Report: Cubs agree to 1-year deal with Hunter Harvey

The Chicago Cubs have brought some more power into their bullpen, as they've agreed to a one-year contract with veteran reliever Hunter Harvey, Jon Heyman of the New York Post reports.

Financial terms of the deal, which is pending a physical, are not yet known.

Harvey, who spent 2025 with the Kansas City Royals, only made 12 big-league appearances last year while battling shoulder and adductor injuries. He's only pitched in 18 total games since July 14, 2024, when Kansas City acquired him from the Washington Nationals.

When healthy, though, the 31-year-old has shown flashes of dominance in the bullpen. Harvey didn't allow a run and had 11 strikeouts with just one walk during his abbreviated 2025 campaign. In 2023, his most recent full season, the right-hander recorded 10 saves with a 2.82 ERA and 0.94 WHIP over 60 2/3 innings for Washington, while his 98.3 mph fastball velocity ranked in the 96th percentile that season.

Health permitting, Harvey should get plenty of opportunities to establish himself as a high-leverage weapon for the Cubs ahead of closer Daniel Palencia. He's the latest new face in a bullpen that's already added veteran right-handers Jacob Webb and Phil Maton, as well as southpaw Hoby Milner, in free agency this winter.

A onetime top prospect after being drafted 22nd overall by Baltimore in 2013, Harvey owns a lifetime 3.11 ERA, 3.16 FIP, and 1.10 WHIP with 201 strikeouts and 11 saves across 182 big-league appearances for the Orioles, Nats, and Royals.