Cubs' Caleb Thielbar Elects Free Agency
Chicago reliever Thielbar becomes a free agent after the Cubs declined his $6 million mutual option.
Updated on Nov. 2, 2026 in Baseball
Chicago Cubs reliever Caleb Thielbar elected free agency after the Cubs declined his mutual option, which was valued at $6 million. Thielbar will instead receive a $500,000 buyout.
Why it matters
The move ends Thielbar's run with Chicago after a 2026 season in which he posted a 4.86 ERA over 58 games. It also adds to a group of Cubs pitchers entering free agency as the club faces a difficult offseason before the Dec. 1 lockout.
Thielbar allowed 11 home runs in 50 innings in 2026, and he pitched 58 games for the Cubs that season. He signed a one-year, $4.5 million deal with Chicago after the 2025 season.
The players
Caleb Thielbar
A veteran left-handed reliever who pitched for the Minnesota Twins and Chicago Cubs, and was originally drafted out of South Dakota State University.
Chicago Cubs
The Major League Baseball franchise based in Chicago, which declined Thielbar's mutual option and faces a challenging offseason.
The details
The MLBPA announced that Thielbar's mutual option was declined, and he will receive a $500,000 buyout instead of the $6 million option. Thielbar debuted with the Minnesota Twins in 2013 and was drafted by the Milwaukee Brewers in the 18th round of the 2009 MLB Draft.
Timeline
2009: Milwaukee Brewers draft Thielbar in the 18th round.
2013: Thielbar debuts with the Minnesota Twins.
2025: Thielbar posts a 2.64 ERA in 67 games for Chicago.
2026: Thielbar pitches 58 games with a 4.86 ERA for the Cubs.
Dec. 1: Lockout begins, affecting Cubs offseason moves.
Season Trajectory
The Cubs' decision to decline Thielbar's option comes as the club heads toward the December 1 lockout set by the expiring collective bargaining agreement. Several Chicago pitchers, including Thielbar, are entering free agency at the same time, leaving the rotation and bullpen in flux.
Cubs bullpen depth is reduced as Thielbar leaves, which affects how Chicago manages late-inning innings in the coming season. Fantasy managers tracking Chicago relievers should note that Thielbar is no longer on the Cubs roster.
The takeaway
Roster turnover is a routine part of an offseason that is shaped by option decisions and labor deadlines. Readers following the Cubs should watch how the club responds before the lockout limits transactions.
What happens next
The Dec. 1 lockout is expected to begin and will affect Cubs offseason moves.
Further reading
For more on the team's roster moves, see Baseball coverage in Chicago.
