Cubs cut ties with prominent veteran pitcher

The Chicago Cubs are moving on from a veteran pitcher who had been quite successful for them over the past several seasons.

The Cubs announced Monday that they have designated pitcher Jameson Taillon for assignment. The move was made in order to clear a roster spot for pitcher Andrew Wantz, who is being called up from the minors.

Taillon has fallen off severely this year after a pair of very solid seasons with the Cubs. He posted a 3.45 ERA over 295 innings in 2024 and 2025 and appeared to be on his way to ensuring that he was well worth the 4-year, $68 million contract the team had given him, which is set to end at the conclusion of this season.

Things changed this season, however. Through 15 starts, Taillon has posted a 5.92 ERA while allowing an unsightly 25 home runs in 76 innings, which was tied for the highest mark in the National League.

The Cubs are in need of starting pitching and are being linked to some major names on the market, so the fact that they are moving on from Taillon says a lot about how much he has struggled this season. The 34-year-old will likely find a new job given his relatively recent track record of success, but the Cubs simply could not afford to wait any longer to make the move.