CHICAGO, IL – AUGUST 23: An equipment bag with a Cubs logo sits in the dugout prior to game 2 of a doubleheader between the St. Louis Cardinals and Chicago Cubs on August 23, 2022, at Wrigley Field in Chicago, IL. (Photo by Brandon Sloter/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
The Chicago Cubs entered the 2026 season hoping to build on last year’s postseason breakthrough, but their run ended earlier than expected. Now, with the offseason beginning and the organization evaluating where it needs to improve, several roster decisions will help shape the next version of the club.
That process has already started, particularly among the big-league depth options who are looking to secure a spot in the majors for next season. After Chicago’s postseason exit, one right-hander who joined the organization looking for such an opportunity has decided to leave the organization right after the team’s season ended.
Chicago Cubs Lose Veteran Just 2 Days After Difficult 2026 Season
On Friday, veteran pitcher Corbin Martin elected league free agency, according to the official transaction log.
Martin appeared in just seven games for the Cubs this season, in his fifth year of big-league experience across four different organizations. The move gives the right-hander an opportunity to find a new organization after a difficult year in Chicago.
“Martin joined the Cubs on a minor league deal in January,” AJ Eustace noted for MLB Trade Rumors. “He was selected in mid-April but only appeared in seven games before getting DFA’d on May 7. Working around three minor league IL stints, Martin pitched 24 ineffective innings for the Cubs’ Triple-A affiliate in Iowa, delivering an ERA over 6.00 and a walk rate of 16.7%. He typically posts ground ball rates in the low to mid-40s in the upper minors.”
Martin’s brief major league opportunity did not go very well either, with a 10.80 ERA over five innings, while his career major league numbers now stand at a 6.81 ERA across 80 and two-thirds innings.
Martin was originally selected by the Houston Astros in the second round of the 2017 MLB Draft and became a notable prospect before injuries derailed his progress. He has undergone Tommy John surgery and surgery for a ruptured lat tendon and missed the 2020 and 2023 seasons due to injury.
Chicago Cubs Start Roster Reset Right After Playoff Exit
Martin’s departure is unlikely to be the most consequential decision that impacts the Cubs’ roster construction this offseason, but it illustrates how quickly organizational turnover can follow a postseason disappointment.
The Cubs signed Martin hoping his raw stuff could translate into useful relief innings. Instead, injuries and control problems limited his ability to establish himself. His departure now gives him a chance to reset elsewhere while Chicago opens another spot for a pitcher who can provide more immediate depth.
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