The Chicago Cubs continued reshaping their bullpen by signing veteran right-hander Hunter Harvey to a one-year contract worth $6 million, with the potential to earn an additional $1.5 million in incentives.
The deal, first reported by Jon Heyman of the New York Post, brings a proven late-inning arm to Chicago as the club looks to strengthen its relief corps ahead of the upcoming season.
Harvey, 31, has shown significant upside when healthy. A former first-round selection of the Baltimore Orioles in 2013, he owns a 3.11 career ERA over 185 major-league innings, pitching for the Orioles, Washington Nationals, and Kansas City Royals. During that span, he has recorded 201 strikeouts, highlighting his ability to miss bats.
His most productive run came with Washington from 2022 to 2024, where he posted a 3.17 ERA, struck out nearly 28 percent of opposing hitters, and regularly worked in high-leverage situations, including save opportunities. Featuring a fastball that reaches the upper 90s along with a sharp curveball, Harvey has been particularly effective against right-handed hitters.
Health, however, remains the primary concern. Harvey’s 2025 season with Kansas City was cut short by injuries, beginning with a teres major strain that sidelined him until late July, followed by a Grade 2 adductor strain in August. He appeared in just 12 games, logging 10.2 innings, but was highly effective when available, allowing no runs while striking out 11 and issuing only one walk. Those setbacks added to a lengthy injury history that dates back to his days as a top prospect.
Cubs president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer has been active in rebuilding the bullpen following several offseason departures. Along with Harvey, Chicago signed Phil Maton to a two-year, $14.5 million deal, added Hoby Milner and Jacob Webb, and re-signed Caleb Thielbar.
While Daniel Palencia is expected to see most of the closing opportunities, Harvey gives manager Craig Counsell another power arm capable of handling late-inning situations. Known for leaning heavily on his relievers, Counsell now has a deeper, more versatile bullpen to work with.
For the Cubs, the move represents a calculated, low-risk investment with meaningful upside. If Harvey can stay healthy and recapture the form he showed in Washington, he could emerge as a key piece in Chicago’s effort to rebound from recent average finishes and make a stronger push forward.
