Cubs Add Arm Who Didn't Allow a Run in 2025

The Chicago Cubs have already signed five relief pitchers this offseason, and they are now bringing in a sixth: right-hander Hunter Harvey on a one-year deal. Harvey is a journeyman of sorts, pitching for three teams in parts of seven MLB seasons, most recently with the Royals where he spent most of 2025 on the injured list due to a grade 1 teres major strain and a grade 2 adductor strain. 

After being traded from the Nationals to the Royals in July of 2024, Harvey’s Royals career lasted just 18 games. In a brief six-game sample immediately following the trade, the righty struggled with a 6.35 ERA and four walks in 5 2/3 innings. However, his 12 games in 2025 told a different story; Harvey spun 10 ⅔ scoreless innings, striking out 11 and walking only one batter. He features a high-90s fastball—a velocity that separates him from the Cubs' other recent signings—alongside a slider that generated a 50% whiff rate in 2025. He also mixes in a split-finger fastball and a curveball. 

Harvey boasts a career 3.11 ERA, 10.1 K/9, 2.3 BB/9 and an ERA + of 136, making him 36% better than the average reliever in his seven year career. While injuries and a rocky 2024 have left a bit of an asterisk on his profile, his 2.70 ERA across 95 games for the Nationals in 2022 and 2023 suggests he could be a vital piece of the Cubs' bullpen—potentially filling the void left by new Philadelphia Phillie, Brad Keller.

Jed Hoyer continues to prioritize pitching depth, making a plethora of moves to insure that the Cubs have a stable of arms to call upon in 2026. Last season, the Cubs’ bullpen ranked 11th in MLB and fifth in the National League by ERA with their 3.78 ERA. They look to better that number and additions like Harvey will do so. By acquiring low-risk, high-reward arms like Harvey, Hoyer is capitalizing on the reliever market to stabilize the staff while the front office pursues a potential frontline starter to build a 2026 World Series contender.