It’s only a one-year deal, but considering Hunter Harvey logged a total of 10.2 innings with the Kansas City Royals in 2025, the Cubs signing him for $6 million guaranteed certainly grabs your attention. The right-handed pitcher actually got the second-highest AAV out of all the free agent relievers the Cubs signed this offseason as his Harvey’s market was reportedly active despite his injury-shortened season.
Harvey has put up good numbers throughout his MLB career, recording a 3.11 ERA in 185 innings of work. The Cubs will be Harvey’s fourth organization after pitching multiple years with the Baltimore Orioles, Washington Nationals and Royals, respectively.
Now, entering his age-31 season Harvey is looking to capitalize on his opportunity with the Cubs and in a recent episode of the Foul Territory podcast the pitcher revealed the team’s secret weapon in free agency.
There are several factors that go into a player’s decision when signing with a new team. It could simply be any of the following reasons that may ultimately sway a player’s choice such as money, contract length, opportunity, team’s chances of winning or location. Then, you get guys like Harvey, who are won over by individuals inside an organization and for the Cubs it may not necessarily mean the guys on the field that are making them a desirable destination.
No, as Harvey explained, the Cubs moved up his list after he met with the team’s vice president of pitching Tyler Zombro, who the pitcher said he specifically wanted to work with.
The Cubs have been busy this offseason filling openings all over the roster. While Alex Bregman and Edward Cabrera are the main headliners the Cubs made one very important move in their development staff in December, when Zombro was promoted to his new role after just one year working with the Cubs.
At 31-years-old, Zombro was already getting interest from the Nationals, who wanted him as their new MLB pitching coach. The Cubs obviously know how much value he brings to them, his reputation around the league and made sure to keep him.
Zombro is credited for the Cubs bringing in Brad Keller on a minor league deal last offseason and taking the pitcher’s career to the next level. Keller ended the 2025 season as the Cubs’ closer in the postseason and then signed a two-year, $22 million contract with the Philadelphia Phillies.
From small signings, to medium, to big results, Zombro is already making his mark with the Cubs and free agents have noticed just like Harvey.
