The Cubs announced that left-hander Caleb Thielbar has been signed to a one-year, Major League contract. Thielbar (who turns 38 in January) is represented by ISE. Thielbar’s deal guarantees him $2.75MM, according to a report from Jordan Bastian of MLB.com.
Chicago is the seventh different MLB team Thielbar has been a part of since his pro career began as an 18th-round pick for the Brewers in the 2009 draft. Despite this journeyman resume, all Thielbar’s 320 big league innings over eight seasons have come with the Twins, in two separate stints from 2013-15 and then 2020-24. That second stretch with Minnesota revived Thielbar’s career entirely, as he had taken on a coaching job in college following the 2019 season before he was lured back with another minor league deal from the Twins.
Thielbar’s second act saw him emerge as a quietly effective weapon out of Minnesota’s bullpen. He posted a 3.21 ERA, 30.2% strikeout rate, and 7.4% walk rate over 174 innings from 2020-23, inducing a lot of soft contact along with those missed bats and limited free passes. Over his career, Thielbar has limited left-handed batters to a meager .213/.265/.328 slash line over 553 plate appearances, and his splits against righty-swingers (.240/.310/.401 in 773 PA) is also very respectable, even though right-handed bats have hit Thielbar harder over the last two seasons.
2024 was a much more difficult season, as Thielbar struggled to a 5.32 ERA and his walk rate shot upwards to 11.1%. The southpaw’s strikeout rate was still above the league average but it also sharply dropped off to 24.5%. An early-season hamstring strain might have been partially responsible, as Thielbar had an 8.04 ERA in his first 15 2/3 innings of the season before somewhat stabilizing to a 3.98 in his remaining 31 2/3 frames.
Thielbar’s short-term, cost-efficient contract fits Jed Hoyer’s preferred model for reliever contracts during Hoyer’s four-year tenure as Chicago’s president of baseball operations. The Cubs were thin on left-handed bullpen candidates, and Thielbar now joins a list of options that includes Rob Zastryzny, Luke Little, and potentially Jordan Wicks unless the Cubs want to keep Wicks stretched out for starter duty. Chicago figures to augment this group with at least one more southpaw before the season opens, whether on another guaranteed deal like Thielbar or in the form of trades or minor league signings.
Big move for the cubbies
Huge candidate to learn the Roger Beshens Football Slider and soar to unfathomable heights
Wow. This must be the running joke on this site
southfloridatribune.com/the-football-slider-a-brie…
I’m a believer!
Always has been Roger Beshens Football Slider
I learned the Roger Beshens football slider and it saved my marriage AND I lost 2o lbs
Shut up you loser
I love you too
Better to be a looser or a tighter?
I hate Hoyer
Every offseason he’s said the same thing- Didn’t have enough in the BP- and then he repeats the same fingers crossed rehashing of retreads. And he still doesn’t have a closer.
Hodge?
Wow
More reclamation projects? Well, it fits Hoyer’s mo. Mahalo
Ugh he’s so frustrating… Need a proven closer desperately…
Id settle for some talented setup arms like Hoffman and Minter. Could backup Hodge if/when he struggles.
We hear ya. A little concerned with Minter due to that hip surgery. But there’s still some relief help out there. Hoyer builds his bullpen like Poles builds his Offensive Line. They both look at the best available bargains, bounce back\rebound candidates and try to catching lightning in a bottle instead of signing and paying the best available.
You can do some of that, but only if you already have a basically sound group. The Cubs don’t.
It would fit him even more if it was a minor league deal. That’s been his favorite type of deal since Theo left.
A player of this tenure isn’t likely to have options.
Yes Cubs fans – This is the move we’ve been waiting for; NOT!
Instead of 83 wins, put the cubbies with 84 now. Lookin good!
82.5 now… ha
Tucker and Shaw should add more wins than what Cody and Paredes/Moral gave. Tucker alone should do that and Shaw is just gravey.
Start printing the playoff tickets hahaha
It seems as if Jed Hoyer takes advice from Miss Cleo
He must be burning up that phone line.
He doesn’t realize that it’s actually Dave Chappelle.
That’s just another over the hill piece of garbage. Hoyer doesn’t learn from mistakes does he.incase anyone doesn’t recall the last one Hector Neris ring a bell?
That’s 1 good trade for Tucker..3 horrible useless pickups..Workman, Brujan and Theilbar.
No winning team has this much garbage on its active roster..
QUIT BUILDING FOR MEDIOCRE ROSTERS AND BUILD A TRUE WINNER..
FANS BOYCOTT WRIGLEY UNTIL RICKETTS/HOYER RESPECT THE FANS
Where does Boyd fall?
Boyd? Usual throw spaghetti against the wall and hope it sticks.
Mmm Tucker must have been a mediocre trade.
If you say so.
It was when you consider what they gave up for 1 year of a guy they have absolutely no intention of re signing.
Not to mention that he traded DJ Herz and Kevin Made in a stupid trade for 2 months of Candelario and then went out and gave Boyd a contract when he could be putting Wicks or Herz into the rotation. Washington seems fine with him. Just another move that proves Hoyer has zero sense of Farm System and money management or a team that wants to be Luxury Tax compliant. Hoyer sucks.
“absolutely no intention of re signing.” This assertion based on the understanding that you are currently cranky and could use a nap.
