Former Seattle Mariners reliever Collin Snider is getting another chance in affiliated baseball after signing a minor league contract with the Chicago Cubs. The right-handed pitcher’s new deal offers a fresh start after an up-and-down 2024 and 2025 stretch with Seattle and highlights how players can rebound when given time, coaching, and opportunity to refine their craft.
Snider, who is now 30 years old, first reached the majors in 2022 with the Kansas City Royals and spent a portion of the 2024 and 2025 seasons with the Mariners. He showed flashes of potential early on — including an impressive 2024 stretch with Seattle during which his advanced metrics looked promising — but consistency eluded him in 2025.
In 2025, Snider appeared in 24 games for the Mariners, finishing with a 5.47 ERA in 26.1 innings pitched. He struck out 24 batters but also posted a 1.44 WHIP, suggesting control and contact-management issues that Seattle’s front office ultimately felt compelled to address by clearing space on the roster. His 2025 season was also interrupted by injury; Snider spent time on the 15-day injured list due to a forearm flexor strain, which impacted his ability to maintain velocity and effectiveness throughout the campaign. After returning, he struggled to regain early-season form and was designated for assignment before finishing the year in Triple-A Tacoma after clearing waivers.
The Chicago Cubs signing Snider to a minor-league deal marks a critical juncture in his career. Minor league contracts allow players like Snider to compete for a roster spot in spring training without the pressure of an immediate big-league commitment. For a pitcher with major-league experience, this can be a smart path back to sustained success, especially with a new coaching staff and developmental environment.
Cubs organizations often blend veteran experience with young talent, and a solid showing in camp could lead to Snider securing a spot on the Cubs’ 40-man roster or bullpen. His breakthrough 2024 season — when he displayed strong strikeout ability and effective relief work — shows the capability that teams find intriguing when evaluating reclamation projects.
Originally drafted by the Kansas City Royals in the 12th round of the 2017 MLB Draft out of Vanderbilt University, Snider worked his way through the minors before finally breaking onto a big-league roster. After showing enough promise to get claimed off waivers, he joined the Mariners in 2024 and had periods where he flashed a high-leverage reliever profile.
The pitching arsenal that helped him succeed in the past — including a refined four-seam fastball and sweeper combination — earned attention from both Seattle and rival teams, and there were moments where his control and strikeout prowess seemed like a building block for bullpen depth.
However, struggles in 2025 and time lost to injury made it harder for Snider to secure a stable role in Seattle’s bullpen. As the club acquired other relievers and made roster adjustments, Snider’s role diminished, culminating in his outright assignment to Triple-A and eventual free-agency.
Seattle’s bullpen has been a significant focus this offseason, highlighted by transactions like the trade for left-handed reliever José A. Ferrer from the Washington Nationals in exchange for catching prospect Harry Ford and pitching prospect Isaac Lyon. These moves signal that the Mariners are aiming to build a more consistent relief corps while balancing roster flexibility.
While Snider didn’t stick with Seattle long-term, his journey underscores the volatility of middle relief roles in today’s game. Pitchers often cycle through multiple organizations before finding the right fit, and success in one season doesn’t always guarantee stability in the next.
As Snider reports to the Cubs’ minor league system, all eyes will be on how he performs during spring training and early 2026 minor league play. This opportunity allows him to reset his career trajectory, showcase improved mechanics or velocity, and compete for a spot on a team that has both veteran talent and young arms vying for bullpen roles.
If Snider can regain consistency, command, and strikeout effectiveness — like he showed at times in 2024 — he could earn a call-up and become a valuable depth piece for the Cubs later in the season. In a league where bullpen arms are always in demand, strong performance at the minor-league level can quickly translate into a second chance on a major-league mound.
Collin Snider’s move to the Chicago Cubs on a minor league contract represents a fresh start for the veteran reliever. After up-and-down seasons in Seattle, this new chapter offers a chance to rebuild, refine, and possibly return to big-league action. With experience on his side and a supportive developmental environment in Chicago, Snider’s story isn’t finished — it’s simply taken a new and hopeful turn
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