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6 Cubs Relievers Fighting For Last Bullpen Spot
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- 6 Cubs Relievers Fighting For Last Bullpen Spot
The Chicago Cubs ' Spring Training roster continues to dwindle.
The Cubs r eassigned seven players on Thursday afternoon, including outfielder Justin Dean and left-handed pitchers Ryan Rolison and Luke Little. All three players were optioned to Triple-A Iowa.
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Those moves make the bullpen and outfield battles a bit more interesting with only 13 days until Opening Day. With both Rolison and Little being optioned, that leaves only a few relievers who could earn that final bullpen spot out of Spring Training.
So, here are the relievers still in the running to win that final bullpen spot.
Corbin Martin
The Cubs signed Corbin Martin to a Minor League deal in January. While the 30-year-old faces an uphill battle to make the Opening Day roster, he has pitched well in his five appearances this spring. Martin has a 3.60 ERA and six strikeouts across five innings pitched.
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However, Martin likely won't make the Opening Day roster. He struggled in his 17 appearances with the Baltimore Orioles last year, and it's hard to imagine him beating out the other relievers on this list. The right-hander finished with a 6.00 ERA in 2025.
Jeff Brigham
Jeff Brigham has shown some nice things on the mound this spring. He has allowed just one earned run across 3 ⅔ innings pitched (2.45 ERA) to go with five strikeouts. But there are too many concerns surrounding Brigham entering the season.
Brigham has a 2.182 WHIP across his 3 ⅔ innings of work this spring, and he doesn't appear to be the answer for that last bullpen spot. The Cubs agreed to a Minor League deal with him this offseason.
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Javier Assad
Javier Assad has a strong chance to make the Cubs' Opening Day roster. He pitched well in his two starts in the World Baseball Classic, and the North Siders know what they're getting from Assad on the mound. He could be a consistent arm in the bullpen.
It also depends on whether the Cubs want to carry two traditional non-relievers in the bullpen to start the year. With Colin Rea already locked into a roster spot, Chicago might not want to have another long reliever on the roster.
Ben Brown
Ben Brown has the potential to be a really good reliever in this Cubs bullpen in 2026. He added a new sinker t his offseason, and that pitch could make him a more dangerous pitcher on the mound.
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Brown has had some ups and downs this spring, but he could certainly earn that final bullpen spot out of Spring Training. The 26-year-old was slightly better as a reliever (4.99 ERA) than a starter (6.30) last season.
Gavin Hollowell
Gavin Hollowell has been one of the biggest surprises of the spring so far. He has looked dominant on the mound across his five innings pitched and has firmly made his way into contention for that Opening Day spot.
Hollowell has allowed two runs across those five innings pitched with a whopping 50% strikeout rate. He has a nasty sweeper that hitters have been unable to touch this spring. The 28-year-old is a sneaky candidate to start the year up in the big leagues.
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Ethan Roberts
The easiest way to put yourself in the Opening Day roster mix is to not allow any runs. That's exactly what Ethan Roberts has done, as he has thrown four scoreless innings with one hit, one walk, and three strikeouts across four appearances.
There is a chance that Roberts earns that final bullpen spot , given the way he has pitched this spring. He has looked poised on the mound and has had some success in the Majors before. The 28-year-old finished with a 3.71 ERA with the Cubs in 2024.
