{"id":113973,"date":"2026-02-12T23:37:30","date_gmt":"2026-02-13T04:37:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/?p=113973"},"modified":"2026-02-12T23:37:30","modified_gmt":"2026-02-13T04:37:30","slug":"cubs-roster-shaping-up-closer-role-announced","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/2026\/02\/12\/cubs-roster-shaping-up-closer-role-announced\/","title":{"rendered":"Cubs Roster Shaping Up After Closer Role Announced"},"content":{"rendered":"

MLB Spring Training games are only eight days away. This winter, the Chicago Cubs have done a fantastic job adding weapons to their roster. The biggest question surrounding the roster now is which 13 pitchers the team will deploy<\/a> come Opening Day. Yesterday, ESPN\u2019s Jesse Rogers met with Cubs skipper Craig Counsell<\/a> and wasted no time getting right to the point.<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/smartframe-embed><\/p>\n

After the announcement that Daniel Palencia<\/a> is officially slated for ninth-inning duties, the Cubs\u2019 bullpen is mostly set. Colin Rea<\/a>, Hoby Milner<\/a>, Jacob Webb<\/a>, Caleb Thielbar<\/a>, Phil Maton<\/a>, and Hunter Harvey<\/a> do not have minor league options. That means there are only a select few options we should keep an eye on heading into Spring Training.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

I asked Craig Counsell if Daniel Palencia would get the ninth inning if the reg season was starting now. Instead of the usual \u201cwe have outs-getter\u201d answer, he simply said \u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u2014 Jesse Rogers (@JesseRogersESPN) February 11, 2026<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n