So, free agent reliever Phil Maton was supposed to be a bargain for the Chicago Cubs heading into the 2026 season. The veteran had elite spin, which generated great strikeout numbers throughout his career, and although the right-handed pitcher has never overpowered hitters with velocity, Maton was a steady reliever going back to his days with the Houston Astros. Well, after a great 2025 season, Maton hasn’t just taken a step back in the Cubs’ bullpen; the 33-year-old has been a disaster through the first seven weeks of the regular season.
Maton began the year with a rocky few outings that quickly turned into him giving up costly runs. By the second week of April, the Cubs had to place the reliever on the 10-day injured list with knee tendinitis, which further strained an already injury-ravaged pitching staff. Maton did return before the calendar flipped to May, and it’s a shame that he couldn’t keep up his solid come back because it did seem like Maton was finally turning the corner.
He had five straight scoreless relief appearances, but in the past week, Maton came in and ruined Shōta Imanaga’s stellar start against the Atlanta Braves, allowing three hits, including a two-run home run. Then, in Sunday’s series finale against the White Sox, Maton got the ball in the eighth inning in a tied game, and he couldn’t keep it at 4-4, giving up a three-run home run to Tristan Peters, his first of the season.
Opposing hitters are now slashing .320/.417/.600 against Maton in 61 plate appearances. Batters aren’t just hitting him; they’re destroying Maton’s pitches, leading to seven extra-base hits. Out of those, Maton has surrendered three home runs in 12.1 innings after giving up three home runs all of last season in 61.1 innings.
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Maton signed a two-year, $14 million deal with the Cubs in the offseason. He had a 2.79 ERA last year between his time with the St. Louis Cardinals and Texas Rangers. Before that, Maton was a decent bullpen arm, posting a 3.42 ERA with a 26.5 K% in two full seasons with the Astros.
Unfortunately, Maton is following the annoying and horrendous trend of the Cubs signing or acquiring veteran relievers from the Astros, who then turn to shit pitchers in Chicago. Hector Neris signed for $9 million in 2024, and after losing the closer role, regaining it, then losing it again, he was designated for assignment in August. Then, in 2025, Ryan Pressly was the closer after the Cubs traded for him, but he was DFA’d at the trade deadline to make room for the relievers the Cubs acquired.
Now, Maton looks awful after he was supposed to be the main setup man in the bullpen. Will it turn around? The Cubs are crossing their fingers because they still have another year invested in the right-handed reliever.
