Craig Counsell Shares Reason Behind Cubs Move

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Segun Ajayi | Last updated May 28, 2026 9:30 AM ET

Craig Counsell has revealed the reason the Chicago Cubs signed veteran left-hander Aaron Bummer to a minor league contract. According to reporter Elise Menaker, Counsell said the Cubs see Bummer as a pitcher with a strong track record who struggled early this season in Atlanta, adding that the organization hopes it can help him rediscover his form.

The 32-year-old started his Major League career with the Chicago White Sox after the club selected him in the 19th round of the 2014 MLB Draft. He developed into one of the more reliable ground-ball relievers in baseball during his time on the South Side.

Bummer made 161 appearances for the White Sox and recorded a 2.59 ERA with 185 strikeouts across 180.2 innings between 2019 and 2022. He also produced an elite 71.1 percent ground-ball rate during that stretch. His success earned him a five-year contract extension with club options for the 2025 and 2026 seasons.

However, Bummer struggled badly during the 2023 season and finished with a 6.79 ERA across 61 appearances. During the following offseason, the White Sox traded him to the Atlanta Braves in a deal that also included former Cubs infielder Nicky Lopez and pitcher Michael Soroka.

Craig Counsell confirmed the signing of Aaron Bummer:

"It's a minor league sign. He struggled early in the year in Atlanta. A pitcher who's had a lot of success, and we'll try to help him get better."
— Elise Menaker (@EliseMenaker) May 27, 2026

Bummer bounced back somewhat during his first two seasons with Atlanta. He posted ERAs of 3.58 and 3.81 while continuing to work primarily as a middle reliever. Bummer was then released by Atlanta on May 19 after his form disappeared.

Bummer carried a 7.63 ERA across 19 appearances and 15.1 innings. He struck out only 16.9 percent of opposing hitters while walking 13 percent. He also surrendered six home runs and finished with a 1.83 WHIP. His final outing with the Braves summed up his difficult season.

Miami Marlins hitters tagged him for six runs on three hits and five walks in only one inning. Bummer’s declining velocity also raised concerns. His fastball now sits slightly above 90 mph after previously reaching the mid-90s earlier in his career. Even with those struggles, the Cubs decided the risk made sense because of their growing pitching problems.

Aaron Bummer (49). Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images

Chicago’s bullpen entered Wednesday with a combined 4.68 ERA and had already allowed 28 home runs this season. Cubs relievers also averaged only 7.95 strikeouts per nine innings, numbers that ranked among the weaker bullpen marks in the National League. Injuries throughout both the starting rotation and bullpen forced Chicago to search for experienced arms wherever possible.

The Cubs recently added Liam Hendriks on a minor league deal, and Bummer now joins another growing list of reclamation projects. Chicago entered Wednesday in the middle of a 10-game losing streak, its longest skid since the 2022 season. The slump came only weeks after the Cubs put together two separate 10-game winning streaks earlier this year.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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