little, and Porter Hodge \u2014 should get a fair opportunity to showcase their stuff. It\u2019s difficult to envision both Assad and Brown being optioned before one of these three. If an injury occurs, one of them is likely to be the first call-up.\u00a0<\/p>\n

There\u2019s a strong likelihood we\u2019ll see all three at some point during the season. For now, the most likely look of the Cubs\u2019 Opening Day bullpen is as follows:<\/p>\n

Colin Rea<\/p>\n

Ben Brown<\/p>\n

Hoby Milner<\/p>\n

Caleb Thielbar<\/p>\n

Hunter Harvey<\/p>\n

Jacob Webb<\/p>\n

Phil Maton<\/p>\n

Daniel Palencia<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

Main Photo Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports<\/p>\n

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