The Chicago Cubs have signed veteran reliever Caleb Thielbar to a one-year deal the team announced Tuesday. The 37-year-old has spent his entire MLB career pitching for the Minnesota Twins and despite having a down season in 2024, Thielbar is now in line to be part of Craig Counsell's Opening Day bullpen in 2025.
While the Cubs have brought in several relievers during the past few years on minor league deals, hoping to find a hidden gem, they haven't quite been able to hit on a left-handed reliever. Thielbar, who has a 3.38 ERA in eight MLB seasons, is expected to be one of the lefties in the bullpen for the Cubs heading into next season, filling a much-needed void.
The Cubs have signed LHP Caleb Thielbar to a 1-year major league contract, the team announced.
— Andy Martínez (@amartinez_11) December 31, 2024
Earlier in the offseason the Cubs picked up lefty Rob Zastryzny off waivers from the Milwaukee Brewers to add to the bullpen mix. Meanwhile, Luke Little is the only other true lefty reliever currently on the team's 40-man roster, so you just knew the Cubs would eventually bring in another southpaw to help solidify that side of the bullpen.
In 2024, Thielbar had a 5.32 ERA in 47.1 innings. Pretty rough, but the veteran did bounce back and delivered respectable results from June 20 through the end of the season. The left-hander posted a 3.98 ERA in his final 31.2 innings of work. The biggest concern is that his walk rate spiked in 2024, but Thielbar was pretty much the same pitcher that he's been throughout his successful career, limiting hard contact and striking out 25% of batters once he got his mechanics back in order in the summer.
Caleb Thielbar is the latest Twins free agent to sign elsewhere, agreeing to a one-year deal with the Cubs.
— Aaron Gleeman (@AaronGleeman) December 31, 2024
Here's what I wrote about Thielbar at the beginning of the offseason: https://t.co/m1ufoUPskG pic.twitter.com/silClXGXA4
Thielbar has a fascinating backstory in baseball that begins back in 2009, when he was drafted by the Brewers in the 18th round out of South Dakota State. He was released by the Brewers following the 2010 season and then Thielbar signed with the St. Paul Saints, an indy ball team. Following a good showing there, the pitcher signed a minor league deal with the Twins during the 2011 season.
Thielbar made his MLB debut on May 20, 2013, and had an amazing rookie year. The lefty recorded a 1.76 ERA in 46 innings. He had another solid season in 2014, but he only tossed five innings for the Twins in 2015, and was DFA'd at the trade deadline. The San Diego Padres picked him up, sent him to Triple-A, but a month later he was DFA'd again. That led to another stint in indy ball and a few minor league deals along the way before going back to the Twins in 2020.
From 2020-23, Thielbar was really damn good. He had a 3.21 ERA with a 30.2 K% in 174 innings. Went from coaching, came out of retirement and became another Driveline Baseball success story.
Cool. Now, go sign Tanner Scott please and thank you.
