From quiet bullpen ace to global traveler — the Cubs’ underrated success story is heading abroad.
Jed Hoyer has turned rebuilding pitchers into a bit of an art form during his time leading the Chicago Cubs. Time and again, talented arms viewed as long shots have been transformed into steady bullpen contributors. Last season continued that trend, with Brad Keller, Caleb Thielbar, and Drew Pomeranz emerging as key success stories. But here’s someone fans may have overlooked entirely — Chris Flexen, who quietly became one of the more intriguing bullpen tales in Chicago.
Flexen joined the Cubs last offseason on a minor-league deal meant to provide pitching depth at Triple-A Iowa. The expectation was modest: serve as emergency insurance for the big-league staff. But baseball has a funny way of rewriting plans. Injuries to starters Justin Steele and Shota Imanaga pulled Flexen into a hybrid role with the Cubs, and the veteran right-hander seized the chance — launching an incredible streak of 21 innings without surrendering an earned run. He went from insurance policy to unexpected weapon.
But here’s where things got complicated. Once that dominant run ended, Flexen’s numbers flipped — hard. Over his final nine outings, he was tagged for 17 runs and seven home runs. The early good fortune that had fueled his success vanished, and suddenly, the dependable swing man became a liability. Baseball can be cruel like that — one moment you’re a key contributor, the next you’re fighting to stay on the roster.
By August, manager Craig Counsell had little choice but to move on, and the Cubs released Flexen. Still, his story doesn’t end there. In classic “new chapter” fashion, Flexen is now heading overseas, having reportedly signed with the Doosan Bears of Korea’s KBO League. The move likely comes with a more lucrative contract than any minor-league offer he’d find stateside this winter. The KBO has become a well-known destination for pitchers seeking a reset — look no further than Cody Ponce, who used the same path to line up what could be a $40 million deal this offseason. Could Flexen be next in line for a similar resurgence?
Meanwhile, the Cubs’ bullpen remains a work in progress. Adding Phil Maton marked an encouraging step forward — a sign Jed Hoyer might be looking to stretch beyond his usual bargain-bin strategy. But missing out on elite relievers like Ryan Helsley and Devin Williams leaves some clear gaps heading into spring. Another proven arm would certainly help stabilize things before Hoyer returns to his favorite challenge: uncovering the next hidden gem, just as he did with Flexen not long ago.
But here’s the question that could spark some debate among fans — should the Cubs keep gambling on reclamation projects, or is it time to invest big in reliable, top-tier arms? When it comes to roster building, do value plays still win championships, or do you need star power to stay competitive?
