Chicago Cubs’ overlooked bullpen x-factor could be key asset

The Chicago Cubs had a big bullpen issue facing them after the 2025 season came to a close. They were facing the possibility of a mass exodus that could, conceivably, leave them with just two relievers on staff (Daniel Palencia, Ben Brown) from the NLDS roster.

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And, ultimately, the depletion of the bullpen DID come to fruition. But as arms were leaving, the Cubs front office was busy adding new arms.

All in all, Chicago brought in four free agent bullpen pieces (Phil Maton, Hoby Milner, Jacob Webb, and Hunter Harvey) while re-signing 2025 holdover Caleb Thielbar.

New bullpen, usual concerns

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Heading into 2026, the Cubs have a significantly different looking bullpen with some strong role players and established swingmen who could handle long relief as well as rotation duties. The bullpen outlook is more assuring than it was last year at this time when the ‘pen looked to be cobbled together on the fly.

But, of course, this is baseball. Things can go sideways fast and the bullpen is especially subject to wild shifts of fortune.

The Cubs will most likely need some of the bullpen holdovers and second-tier arms to contribute, as well as the newcomers, over the course of a long season with a hopeful deep postseason run.

Of all the possible potential x-factors on the fringe of the roster, perhaps none are as intriguing as Porter Hodge.

Porter Hodge’s polar opposite seasons

The soon-to-be 25-year-old had two wildly different years in his first two seasons as a major leaguer. In 2024, he came from the minors to dazzle with a 1.88 ERA and 9 saves in 39 appearances. In 2025, following early debate over whether he should be the Cubs’ closer, he completely tanked, posting a 6.27 ERA in 36 appearances. Injuries also hobbled him as he dealt with a left oblique strain in May and then a right shoulder impingement in July. His velocity subsequently dipped and he got hit hard– too hard to be kept on the major league roster.

Hodge will be going into 2026 with no defined role in the bullpen and with most not even projecting him to be on the opening day Cubs roster.

But it could prove to be a huge deal if he can get back to anywhere near 2024 form.

Hopes of a much appreciated comeback

A fully healed, productive Hodge could give the Cubs the co-closer fans and analysts have been campaigning for since the middle of last season. He’d be much-appreciated insurance for a Daniel Palencia who is still less than five full months into the role of closer. Maton and Harvey were acquired to possibly be that insurance, but one can never have too much backup.

“A Porter Hodge season, bouncing back,” Cubs manager Craig Counsell recently told media, “that’s going to be important.”

“No doubt,” Cubs general manager Carter Hawkins echoed. “He’s kind of the guy people aren’t talking about a ton, but he was doing what Daniel Palencia was doing two years ago. The stuff is in there…

“It’s, ‘How can he be consistent with that stuff?’ When he’s landing his fastball, when he’s commanding it, he’s a really, really solid reliever who can get outs in the back half of games. That’s something he’s focused on this offseason.

“It’ll be really fun to see him come into camp and hopefully earn a spot on the club.”

As things stand right now, Hodge’s 2025 has made him an afterthought in 2026, a depth piece in a bullpen picture stockpiled for depth. But he’s already proven his ability to be a killer at the major league level and a full comeback isn’t too much of fantasy scenario.

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Source: https://www.chicitysports.com/chicago-cubs-bullpen-porter-hodge-2026