The Chicago Cubs made a move to improve their bullpen Tuesday by signing veteran right-hander Jacob Webb. Webb, 32, is joining the Cubs on a one-year, $1.5M deal with performance incentives. Webb’s contract contains a $2.5M club option for the 2027 season, also with performance incentives.
Webb has spent six years in MLB with four different teams. The California native has worked mostly in middle and late-game relief. With the Chicago Cubs Webb will likely be asked to work in the sixth and seventh innings of ball games, but the instability of the bullpen may dictate different roles.
Jacob Webb Signs with the Chicago Cubs
The Chicago Cubs made their third bullpen signing of the offseason Tuesday morning when they signed Jacob Webb. Webb, 32, agreed to a one-year deal with a club option for the 2027 season. In 2026 Webb will make $1.5M with incentives that could net the right-hander more.
Webb has spent six seasons in the majors with the Atlanta Braves, Los Angeles Angels, Baltimore Orioles and Texas Rangers. For his career, Webb is 17-14 with a 2.99 ERA and 1.20 WHIP in 253 innings of work across 247 appearances.
Webb features a four-seam fastball, a change-up and has a sweeper. He relies mostly on his fastball, which can touch 97 MPH. His change-up is about 10 MPH slower and his sweeper stays in the low 80’s with plenty of movement.
Adding Webb to the Bullpen
Webb has been a reliever his entire six-year career and will likely be asked to work in the back end of the Chicago Cubs bullpen. The signing of Webb comes after Chicago signed Phil Maton and Hoby Milner earlier this offseason. This trio will be added to Caleb Thielbar, who resigned with the club this winter.
Aside from Maton, Milner and Thielbar, there is little certainty for the Chicago Cubs bullpen heading into 2026. They will undoubtedly make more moves as the offseason continues, but with Brad Keller signing with the Philadelphia Phillies, there is going to be a lot of chaos early on and the Cubs are hoping Webb can be a solid contributor.
