The Chicago Cubs will enter the season with a clear-cut closer instead of the committee strategy they leaned on for much of 2025.
On the first day of spring training Wednesday, manager Craig Counsell raised eyebrows by announcing that Daniel Palencia would take over the role following his standout 2025 campaign. According to ESPN’s Jesse Rogers, Counsell didn’t offer the typical response about spreading opportunities around the bullpen—he gave a straightforward “Yes” when asked if Palencia was his closer. The decisiveness signals confidence in the young reliever and brings clarity to the bullpen heading into the new season.
Palencia officially earns closer role
Ryan Pressly had originally been expected to lock down the ninth inning after arriving in a trade from the Houston Astros last year. However, his struggles derailed those plans, and he retired after the season. Palencia emerged late in the year as a stabilizing force, stepping up when the team needed him most.
In 2025, he tallied 22 saves while sharing closing duties, posting a 2.91 ERA and 1.139 WHIP over 52.2 innings. He struck out 61 batters and issued just 16 walks. Armed with a fastball that can hit triple digits, Palencia consistently overpowered hitters during his breakout season.
Now that the job is officially his, Palencia can focus on building on that momentum. With the pressure of auditioning removed, he could elevate his performance further and potentially grow into an All-Star-caliber arm in high-leverage situations.
Stability at closer answers key bullpen questions
The Cubs faced uncertainty this offseason after losing Brad Keller in free agency and reshaping a bullpen that performed well in 2025. Establishing Palencia as the closer on day one allows Counsell to define the rest of the bullpen hierarchy more clearly, with setup men working toward handing leads to him in the ninth.
New additions such as Phil Maton, Hunter Harvey, Jacob Webb, and Hoby Milner add depth, while pitchers like Porter Hodge aim for bounce-back seasons. Altogether, the group has the potential to rank among the league’s stronger bullpens.
With Palencia’s high-velocity arsenal anchoring the back end, the Cubs appear poised to finish games with authority—and possibly generate plenty of excitement in the process.
