The Chicago Cubs have signed veteran right-handed reliever Phil Maton to a two-year contract with a club option for 2028, making it the team’s first multi-year free-agent reliever deal since Craig Kimbrel in 2019 .

Maton split the 2025 season between the St. Louis Cardinals and Texas Rangers, combining for a 4-5 record with a career-best 2.79 ERA in 63 games. He struck out 81 batters in 61⅓ innings, posting a 1.06 WHIP, 22 holds, and five saves. While his fastball velocity averaged just 89.6 mph, ranking in the third percentile among MLB relievers, Maton was effective in spin-heavy offerings and deception.

His cutter, curveball, and sweeper all posted whiff rates above 32%, and he limited hitters to a 29.9% hard-hit rate for the season. Opponents batted just .536/.611 OPS split again

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