Cubs sign Rangers trade-deadline acquisition to bolster bullpen

Cubs sign former Rangers righty reliever Phil Maton to two-year deal

The Chicago Cubs and former Rangers reliever Phil Maton have agreed to a two-year contract with a club option for a third year, according to Bleacher Nation's Michael Cerami and The Athletic's Will Sammon. Chicago has yet to announce the deal.

The Rangers acquired Maton, who turns 33 in March, from the St. Louis Cardinals in exchange for lefty pitcher Mason Molina, righty pitcher Skylar Hales, future considerations and international bonus pool money on July 31. In 23 innings with Texas, Maton posted a 3.52 ERA (2.70 FIP) with 33 strikeouts and eight walks over 23 appearances. He had a 2.35 ERA with 48 strikeouts and 15 walks over 38 1/3 innings with the Cardinals this past season before getting traded.

Maton mainly uses his mid-70s curveball and low-90s cutter about equally, accounting for over 70% of his pitches. He also throws a mid-80s sweeper and high-80s sinker.

Maton made his MLB debut with the San Diego Padres in 2017. He managed a 5.02 ERA (4.44 FIP) with 121 strikeouts and 43 walks in 112 games with the Padres before they traded him to the Cleveland Guardians in mid-July 2019.

The righty reliever posted a 4.30 ERA with 106 strikeouts and 32 walks in 70 games for the Guardians before they dealt him, along with catcher Yainer Diaz, to the Houston Astros for outfielder Myles Straw in late July 2021. Maton stayed with the Astros through the 2023 season. He posted a 3.67 ERA with 171 strikeouts and 61 walks in 162 games for the Rangers' division rival.

Maton signed a one-year deal with the Tampa Bay Rays in the 2023-24 offseason. After managing a 4.58 ERA with 30 strikeouts and 18 walks over 40 appearances for the Rays, he was traded to the New York Mets in early July 2024. He had a 2.51 ERA with 30 strikeouts and six walks in 31 games for New York. The Cardinals then signed him to a one-year, $2 million contract in the 2024-25 offseason.

Maton brings plenty of postseason experience to the Cubs, who made the playoffs last season for the first time since 2020. In 26 playoff appearances, Maton sports a 2.57 ERA with 28 strikeouts and nine walks over 28 innings.