Cubs Designate Jameson Taillon For Assignment

The Chicago Cubs have cut ties with their veteran pitcher. 

Manager Craig Counsell told reporters after Sunday’s loss that the coaching staff would decide internally how to proceed with right-hander Jameson Taillon moving forward. Less than 24 hours later, Taillon is no longer a part of the organization. 

The Cubs designated Taillon for assignment prior to Monday’s series opener against the St. Louis Cardinals. The team selected the contract on Andrew Wantz in a corresponding move. 

Taillon was in the final season of his four-year deal with the Cubs. He posted solid numbers in each of his first three years on the North Side (3.93 ERA across 449 ⅓ innings), but things have taken a turn for the worse for the 10-year veteran in 2026. 

The 34-year-old had a 5.92 ERA and a 1.355 WHIP across 15 starts before being designated for assignment on Monday. The last straw for the Cubs came after Taillon had back-to-back poor starts since returning from the injured list. He allowed four runs across 4 ⅓ innings against the Tigers on July 20 and gave up seven runs across four innings against the Pirates on July 26. 

Those two outings were the tipping point in the Cubs decision to designate him for assignment. He hasn’t had it all year, and things likely weren’t going to improve down the stretch. He allowed 25 home runs in 76 innings pitched, had a 1% barrel rate, a 5.84 expected ERA, a .256 expected batting average against, and a career-worst 25.3% pull air rate. 

This was obviously a tough decision for the Cubs since Taillon has shown he can be a consistent starter for them. He finished with a 3.27 ERA and a 1.131 WHIP across 165 ⅓ innings pitched in 2024 and posted a 3.68 ERA with a 1.057 WHIP across 129 ⅔ innings pitched in 2025. The veteran right-hander even threw four scoreless innings in Game 3 of the Wild Card Series against the San Diego Padres last year. 

However, Taillon has been a completely different pitcher this year. The Cubs couldn’t keep giving the ball every fifth day. Something needed to change, which led to him being designated for assignment. 

In the short term, Javier Assad should take Taillon's spot in the rotation. He has operated in the Cubs’ bullpen since the All-Star break and has thrown the ball well as a starter this year. Assad has a 3.64 ERA in eight starts. 

Getting rid of Taillon could also be a sign of what’s to come at the trade deadline. It’s no secret that the Cubs are in the market for a premier starting pitcher. They should acquire at least one by the August 3rd trade deadline. That trade acquisition could be the long-term replacement for Taillon in this rotation. 

Designating Taillon for assignment was the right move by the Cubs. They couldn’t just keep throwing him out there and hope things improve.