Frequently Asked Questions
Why is Caleb Thielbar not coming back to the Cubs in 2027?
Thielbar had a rough 2026 season, posting a 4.86 ERA and 1.30 WHIP while allowing 11 home runs in just 50 innings, a big step back from his stellar 2025 numbers. He was left off the Cubs' Wild Card Series roster against the Padres, and with a $6 million mutual option on the table, Chicago will gladly pay the $500,000 buyout and move on. At 40 years old next season, the Cubs have no reason to bring him back.
What happened to Hunter Harvey with the Cubs in 2026?
Harvey threw only four innings before landing on the injured list in early April with right triceps inflammation and never returned after being placed on the 60-day IL in May. The Cubs took a shot on him despite his injury history, paying him $5 million in 2026, and now owe a $1 million buyout this offseason — a $6 million total hit for essentially nothing. The only way he comes back is on a minor league deal.
Why did the Cubs sign Tyler Austin and what went wrong?
The Cubs signed Austin for $1.25 million to serve as a backup first baseman and potential platoon bat with Michael Busch after he put up strong power numbers in Japan. However, Austin underwent a debridement procedure on the patellar tendon in his right knee in February, before spring training even started, and never played a game for Chicago in 2026. The Cubs never gave a concrete recovery timeline and have no reason to invest more resources in an aging first baseman with a bum knee.
What were Trent Thornton's stats with the Cubs in 2026?
Thornton posted a 3.35 ERA in 48.1 innings, but his strikeout rate was a well-below-average 15.8% and his underlying metrics on Baseball Savant were poor across the board. He was considered extremely fortunate to carry that ERA given how bad his advanced numbers looked. The Cubs need bullpen upgrades heading into 2027, and moving on from Thornton is part of that process.
How many Cubs players could become free agents before the 2027 season?
The Cubs could have as many as 18 players from their roster hit free agency heading into the 2027 season. Some of those players should return, but several — including Thielbar, Harvey, Thornton, and Austin — have no business coming back. It sets up a potentially massive roster overhaul for Jed Hoyer this offseason.
Aldo Soto
With a journalism degree from Eastern Illinois University and a decade of Cubs reporting, my work has appeared on 670 The Score, ESPN 1000, and the Pinwheels and Ivy Podcast. I cover Cubs news and analysis for Sports Mockery, including roster moves, game breakdowns, and prospect development.
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