Cubs Sign Reliever Hoby Milner to $3.75M Deal

The Chicago Cubs bolstered their bullpen Thursday by agreeing to a one-year contract worth $3.75 million with left-handed reliever Hoby Milner, according to a person familiar with the deal who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the agreement is pending a physical examination.

Milner, who turns 35 in January, spent the 2024 season with the Texas Rangers, matching his career high with 73 appearances. He finished with a 3-4 record and a 3.84 ERA over 70 1/3 innings, recording 58 strikeouts and holding left-handed hitters to a .208 batting average and a .526 on-base-plus-slugging percentage. His sidearm delivery and slider proved effective against opposite-handed batters, limiting them to a .300 slugging percentage, though right-handers hit .265 against him.

The signing reunites Milner with Cubs manager Craig Counsell, whom he played under during four seasons with the Milwaukee Brewers from 2021 to 2023. His standout year came in 2023, Counsell's final season in Milwaukee, when Milner went 2-1 with a career-low 1.82 ERA in 73 outings, allowing just 13 walks in 64 1/3 innings. After leaving Milwaukee as a free agent last December, Milner joined Texas,...