Chicago Cubs in Turmoil: Andrew Kittredge’s $9M Option Sparks Bullpen Drama Ahead of 2026.vc
CHICAGO — As the echoes of the Chicago Cubs’ disappointing 2025 postseason fade, the front office faces a brewing storm over veteran reliever Andrew Kittredge’s contract. Acquired at the July trade deadline from the Baltimore Orioles in a one-for-one swap for shortstop prospect Wilfri De La Cruz, Kittredge provided a steadying hand to a bullpen that faltered in the stretch run. But with his $9 million team option (plus a $1 million buyout) looming for 2026, the decision has ignited fan frustration and internal debate—do the Cubs retain the 35-year-old All-Star for stability, or cut bait to preserve payroll flexibility amid a youth-driven rebuild?
Kittredge, who signed a one-year, $10 million deal with Baltimore in January 2025 before the trade, posted a solid 3.40 ERA over 53 regular-season innings split between the Orioles and Cubs, with a 3.06 FIP that ranked 26% better than league average. His slider-heavy arsenal (34.3% whiff rate) and ground-ball tendencies (44.2%) made him a reliable middle-innings arm, especially valuable for a staff anchored by young closer Daniel Palencia. Post-trade, Kittredge stabilized Chicago’s relief corps, which sported a 3.86 ERA overall but ballooned to 6.00 in July before his arrival. “Kittredge brings leadership to a young group,” Cubs GM Jed Hoyer noted in a recent interview. “He’s the vet who mentors without stealing the spotlight.”
Yet, the “turmoil” stems from Kittredge’s age and the Cubs’ shifting priorities. At 35, he’s coming off left knee surgery that sidelined him in April, raising durability flags for a bullpen projected to lean on emerging talents like Porter Hodge and Eli Morgan. The net cost of exercising the option—$8 million after the buyout—feels steep for a non-closer whose fastball sits at 94.9 mph and lacks elite strikeout upside (23.3% K-rate career). Fans on X have voiced outrage, with posts decrying a potential “bullpen brain drain” and demanding Hoyer prioritize extensions for stars like Pete Crow-Armstrong over “rental vets.” One viral thread called the dilemma “a crossroads that could doom our 2026 wildcard hopes.”
Cubs brass must decide by the option deadline in early November, amid a payroll hovering near $200 million. Retaining Kittredge could provide continuity for a playoff-caliber rotation led by Justin Steele’s $105M extension, but declining it risks alienating a locker room that valued his high-leverage poise—evident in his scoreless outings during Chicago’s NLDS push. “He’s not just numbers; he’s the glue,” one anonymous Cubs source told The Athletic.
As Wrigley faithful reflect on a 92-win season derailed by bullpen woes, Kittredge’s fate symbolizes broader questions: Can the Cubs blend youth with experience without breaking the bank? For now, the North Siders are “assessing options,” per Hoyer, but the clock is ticking—and the fanbase isn’t staying silent.
