The Chicago Cubs, on Friday, reached one-year deals with two pitchers figured to be key figures in a hopeful playoff run.
The team reached a one-year, $6.55 million deal with lefty starter Justin Steele to avoid arbitration.
They also reached a one-year deal, avoiding arbitration, with reliever Nate Pearson, worth $1.35 million.
The Cubs Homegrown Star Pitcher, Justin Steele
The Cubs’ agreement with Steele was especially important, considering the elevated salary the 29-year-old may have been awarded in arbitration as the team’s ace and most effective starting pitcher over the last three seasons.
Steele is one of the few homegrown arms to emerge from the farm system and succeed as a high-end starting pitcher. As such, he is a point of pride for the organization.
Boasting a 3.24 ERA over the course of his four-years in the majors, the tenacious southpaw received Cy Young consideration in 2024, despite a slow start to the year, initiated by a hamstring injury on opening day. Despite a handful of shaky performances early on, Steele finished the season with a 3.07 ERA in 24 games started and 134.2 innings.
Steele made $4 million in 2024 and, because of his accumulated service time in the majors, is eligible for arbitration two more times before he becomes a free agent at the end of the 2027 season.
Nate Pearson, Reborn In Chicago
Pearson, meanwhile, came over from the Toronto Blue Jays close to the trade deadline last season for minor-leaguers Yohendrick Pinango and Josh Rivera.
Acquired as a bit of a reclamation project as a one-time top Blue Jays prospect, Pearson responded well to the change of scenery and held a 2.73 ERA over 19 games (18 of them out of the bullpen). Prior to that, he was floundering in Toronto, posting a 5.63 ERA in the first half of 2024 and never delivering an ERA under 4.20 in parts of four seasons prior.
It’s believed that Pearson will get at least some consideration as a candidate for the fifth starter slot in the rotation.
The 28-year-old made $800,000 in 2024 and has two more years of team control before being eligible for free agency.
Other Cubs Arbitration Info
Earlier in the offseason, the Cubs avoided arbitration with right-handed relievers Julian Merryweather and Keegan Thompson, settling on $1.225 million and $850k, respectively.
The only remaining players eligible for arbitration, who haven’t cut deals, are new Cubs Kyle Tucker and Eli Morgan.
