Last December, the Cubs struck gold when the team signed Caleb Thielbar just before the calendar turned to 2025. Thielbar was a valuable left-hander for the Cubs last season. The Cubs will hope that Jacob Webb can have a similar effect on the team’s bullpen for 2026, as the ex-Ranger joined the North Siders just before Christmas.
Webb signs with Cubs
Reliever Jacob Webb signed with the Cubs on December 23.
The 32-year-old Webb has been a largely productive pitcher across his six-year Major League career. He’s bounced around several teams, including the Angels, Rangers, and Orioles, over the last three seasons. And in those three seasons, Webb averaged over a strikeout per inning in two of three, plus a sub-4.00 ERA in all three.
His .270 in 2025 ranked as the 56th-best among the 221 relievers who threw in at least 30 games this past year.
The new Cubs reliever is a three-pitch pitcher, with a low-80s sweeper, mid-80s changeup, and low-to-mid-90s fastball.
Webb’s signing marks yet another bullpen move for the Cubs. He’ll join fellow newcomer Hoby Milner, who was a teammate of the righty with Texas and signed with Chicago in December, plus a returning Caleb Thielbar.
Seven among Pirates non-roster invites
Aside from the reported signing of Ryan O’Hearn, the Pirates conducted other business on December 23.
The Pirates revealed seven players who will be among the non-roster invites to 2026 Spring Training this coming February & March. The seven are Joe La Sorsa, Ronny Simon, Beau Burrows, Davis Wendzel, Oddanier Mosqueda, and outfielder Dominic Fletcher.
Some of these names should be familiar. Simon spent some time with the Pirates this past season, as the 25-year-old slashed .234/.299/.273 over 88 plate appearances. Burrows, a 2015 first-round pick, pitched briefly in the Majors in 2020 and 2021. Lefty Joe La Sorsa spent parts of three seasons (2023-25) between the Rays, Nationals, and Reds.
Fletcher, meanwhile, officially signed a Minor League deal this past weekend for the Pirates. The 28-year-old was a former second-round pick who makes a lot of contact but has never been a big power hitter. Across parts of three seasons with the White Sox and Diamondbacks, Fletcher slashed .233/.280/.325 over 377 plate appearances.
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