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Chicago Cubs Sign Former SEC Standouts to Minor League Deals
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- Chicago Cubs Sign Former SEC Standouts to Minor League Deals
The Chicago Cubs agreed to terms on minor league contracts with two former SEC standouts this week, adding to the organization's pitching depth by bringing in well-traveled arms with big-league experience.
Right-hander Tyler Beede , a former first-round pick who has pitched in the majors with Cleveland , Pittsburgh , and San Francisco , signed over the weekend. On Tuesday, the Cubs followed that up by adding Corbin Martin , another right-hander who has appeared in the big leagues with the Baltimore Orioles , Arizona Diamondbacks , and Houston Astros .
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Tyler Beede: A Familiar Name With Upside
Beede was drafted in the first round of the MLB Draft on two separate occasions — a rarity in itself.
The Toronto Blue Jays selected him 21st overall in the 2011 draft out of Lawrence Academy in Massachusetts, but Beede opted not to sign and instead honored his commitment to Vanderbilt University.
That decision paid off at the collegiate level. During his 2013 season with the Commodores, Beede was a second-team All-American, earned All-SEC honors, and was named a finalist for both the Dick Howser Trophy and the Golden Spikes Award. His 14 wins that year set a school record, and following his junior season, the San Francisco Giants selected him 14th overall in the draft.
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The professional results, however, haven't quite matched the pedigree. Beede debuted in 2018 and has since carved out a journeyman career, including stops in Japan and Mexico. In 201 career MLB innings, he owns a 5.55 ERA. Most recently, his 2025 season was split between Triple-A with Minnesota , the Long Island Ducks of the Atlantic League, and Diablos Rojos del México — and results were hard to come by across the board.
Still, the raw ingredients are there. When Beede is right, he can miss bats, and his fastball has touched the upper-90s. The Cubs appear to be the latest team willing to bet on that upside, potentially experimenting with him in a relief role at the minor-league level.
Corbin Martin: A Power Arm With Recent MLB Time
Martin's résumé is different — and more recent.
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Like Beede, he was an SEC standout, though his development path took longer. Martin began his college career at Texas A&M in 2015 as a reliever, then steadily grew into a dependable starter. By 2017, he was lights-out in SEC play and played a key role in helping the Aggies reach the College World Series.
The Houston Astros selected him in the second round of the 2017 MLB Draft, keeping the Texas native close to home. Martin quickly became a well-regarded prospect and made his MLB debut in 2019 before undergoing Tommy John surgery later that year. He was then sent to Arizona as part of the Zack Greinke trade.
Since then, success has been harder to come by. Martin has bounced between the majors and minors with Arizona, spent time in Milwaukee 's system, and landed with Baltimore, where he split time between MLB and Triple-A in 2025. In 18 big-league innings last season, he posted a 6.00 ERA.
Even so, there's plenty for the Cubs to be intrigued by. Martin features a mid-90s fastball with heavy cut and a sharp, drop-off curveball that grades as his best pitch. Chicago has had recent success developing cut-fastball arms, making Martin an interesting project with bullpen upside.
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Why These Moves Make Sense
The beauty of both signings is that they come with virtually no risk. The Cubs have already done significant work in free agency to build an impressive bullpen, and they shouldn't be scrambling for arms at any point during the 2026 season.
But if injuries strike — or if either pitcher finds something clicking in Iowa — Beede or Martin could quickly work their way into the conversation for a call-up. At worst, they provide depth. At best, the Cubs uncover another useful bullpen piece without having to pay much to find out.