No it’s based on the fact that the Cubs largest FA signing is still Jason Heyward at 186 million and Tucker is going to cost at LEAST twice that and probably more. I just face reality. Your not really expecting them to re sign him are you? Wow you must live in Fantasy Land. Not to mention that Hoyer traded Jackson Ferris, Zhyir Hope for Busch who had absolutely no chance to play in LA with Freeman there and should have come much cheaper for a guy who was heading for Rule 5. Mancini, Barnhardt, Need I go on?
Uncle, I’m already preparing myself for the truly unfortunate issue of of Tucker not resigning with the Cubs after the 2025 season. That’s the Cubs and Hoyer. Absolutely no way the Cubs allow that type of contract Tucker will be looking at.
Fred- Not to mention the fact that Hoyer said after he made the trade that if Tucker was only here for 1 year he would have still made the trade. That statement alone should be a firing offense.
My prediction is if Tucker has his usual, or above average season, the Cubs are all in. Unless of course an idiot owner, or an owner with unlimited funds, outbids them. And don’t give me the “cubs have unlimited funds”argument.
If you’ve ever been in a bidding war purchasing real estate, regardless of how much money you have, there is a limit to the Idiocracy . Your hatred of all things Jed, not withstanding.
But you have to admit we could all use a nap. They do things right in Spain. Time for a siesta.
I’m probably delusional as a Cubs fan but I feel like sooner than later the Cubs will top that Heyward contract. Tucker seems like the perfect guy to gamble on. Only issue is Cubs are probably hoping he will love it here and sign for 300MM and if he gets to FA he most likely gets 400MM…and Jed will be happy to collect the comp pick.
Hoyer is that you
Please do boycott and leave more seats for the REAL fans. We won’t miss you in the stands at all.
Can he play 3rd? If he can, huge move!
Solid arm strength but questionable glove work…and no bat, ha
He’ll fit right in with his new teammates… lol
Who wants Tanner Scott when you can have 3 Caleb Thielbars…
How about Andrew Chafin? Bring the Sheriff back. Not pretty, but pretty effective. Hoyer could do worse. He has done worse.
Solid move.
Tanner Scott signed with Braves. Not the option.
Probably looking at Kirby Yates closing, on similar to Neris deal. May be joined by a few others.
When did Tanner Scott sign with the Braves exactly???
Rumor has it there’s one remaining Thielbar that contains a Golden Ticket.
You have to open it with your teeth.
Even though I’m guessing the corresponding move will be the DFA of Gavin Holowell—-can’t wait to see the mood shift here if it’s Miles Mastrobuoni.
Lol. I think that they were at 39. Checked yesterday.
You are correct—–was just trying to bring some holiday cheer. Although I do get a kick out of the reactions to literally the 40th man on the 40 man roster. Those bottom guys on the 40 man will be so fluid over the next three months, it’s really not worth getting worked up over.
I don’t know much about him. Age only maters on a long term. I care if he gets outs. So BB/SO ratios mean more than age on a one year deal.
If it ends up him and Yates to stabilize the end and Hodge put into a leverage role it is fine. Not sexy just fine
SO/9 over 10 last few years. BB/9 doubled last year.
Hard call if it is a mechanical issue then maybe a fix and goes back to 2023 and looks like a great add.
I am on the fence as the Cubs are hit or miss on this kind of stuff.
The world went out of balance in 2020, as evidenced by Rob Brantly playing in an even numbered year. Could Caleb Thielbar playing outside Minnesota be another sign of such bad tidings?
agree, this is a bad omen. And Anthony Gose left Cleveland earlier… very ominous.
Oh God it’s happening!
Are we talking Mandela effect because of CERN levels of strange? Are we all going to remember things differently again cause I can’t handle that man…
Or are we just talking Brett Saberhagen type weird where he went from an Ace to a back of the rotation guy every other year?
Home town team can’t even afford to resign a home grown player who probably wants to stay.
As far as Wick goes, I think he would be a very good option as reliever.
Will all these fringe signees put the cubs over the top? Doubt it- maybe as far as NL central but no further
northsidebaseball.com/news-rumors/chicago-cubs/chi…
READ this in depth breakdown and quit your belly achin’.
Did YOU read that article? The thesis was that he just further clogs the bullpen with mediocrity and makes it seem more unlikely the cubs will make the big additions they need
What’s all this love about Shaw? He hasn’t played one game as a big leaguer yet!
He is a consensus top 30 prospect and has done nothing but rake since joining the Cubs. He batted over 400 for Team USA and was named to the all world team. Are you not allowed to be excited about your teams top prospect and his potential?
That’s saying to don’t follow the organization with saying you don’t follow the organization.
“Startin’ to come together, Pepper, startin’ to come together.”
Mets Yankees padres dodgers giants Phillies go fishing for muskie while cubbies continue to go after the small fry as the other big market cities ask why.
was hoping for tigers or royals….more games, more chances to face this Trainwreck
But seriously, who?
But worse than underrated vegetables, like beets
Call me wild- but i like this move. Now go get Cease + Yates and I’ll stop whining.
Are they taking their fans for granted as they’ve now signed a 38 year old mediocre has been while other major markets continue to spend spend spend in order to be the best as their fans expect.