Cubs land former Cardinals standout in free agency

Originally posted on Larry Brown Sports
By Renzo Pocholo Salao | Last updated Nov 22, 2025 2:45 AM ET

The Chicago Cubs made an under-the-radar move on Friday to shore up their pitching staff.

The Cubs signed former St. Louis Cardinals reliever Phil Maton to a two-year contract, according to reporter Michael Cerami. The deal is reportedly a two-year pact, with the Cubs maintaining a club option on a third year.

RHP Phil Maton and the Chicago Cubs are in agreement on a two-year guarantee with a club option for a third year, league source said. (@Michael_Cerami first reported Maton going to Chicago.)
— Will Sammon (@WillSammon) November 22, 2025

Maton had the best season of his career in 2025. The 32-year-old recorded a career-best 2.79 ERA and 1.06 WHIP across 63 relief appearances. He started the year with the Cardinals and was later dealt to the Texas Rangers before the 2025 trade deadline.

Maton was notably a reliable member of the Houston Astros’ bullpen from 2021 to 2023. He was part of the 2022 Astros squad that won the World Series, but Maton missed the entire postseason that year due to an off-field injury.

The Cubs have a lot of holes to plug in their bullpen this offseason. Three of their top relief pitchers from last season — Drew Pomeranz, Brad Keller, and Caleb Thielbar — could all depart in free agency.

This article first appeared on Larry Brown Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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