Chicago Cubs add reliever ahead of 2027 pitching rebuild

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Chicago Cubs add reliever ahead of 2027 pitching rebuild

Originally posted on ChiCitySports | By Paul Magno | Last updated Nov 3, 2026 2:54 PM ET

The Chicago Cubs are in dire need of pitching this offseason—lots of pitching.

That’s not an exaggeration. As those following the team know, the Cubs will likely be losing every starter in their end-of-season rotation. Cade Horton will miss most—if not all—of the coming season recovering from Tommy John surgery in April. Justin Steele is projected to be back in the rotation this coming year, but he hasn’t pitched in a major league game in almost two full season. Meanwhile, there’s Edward Cabrera, whose debut season with the Cubs was full of injury and inconsistency.

Cubs pitching—especially starting pitching—is a mess that’s going to require lots of heavy lifting this offseason.

Well, as the saying goes, a journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.

The Cubs have taken two steps so far this offseason.

On Saturday, it was revealed that they had approached dominant Chinese Professional Baseball League (CPBL) closer Jyun Yue Tseng to join the team on a minor league contract.

Gambling on a waiver pickup

May 27, 2026; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Minnesota Twins pitcher Eric Orze (19) after the fifth inning against the Chicago White Sox at Rate Field. Mandatory Credit: Matt Marton-Imagn Images

On Monday, they picked up right-hander Eric Orze off waivers from the Minnesota Twins.

There’s some belief that Orze could be one of Jed Hoyer’s patented reclamation project success stories, in the vein of Brad Keller in 2025 and Ryan Rolison in 2026.

Per Carson Wolf of The Wrigley Wire:

“Really solid claim here for the Cubs.

Orze throws from a high slot and gets good carry on his fastball, but he really makes his money with a filthy splitter.

Solid stuff with some upside.”

The story on Orze

Jun 9, 2026; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Minnesota Twins pitcher Eric Orze (19) pitches in the fifth inning against the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-Imagn Images

Last season, the three-year veteran posted an ugly 5.66 ERA through 36 games in the Minnesota bullpen after delivering a solid 3.01 ERA over 33 games in 2025 with Tampa Bay. The 29-year-old was sent down to Triple-A in July and put in some quality work there, posting a 2.35 ERA with 20 strikeouts through 23 innings.

The catalyst that pushed the Twins to let Orze go appears to be that he has no minor league options left.

Jackson Kruse of the Twins blog Puckett’s Pond believes that the Twins’ decision was based on a mixed bag of reasons, but that the roster inflexibility he brings was a big factor. He also feel that Orze’s poor major league numbers last season are a bit deceptive.

Per Kruse:

If Orze had options left, the Twins likely would’ve kept him. But since they wouldn’t have been able to send him back and forth between the majors and Triple-A, it makes sense that the Twins cut him loose.

Still, it’s a bit surprising the Twins moved on from Orze. In addition to his strong Triple-A finish, Orze had an 86.3-mph average exit velocity and a 29.2% hard-hit rate with Minnesota this past season. He also posted a solid 3.34 FIP, suggesting he had an unlucky season. However, the righty had poor walk (11.1%) and strikeout (19.0%) rates, which may be a reason why the Twins put him on waivers.”

The Cubs will face the same issues with Orze’s lack of options, but he apparently has enough of an upside to gamble on him making the major league roster and staying there.

This article first appeared on ChiCitySports and was syndicated with permission.

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