It's official: Cubs re-sign reliever Caleb Thielbar |
CHICAGO – The Chicago Cubs today agreed to terms with left-handed pitcher Caleb Thielbar (THEEL-bar) on a one-year major league contract. The 40-man roster stands at 33 players.
Thielbar, 30, appeared in a career-high-tying 67 games last season with the Cubs, pitching to a 3-4 record with one save, a 2.64 ERA (17 ER/58.0 IP) and 56 strikeouts, compared to just 13 walks. He held opponents scoreless in all five of his postseason appearances across 3.2 innings, striking out five hitters. Among National League relievers (min. 60 G) last season, his curveball produced the third-lowest opposing batting average (.135/7-for-52) and the fifth-highest strikeout rate (36.4%). A Northfield, Minn. native, Thielbar has pitched in parts of nine major league seasons, eight of which were with the Minnesota Twins. He is 26-16 with five saves and a 3.26 ERA (137 ER/378.0 IP) in 414 career major league games, all as a reliever, with the Twins (2013–15 and 2020-2024) and Cubs (2025). He was awarded the Twins Bill Boni Outstanding Rookie Award in 2013 after going 3-2 with a 1.76 ERA in his first major league campaign. The lefthander has made at least 59 appearances in four of the last five major league seasons – 59 in both 2021 and 2024, and a career-high 67 games in each of 2022 and 2025. In 2021, he won a career-high seven games and turned in a 3.23 ERA (23 ER/64.0 IP). Originally selected by the Milwaukee Brewers in the 18th round of the 2009 draft out of South Dakota State, Thielbar made his major league debut on May 20, 2013. In addition to his time with the Brewers, Twins and Cubs organizations, he has also played in the Tigers, Braves and Padres farm systems. The Cubs officially announced Caleb Thielbar’s re-signing this afternoon.
Source confirmed the one-year deal is worth $4.5 M guaranteed and includes a 2027 mutual option, as @PJ_Mooney first reported. https://t.co/bD67DrGB4r
