A low-key Cubs move is drawing attention after the team landed a former Guardians reliever in a calculated free-agency play.NL
Phil Maton Cashes In: Cubs Land One of Baseball’s Most Underrated Bullpen Arms
Phil Maton isn’t the kind of name that usually dominates the headlines when free agency opens. He doesn’t light up the radar gun, and he’s never been a traditional closer. But if you’ve been paying attention to what he’s done over the last few seasons, especially in high-leverage spots, then you know exactly why the Cubs were willing to invest $14.5 million over two years-with a club option for a third-to bring him to Chicago.
This is a savvy bullpen move by a team looking to build on a Wild Card appearance from a few years back. And while Maton might not have the flash of a top-tier reliever, he brings something just as valuable: consistency, deception, and elite-level execution.
From Cleveland Contributor to Quiet Star
Maton’s journey has been a bit of a winding road. He spent parts of three seasons in Cleveland’s bullpen, often flying under the radar behind names like Brad Hand, Emmanuel Clase, and James Karinchak.
While those guys grabbed the spotlight in the late innings, Maton was the guy bridging the gap-handling the sixth and seventh innings, chewing up outs, and occasionally wearing one when things went sideways. He wasn’t perfect, but he was reliable.
His time in Cleveland ended in the 2021 trade that sent him to Houston as part of the deal for Myles Straw-a move that, in hindsight, hasn’t exactly aged well for the Guardians. But we’ll get to that.
What’s important now is how Maton used that change of scenery to quietly become one of the most effective middle relievers in the game.
A Deep Dive into the Numbers
Maton’s 2025 campaign was arguably the best of his career. Splitting time between the Rangers and Cardinals, he posted a 2.79 ERA across 61 1/3 innings. That marked his fourth straight season finishing with an ERA under 3.70-steady, dependable production from a guy who doesn’t rely on overpowering stuff.
In fact, Maton’s fastball doesn’t even touch 90 mph. But what he lacks in velocity, he more than makes up for in movement, deception, and command.
He finished last season in the 99th percentile in both exit velocity and hard-hit rate, meaning hitters simply weren’t squaring him up. Add in a 98th percentile ranking in whiff rate and barrel rate, and you’re looking at a pitcher who’s not just avoiding damage-he’s dominating at the margins.
Perhaps most impressive? A 32.7% strikeout rate, easily the best of his career.
That’s not just a guy getting lucky with soft contact. That’s a pitcher missing bats at an elite level.
Why the Cubs Make Sense
For the Cubs, this is a bullpen signing that checks all the boxes. They’re not just adding another arm-they’re getting a guy who can handle high-leverage middle innings, neutralize contact, and bring postseason experience to a team that’s looking to take the next step.
Maton’s versatility is a huge plus. He’s not married to a specific inning.
He can come in with runners on base and escape a jam, or start a clean frame and hand the ball off to the back-end guys. That kind of flexibility is gold in today’s game, especially for a team that’s still shaping its bullpen hierarchy.
The Trade That Still Stings in Cleveland
It’s hard to talk about Maton without circling back to the deal that sent him out of Cleveland. The Guardians packaged him with catcher Yainer Diaz in exchange for Myles Straw.
At the time, it made some sense-Straw offered elite defense in center field and brought speed to the basepaths. And to be fair, he delivered a Gold Glove-worthy season in 2022.
But the bat never came around, and eventually, the offensive struggles became too much to overlook. He was demoted and later traded away, leaving Cleveland with little to show for the deal.
Meanwhile, Maton turned into a postseason weapon in Houston, posting a 3.67 ERA over three seasons and delivering big outs in October. Diaz? He’s slugged 59 home runs over four seasons and looks like a long-term piece.
It’s one of those trades that just didn’t break Cleveland’s way-and Maton’s continued success elsewhere only underscores that.
The Bottom Line
Phil Maton may not have the name recognition of other free-agent relievers, but the Cubs didn’t pay for hype-they paid for performance. And right now, few middle relievers in baseball are delivering the kind of results Maton is.
This is a bullpen arm who’s mastered the art of soft contact, who misses bats at an elite rate, and who brings postseason poise to a team with October aspirations. For Chicago, it’s a move that might not make the front page-but it could make a big difference when the games matter most.
