Daniel Palencia Poised to Open Season as Cubs’ Closer – But in Craig Counsell’s Bullpen, Nothing’s Set in Stone

**MESA, Ariz. ** – You don’t usually get a straight answer from Craig Counsell when it comes to bullpen roles.

That’s just not how he operates – and for good reason. Bullpens are fluid by nature, and Counsell has long embraced that unpredictability.

So when he was asked whether Daniel Palencia would be the guy in the ninth inning if the season started tomorrow, his simple “Yeah” turned more than a few heads.

Counsell even joked with the media afterward: “Nice scoop.”

But here’s the thing – it actually was a scoop, because Counsell rarely tips his hand this early. And while it’s far from a long-term declaration, it speaks volumes about how far Palencia has come, and how the Cubs are thinking about their bullpen heading into 2026.

Let’s rewind for a second. The Cubs didn’t go out and land a big-name closer this offseason.

No Devin Williams. No Robert Suarez.

Instead, they opted to retool the bullpen with solid arms and internal growth. That’s part of why Palencia getting the early nod isn’t shocking – but it is intriguing.

This time last year, Ryan Pressly was penciled in as the closer. By May, he was out of the role.

By July, he was off the roster. Meanwhile, Brad Keller, who came in as a non-roster invitee, turned into a key piece and pitched his way into a two-year, $22 million deal with the Phillies.

And Palencia? He didn’t even make the Opening Day roster.

Fast forward a few months, and he was closing games at Wrigley.

“Craig did a really good job in our meeting talking about how the bullpen evolved last year,” team president Jed Hoyer said. “We have all these guys in camp now; we have to focus on each guy.

Because we don’t know how it’s going to shake out. It’s a volatile area.”

That volatility is exactly why Palencia’s rise is so notable. Entering last season, he had a 5.02 ERA over 43 big-league innings.

The fastball was electric – routinely hitting triple digits – but the command was all over the place. A walk rate near 14% kept him from being a reliable option.

But something changed last spring. Palencia came into camp looking sharper, stronger, and more focused.

He didn’t break with the team, but he didn’t stay down long. By mid-April, he was back in the bullpen.

By May, he was closing games.

“I was just trying to be ready for anything,” Palencia said. “If he needs me for the fifth or the ninth, I’ll be there. My job is making outs; that’s what I’m going to do.”

That mindset paid off. Palencia finished the year with a 2.91 ERA and 22 saves across 52 2/3 innings. He struck out 28.4% of the batters he faced and trimmed his walk rate to 7.4% – a dramatic improvement that turned him into one of the most reliable arms in the pen.

There was a hiccup in September – a rough outing on the 7th led to a stint on the injured list. When he returned, his role shifted. But come playoff time, he was back in high-leverage spots, often used as a multi-inning fireman – the kind of flexible, high-stakes role Counsell loves to deploy.

“No one sitting here a year ago thought that he’d be pitching as a closer, pitching huge innings in the middle of the game in the playoffs,” Hoyer said. “He did an amazing job.

I think his maturation was obvious to everyone. We’re super excited about him.

But the key is using that example; we need multiple Daniel Palencias every year to step up.”

That’s the reality of bullpen life in today’s game. You need depth.

You need surprises. And you need guys who can evolve on the fly.

Counsell knows that April is often about figuring out roles. But even with some turnover – Andrew Kittredge, Keller, and Drew Pomeranz are gone; Phil Maton, Jacob Webb, Hunter Harvey, and Hoby Milner are in – he sees a group that’s more established than it may seem.

“The players that we signed, I don’t think we’re thinking about a lot of new things,” Counsell said. “They’re good at what they do.

Prioritizing their health over the course of the spring is job number one and the foundation of being healthy. There’s always going to be surprises in that area of your team.”

For now, Palencia is the guy in the ninth. Whether he holds onto that role all season remains to be seen – but he’s earned the shot.

“I learned that’s a tough situation,” Palencia said of closing. “The game is on the line.

Just trying to be calm, be myself. Trust myself.

“I always knew I was that guy. I know I’m that guy for that situation.”

The Cubs are counting on it – and if the past year taught us anything, it’s that Palencia has the mindset and the stuff to back it up.