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smart move.
from MLBTR:By Charlie Wright | November 21, 2025 at 9:43pm CDT

Free agent reliever Phil Maton is signing with the Cubs, reports Michael Cerami of Bleacher Nation. It’s a two-year pact with a club option for a third year, reports Will Sammon of The Athletic. The team has yet to announce the deal.

Maton split last season between the Cardinals and Rangers. He joined St. Louis on a one-year, $2MM deal and pitched well for the first half of the season. After 38 1/3 innings of a 2.35 ERA, the Cardinals shipped him to Texas at the trade deadline for minor league pitchers Mason Molina and Skylar Hales. Maton’s ERA rose to 3.52 with his new team, but he upped his strikeout rate to 36.7% and picked up three saves over 23 appearances.

Chicago will be Maton’s eighth team in 10 big-league seasons. He was drafted by the Padres in 2015. Eye-popping strikeout numbers helped the righty zoom through San Diego’s system, and he reached the big leagues by 2017. Maton delivered decent contributions with the Padres in his first two seasons, though he missed time with a lat strain in 2018. After a half-season spent bouncing between the Padres and Triple-A El Paso the following year, Maton was dealt to Cleveland for cash.

no comments from anyone on this?

I’m disappointed, I wanted him back, but DeWitt wouldn’t have gone three years.

I’m not happy about this.
Maton stated he’d like to come back to STL
Not a huge injury risk as he doesn’t have to throw 100 to strike guys out.
He should be signing with us not the cubs.
Ughhh

82birds wrote: ↑22 Nov 2025 08:58 am no comments from anyone on this?

So much for Redbird Rants suggestion to bring this area boy back.

82birds wrote: ↑22 Nov 2025 08:58 am no comments from anyone on this?

There's not a lot to say. His entire contribution to whoever he plays for in 2026 probably makes, at most, a 1 win difference in the team's final record.

That 1 win might be pretty important for a team like the Cubs in whether they win the NL Central, get a WC, or just miss the playoffs entirely.

That 1 win isn't going matter at all to the Cardinals in 2026.

mattmitchl44 wrote: ↑22 Nov 2025 09:11 am

82birds wrote: ↑22 Nov 2025 08:58 am no comments from anyone on this?

There's not a lot to say. His entire contribution to whoever he plays for in 2026 probably makes, at most, a 1 win difference in the team's final record.

That 1 win might be pretty important for a team like the Cubs in whether they win the NL Central, get a WC, or just miss the playoffs entirely.

That 1 win isn't going matter at all to the Cardinals in 2026.

Maton had a really really good 2025. To just say “uh, that’s worth about one win” is lazy.

An effective reliever with a 1 WHIP and touches 63 games is a huge asset that effects numerous games and the overall health of the pitching staff.

ecleme22 wrote: ↑22 Nov 2025 09:46 am

mattmitchl44 wrote: ↑22 Nov 2025 09:11 am

82birds wrote: ↑22 Nov 2025 08:58 am no comments from anyone on this?

There's not a lot to say. His entire contribution to whoever he plays for in 2026 probably makes, at most, a 1 win difference in the team's final record.

That 1 win might be pretty important for a team like the Cubs in whether they win the NL Central, get a WC, or just miss the playoffs entirely.

That 1 win isn't going matter at all to the Cardinals in 2026.

Maton had a really really good 2025. To just say “uh, that’s worth about one win” is lazy.

An effective reliever with a 1 WHIP and touches 63 games is a huge asset that effects numerous games and the overall health of the pitching staff.

apparently he wanted two years instead of one of those one year deals you were proposing yesterday

ecleme22 wrote: ↑22 Nov 2025 09:46 am

mattmitchl44 wrote: ↑22 Nov 2025 09:11 am

82birds wrote: ↑22 Nov 2025 08:58 am no comments from anyone on this?

There's not a lot to say. His entire contribution to whoever he plays for in 2026 probably makes, at most, a 1 win difference in the team's final record.

That 1 win might be pretty important for a team like the Cubs in whether they win the NL Central, get a WC, or just miss the playoffs entirely.

That 1 win isn't going matter at all to the Cardinals in 2026.

Maton had a really really good 2025. To just say “uh, that’s worth about one win” is lazy.

An effective reliever with a 1 WHIP and touches 63 games is a huge asset that effects numerous games and the overall health of the pitching staff.

I didn't say he wasn't effective. But your overall impact on a season is going to be capped if you only throw ~60 innings. That would be true of any pitcher. But giving him credit for a 1 win impact over 60 innings is proportional to a 180 IP SP having a 3 win impact, and that's pretty good company.

And 2025 was a career year for him, so you might reasonably expect some regression to the mean next season.

mattmitchl44 wrote: ↑22 Nov 2025 09:58 am

ecleme22 wrote: ↑22 Nov 2025 09:46 am

mattmitchl44 wrote: ↑22 Nov 2025 09:11 am

82birds wrote: ↑22 Nov 2025 08:58 am no comments from anyone on this?

