Cubs gamble on veteran pitcher Shelby Miller's long-term recovery, securing a multi-year deal for 2027 and beyond despite recovering from Tommy John surgery.
The Chicago Cubs have struck again.
After a busy offseason revamping the bullpen, the Cubs added another reliever on Friday afternoon. Robert Murray of FanSided reported that Chicago is nearing a multi-year deal with veteran right-handed pitcher Shelby Miller.
The deal reportedly guarantees Miller at least $2.5 million over two years. He marks the second reliever to get more than a one-year contract from the Cubs this offseason. The front office also signed Phil Maton to a two-year deal in November.
However, the reason that Miller got a multi-year deal with the Cubs is much different than why Maton got his two-year deal. Miller is expected to miss most, if not all, of the 2026 season.
Miller tore his ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) with the Milwaukee Brewers last year and eventually underwent Tommy John surgery in October. With the timeline to return from Tommy John surgery being 12 to 18 months, there’s a good chance the veteran doesn’t pitch for the Cubs in 2026.
That means this move is more for 2027, hence why the Cubs offered him a multi-year contract.
The front office is definitely taking a risk on a 35-year-old pitcher coming off the second Tommy John surgery of his career. His first one came back with the Arizona Diamondbacks in May of 2017.
However, this is a sneaky solid bullpen move with eyes toward the future. Miller posted some of the best numbers of his career in 2025, finishing with a 2.74 ERA and 54 strikeouts across 46 innings pitched.
He was even better with the Diamondbacks to start the season, as he held a 1.98 ERA across 37 appearances before being dealt to the Brewers at the Trade Deadline. So, the Cubs obviously liked what they saw from Miller throughout the 2025 season.
His chase rate (35.8%), whiff rate (31.7%), and strikeout rate (29%) were all elite, and Miller posted a solid WHIP for the third consecutive year.
Adding Miller doesn’t really change much for the Cubs heading into this season. He will likely miss the entire 2026 campaign as he recovers from Tommy John surgery, and free agent additions like Hoby Milner, Jacob Webb, and Hunter Harvey will still be key pieces of the bullpen.
By signing the veteran this offseason, though, the Cubs will enter the 2027 season with some continuity. The front office will go into next offseason knowing they already have two veterans in Miller and Maton in their bullpen.
Signing Miller while he recovers from Tommy John surgery is a smart move by the Cubs.