Cubs Designate Jameson Taillon for Assignment

The Chicago Cubs designated veteran starting pitcher Jameson Taillon for assignment on Monday, July 27, 2026, following a disastrous performance against the Pittsburgh Pirates the previous day. The move ends Taillon's tenure with the club as it seeks to bolster its pitching staff ahead of the upcoming trade deadline.

Taillon's designation came less than 24 hours after he surrendered seven earned runs on six hits, including three home runs, over just four innings in a loss to Pittsburgh. After the game, the 34-year-old right-hander acknowledged his struggles were harming the team. He stated he felt pressure to improve but was not naive to the negative impact of his performance. This season, Taillon has compiled a 2-6 record with a 5.92 ERA across 15 starts, allowing 25 home runs, one of the highest totals in the majors.

In a corresponding roster move, the Cubs selected the contract of right-handed pitcher Andrew Wantz from Triple-A Iowa. Manager Craig Counsell indicated that Javier Assad is likely to take Taillon's spot in the rotation when it next comes up. Counsell described the decision to designate Taillon as a difficult one, citing the pitcher's leadership presence in the...