The Chicago Cubs made another depth move, free agent signing, picking up right-handed starting pitcher Chris Flexen on a minor league deal. The 30-year-old played for the White Sox in 2024, and while the overall results weren’t pretty Flexen had a solid ending to his season and now he’ll provide another option for the 2025 Cubs.
Flexen made 30 starts and had three relief appearances for the White Sox last season. He had a 4.95 ERA in 160 innings, but and there’s always a but when you try to look for the positives, Flexen’s final nine outings were good. The righty posted a 3.52 ERA in 46 innings to close out his 2024 season, with 40 strikeouts and 17 walks. Not exactly dominating hitters, but Flexen found a way to get outs and now he’ll be in Cubs camp in Arizona.
The Athletic’s Sahadev Sharma and Ken Rosenthal reported the signing Monday night.
Sources tell @Ken_Rosenthal and me that the Cubs have added pitcher Chris Flexen on a minor-league deal pending a physical. Flexen tossed 160 innings last season with the White Sox. Another depth piece for the Cubs rotation.
— Sahadev Sharma (@sahadevsharma) February 18, 2025
Flexen isn’t all that far removed from a few good years with the Seattle Mariners. During a two-year stretch in 2021 and 2022, the righty made 53 starts among 64 total appearances. He posted a 3.66 ERA in 317.1 innings with the Mariners. Interestingly enough, that success came after a one-year stint playing in the KBO in 2020.
You can never have enough pitchers and at this point of his career Flexen is pretty much an emergency starter for the Cubs. You’re not counting on him to make much of an impact on the 2025 Cubs, but if he sticks around at Triple-A, you know he can step into the rotation when there’s a sudden need for a starter.
The Cubs probably picked up Flexen because they’re dealing with a couple pitching injuries early in spring training. Javier Assad has a mild oblique strain that has slowed down his ramp up and at this point he probably won’t be ready in a month when the Cubs have their two-game set against the Los Angeles Dodgers in Japan. Assad may also not be ready by the time the calendar flips to April either.
There’s also pitching prospect Brandon Birdsell, who got on the radar in 2024 with his solid performance in the minor leaguers. He made it up to Triple-A and heading into spring training he was seen as a potential depth option for the 2025 pitching staff. Unfortunately, Birdsell’s season will be delayed as he’s dealing with a lat strain. Birdsell won’t be throwing for another 3-4 weeks.
So, Flexen will be low in the depth chart behind the following starters on the pitching staff.
Shōta Imanaga
Justin Steele
Jameson Taillon
Matthew Boyd
Colin Rea
Ben Brown
Jordan Wick
Javier Assad
Flexen made his MLB debut in 2017 with the New York Mets. He pitched in parts of three seasons in New York before a three-stint in Seattle. Flexen also pitched for the Colorado Rockies in 2023 prior to his time with the White Sox in 2024. Overall in his career, Flexen has a 4.95 ERA in 153 games.
