The Cubs are continuing to stockpile bullpen depth this winter, and their latest addition is right-hander Jeff Brigham, who’s joining the club on a minor league deal with an invite to big league Spring Training.
Brigham, who turns 34 in February, is no stranger to the grind. He’s pitched in parts of six Major League seasons, logging 120 2/3 innings across 94 appearances with the Marlins, Mets, and most recently, the Diamondbacks. While his time with Arizona in 2025 was brief-just four games and 3 1/3 innings-it was a tough stint, marked by an 8.10 ERA and a season hampered by injuries.
After signing a minor league deal with the D-backs last offseason, Brigham spent most of the year battling health issues. He made only 18 appearances (21 2/3 innings) in the minors before being released in August while on the injured list. Now, this Cubs deal signals that he’s healthy again and ready to compete for a spot in a bullpen that’s getting more crowded by the day.
Chicago has made the relief corps a clear priority this offseason. They’ve already added Phil Maton, Hunter Harvey, Hoby Milner, and Jacob Webb on free agent deals, giving them a mix of experience and upside. Add in swingmen like Colin Rea and Javier Assad-who can shift between the rotation and bullpen-and it’s going to be a tough hill to climb for any non-roster invitee looking to crack the Opening Day roster.
For Brigham, the challenge is even steeper. He’s out of minor league options, which means he can’t be sent down without passing through waivers. That puts extra pressure on him to not only earn a spot but to stick once the season starts.
Looking at his track record, Brigham’s career 4.85 ERA doesn’t jump off the page, and he’s had trouble keeping the ball in the yard at the big league level. His walk rate (10.7%) has been another hurdle, often inflating pitch counts and creating high-leverage jams. But there are some positives worth noting-his 23.8% strikeout rate in the majors is solid, and he’s shown flashes of swing-and-miss stuff, especially in Triple-A, where he owns a 30.27% strikeout rate over nearly 192 innings.
Still, the long ball has been a persistent issue, even in the minors, and his ground ball rates haven’t quite translated from Triple-A to the majors. That inconsistency has kept him from locking down a consistent role in big league bullpens.
For the Cubs, this is a no-risk, potentially useful depth play. If Brigham can stay healthy and find a rhythm in camp, he could force his way into the conversation. But with a bullpen already loaded with proven arms and rising talent, he’ll need to show more than just flashes-he’ll need to prove he can be reliable, consistent, and effective against big league hitters.
Spring Training will be his shot. And in a bullpen battle that’s shaping up to be one of the more competitive in camp, Brigham’s experience could give him a slight edge-if he can stay on the field and keep the ball in the park.
