Cubs Ready to Reap Rewards of Forgotten Free Agent Signing

Last winter, the Chicago Cubs made an underrated free agent signing, focusing more on building for the future than improving their roster for the 2026 season.

Chicago agreed to a two-year, $2.5 million contract with right-handed pitcher Shelby Miller. Miller was coming off an impressive season split between the Arizona Diamondbacks and Milwaukee Brewers, in which he posted a 2.74 ERA over 48 relief appearances.

On September 3, 2025, however, Miller was placed on the 60-day injured list by Milwaukee with a right elbow UCL sprain. He underwent Tommy John surgery that fall, ensuring he would miss the entire 2026 season while recovering.

The Cubs signed Miller knowing he wouldn't be available to help their bullpen in 2026, instead betting on his ability to bounce back in 2027. Hence the two-year contract.

The now 36-year-old right-handed pitcher actually made his way back to the mound last season. By the middle of August, the Cubs had sent Miller on a rehab assignment, and he pitched in 13 total games for Triple-A Iowa and Double-A Knoxville. He struggled with his control, however, and ultimately posted a 7.59 ERA in 10.2 innings, issuing nine walks and ruling out any chance of Miller contributing at the MLB level in 2026.

His 18 strikeouts, however, were an encouraging reminder of the pitcher Miller can be when fully healthy. Back in 2025, he was one of the best pitchers in all of baseball in chase rate and had elite numbers in whiff rate, strikeout rate, and extension.

Once a promising starting pitcher for the St. Louis Cardinals and Atlanta Braves, Miller dealt with plenty of adversity, injuries, and poor performance for years before reviving his career as a reliever. And now, in 2027, we have every reason to believe he'll be a key contributor for the Cubs.

This team needs pitching. They need help in the starting rotation and depth in the bullpen. But I think Shelby Miller is one of those forgotten arms that the Cubs can now cash in on. He'll make just $1.25 million in 2027, which could be one of the best bargain contracts in all of baseball if he rediscovers his form from 2025. 

I loved this move by Jed Hoyer and the Cubs at the time, and I like it even more now when looking at all the needs Chicago has to address this offseason. They already have one box checked with a reliable setup man in place because of something they did a full year ago.