There's not a lot to say. His entire contribution to whoever he plays for in 2026 probably makes, at most, a 1 win difference in the team's final record.

That 1 win might be pretty important for a team like the Cubs in whether they win the NL Central, get a WC, or just miss the playoffs entirely.

That 1 win isn't going matter at all to the Cardinals in 2026.

Maton had a really really good 2025. To just say “uh, that’s worth about one win” is lazy.

An effective reliever with a 1 WHIP and touches 63 games is a huge asset that effects numerous games and the overall health of the pitching staff.

I didn't say he wasn't effective. But your overall impact on a season is going to be capped if you only throw ~60 innings. That would be true of any pitcher. But giving him credit for a 1 win impact over 60 innings is proportional to a 180 IP SP having a 3 win impact, and that's pretty good company.

And 2025 was a career year for him, so you might reasonably expect some regression to the mean next season.

I'm definitely glad the Cards didn't sign him. Not good timing.

I just don't think using WAR for relievers is accurate.

The Cards advertising line for signing veteran pitchers to one or two year deals should be...

We may not make the playoffs but if you pitch well we will trade you to someone who is making the playoffs.

Guaranteed playoffs if you sign with us!

ecleme22 wrote: ↑22 Nov 2025 10:06 am

mattmitchl44 wrote: ↑22 Nov 2025 09:58 am

ecleme22 wrote: ↑22 Nov 2025 09:46 am

mattmitchl44 wrote: ↑22 Nov 2025 09:11 am

82birds wrote: ↑22 Nov 2025 08:58 am no comments from anyone on this?

There's not a lot to say. His entire contribution to whoever he plays for in 2026 probably makes, at most, a 1 win difference in the team's final record.

That 1 win might be pretty important for a team like the Cubs in whether they win the NL Central, get a WC, or just miss the playoffs entirely.

That 1 win isn't going matter at all to the Cardinals in 2026.

Maton had a really really good 2025. To just say “uh, that’s worth about one win” is lazy.

An effective reliever with a 1 WHIP and touches 63 games is a huge asset that effects numerous games and the overall health of the pitching staff.

I didn't say he wasn't effective. But your overall impact on a season is going to be capped if you only throw ~60 innings. That would be true of any pitcher. But giving him credit for a 1 win impact over 60 innings is proportional to a 180 IP SP having a 3 win impact, and that's pretty good company.

And 2025 was a career year for him, so you might reasonably expect some regression to the mean next season.

I'm definitely glad the Cards didn't sign him. Not good timing.

I just don't think using WAR for relievers is accurate.

That's fair enough. It may be less ideal for RPs. I would certainly grant that.

I will just say any quality RP is going to have a more significant impact on the Cubs than the Cardinals in 2026.

Not a fan of multiple year deals for middle relievers. Good for Phil, though. He had the year that he needed last year in order to score this kinda deal.

82birds wrote: ↑22 Nov 2025 08:58 am no comments from anyone on this?

Meh.
Feel better?

mattmitchl44 wrote: ↑22 Nov 2025 10:57 am

ecleme22 wrote: ↑22 Nov 2025 10:06 am

mattmitchl44 wrote: ↑22 Nov 2025 09:58 am

ecleme22 wrote: ↑22 Nov 2025 09:46 am

mattmitchl44 wrote: ↑22 Nov 2025 09:11 am

82birds wrote: ↑22 Nov 2025 08:58 am no comments from anyone on this?

There's not a lot to say. His entire contribution to whoever he plays for in 2026 probably makes, at most, a 1 win difference in the team's final record.

That 1 win might be pretty important for a team like the Cubs in whether they win the NL Central, get a WC, or just miss the playoffs entirely.

That 1 win isn't going matter at all to the Cardinals in 2026.

Maton had a really really good 2025. To just say “uh, that’s worth about one win” is lazy.

An effective reliever with a 1 WHIP and touches 63 games is a huge asset that effects numerous games and the overall health of the pitching staff.

I didn't say he wasn't effective. But your overall impact on a season is going to be capped if you only throw ~60 innings. That would be true of any pitcher. But giving him credit for a 1 win impact over 60 innings is proportional to a 180 IP SP having a 3 win impact, and that's pretty good company.

And 2025 was a career year for him, so you might reasonably expect some regression to the mean next season.

I'm definitely glad the Cards didn't sign him. Not good timing.

I just don't think using WAR for relievers is accurate.

That's fair enough. It may be less ideal for RPs. I would certainly grant that.

I will just say any quality RP is going to have a more significant impact on the Cubs than the Cardinals in 2026.

No doubt.

Maybe we can find next year’s Maton, and flip him.

Good for Maton. Playing for a team that should be playing in post season playoffs - also receive a playoffs check.