Cubs Designate Veteran Pitcher Jameson Taillon

The Chicago Cubs moved right-hander Jameson Taillon to the designation-for-assignment (DFA) list after his start against the Pittsburgh Pirates in which he surrendered seven runs over four innings. The 34-year-old is entering the final year of a four-year, $68 million contract signed in 2023. Earlier in the season, Taillon spent time on the injured list with a hamstring strain before returning to a role that has been dominated by home-run damage.

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Taillon now leads the major leagues in home runs allowed, having given up 25 long balls in just 76 innings pitched. Opponents are hitting .329 off his fastball, a rise of more than 100 points compared with the previous season. Prior to the DFA move, his record stood at 2-6 with a 5.92 earned-run average (ERA). Over his ten-year career, he has posted a 3.99 ERA. In contrast, his most effective seasons with Chicago came in the second and third years of his contract, when he posted mid-3.00s ERAs.

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To fill the roster spot opened by Taillon, the Cubs promoted right-hander Andrew Wantz from Triple-A Iowa. Wantz entered the season with a 2-1 record and a 4.32 ERA at the Triple-A level. He previously appeared in one major-league game with the Tampa Bay Rays after a stint with the Los Angeles Angels.

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Taillon’s removal from the active roster removes a high-profile, high-cost arm that has struggled to contain the long ball. The promotion of Wantz provides the club with a younger, lower-cost option who has shown moderate success at the Triple-A level. The move signals Chicago’s willingness to adjust its payroll and roster composition as it seeks to improve pitching performance heading into the latter part of the season.

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