CHICAGO – When the Cubs were dealing with a wave of injuries and issues to their bullpen in the middle of this season, Jacob Webb helped calm the situation. The veteran even found his way into the closer’s role for an extended period of time for the North Siders.
On Monday, the Cubs opted to keep Webb in the fold for at least one more season, agreeing to a one-year contract that includes a team option for 2028. Per multiple sources, the new pact will pay the righty $2 million next season with another $4 million possible the following year, or Chicago can pay a $500,000 buyout.
Originally, Webb had a $2.5 million team option for ‘27, but the sides decided to rework that initial deal.
During a trying season for the Cubs’ pitching staff – injuries impacted the group in both the rotation and relief corps – the team set a new club record by having 14 players record at least one save. Webb led the way with nine saves for manager Craig Counsell, who used 34 pitchers in relief in ‘26 (excluding position player appearances).
Overall, the 33-year-old Webb turned in a 3.36 ERA in 68 games (67 innings) with a career-high 73 strikeouts, as opposed to 25 walks. The right-hander had reverse splits, limiting lefties to a .577 OPS, compared to an .807 OPS from righty batters. Webb leans heavily on a changeup and four-seamer, but he made changes to his breaking pitches that helped in ‘26.
A veteran of seven Major League seasons, Webb has logged a 3.13 ERA in 183 games over the past three years combined.
This past season, Webb had one particularly impressive run across June, July and August, when he pieced together a 24-game scoreless streak that covered 24 1/3 innings. It was tied for the third-longest streak of games within one season with no runs allowed in Cubs history. Only Andrew Chafin (26 games in 2021) and Warren Brusstar (25 games in 1983) had longer runs.
Down the stretch, though, Webb faltered to the tune of a 9.90 ERA across his final 11 outings, adding to the complicated bullpen picture as the Cubs reached the playoffs. The righty then logged 1 1/3 shutout innings in Chicago’s Game 1 loss to the Padres in the National League Wild Card Series.
Cubs claim Orze from Twins
The North Siders also claimed right-hander Eric Orze off waivers from the Twins on Monday. The 29-year-old righty has posted a 4.68 ERA in parts of three MLB seasons with the Mets, Rays and Twins. In '26, Orze had a 5.66 ERA in 36 games for Minnesota and a 2.35 ERA in 19 appearances for Triple-A St. Paul.