Height
6'2"
Weight
206 lbs
Age
33
College
Louisiana Tech
Draft
2015, Rd 20, #597
Experience
9 yrs
Bats/Throws
R/R
Fan Verdict
Grade this player:
Career StatsA-
| Year | Team | GP | ERA | W-L | K | WHIP | IP | SV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Career |  | 483 | 4.062281 | 23-21 | 544 | 1.270119 | 0.0 | 10 |
Current Contract
Length
2 years
Total Value
$14.5M
Guaranteed
$8.7M
AAV
$7.3M/yr
Contract Value Index (CVI)
Phil Maton's two-year, $7.25M AAV deal with the Cubs earns a C+ CVI — a fair-market contract for a veteran reliever who continues to produce at an elite level. Despite his A performance grade and solid 2024 showing (1 win, 48 strikeouts across 40 appearances), Maton finds himself in that familiar middle-reliever space where effectiveness doesn't always translate to premium compensation. At 33 years old and in his 10th major league season, he's entered the established veteran phase where teams value his reliability over upside, and the Cubs clearly see him as organizational depth rather than a high-leverage game-changer. The $7.25M AAV sits comfortably in the mid-tier reliever market, reflecting exactly what Maton has become: a professional, dependable arm who gets outs without generating headlines or excitement. Media coverage of the signing has been respectfully muted, focusing on contract mechanics rather than impact potential, which perfectly captures his standing as a respected but unremarkable bullpen piece. The two-year term provides the Cubs with veteran stability while giving Maton security in what could be his final multi-year deal, making this a sensible match for both sides even if it won't move any organizational needles.
Fan & Media Sentiment
The media and fan sentiment around Phil Maton reflects exactly what you'd expect for a steady, unspectacular veteran reliever — respectful but hardly electrifying. Coverage of his multi-year Cubs deal focuses on the practical aspects rather than any excitement about landing a difference-maker, with beat writers framing him as organizational depth and a professional veteran presence. At 10 years in the majors, Maton has carved out the quintessential journeyman reliever reputation: reliable enough to keep getting contracts, unremarkable enough that nobody's writing passionate think pieces about his impact. The disconnect here is notable — while his performance merits suggest he's been a genuinely effective middle reliever, the public perception treats him more like replacement-level roster filler. For Maton to shift the narrative, he'd need either a breakout season with elite numbers or a few high-leverage postseason moments that elevate his profile beyond "that guy who throws strikes." The sentiment grade of B+ captures this perfectly: positive and professional, but lacking the buzz that separates good players from memorable ones.
Recent Games
| Date | OPP | Result | AB | H | R | HR | RBI | BB | SO |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tue, 4/7 | @ TB | W 9-2 | - | - | - | 0 | - | - | - |
| Mon, 4/6 | @ TB | L 4-6 | - | - | - | 0 | - | - | - |
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