Cubs cut former 2nd overall pick in MLB Draft

The Chicago Cubs have made a surprising roster move as they continue fighting through an injury-plagued season, designating veteran right-hander Jameson Taillon for assignment. While the decision reflects the struggles Taillon has endured throughout the 2026 MLB campaign, it also underscores just how frustrated the Cubs have become with their starting rotation.

Taillon, once one of baseball’s most highly regarded pitching prospects, now finds himself searching for a new opportunity after producing the toughest season of his major league career.

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Former Top Draft Pick Couldn’t Turn Things Around

Selected second overall by the Pittsburgh Pirates in the 2010 MLB Draft, Taillon entered professional baseball with enormous expectations. Now 34 years old, the veteran has been unable to recapture the consistency that made him a reliable starter earlier in his career.

He made 15 starts for Chicago this season after missing approximately six weeks with a hamstring strain. Across 76 innings, Taillon posted a 5.96 ERA, while surrendering 25 home runs, the second-highest total in Major League Baseball.

Those numbers ultimately proved too difficult for the Cubs to overlook, leading the club to move on by DFAing him, despite its lack of healthy starting pitching.

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Injuries Have Decimated Chicago’s Rotation

The timing of Taillon’s departure is somewhat surprising considering how many injuries the Cubs have endured.

Chicago has watched much of its projected rotation land on the injured list throughout the season. Cade Horton underwent Tommy John surgery and will miss the remainder of the year, while Justin Steele has experienced multiple setbacks during his recovery from last season’s internal brace surgery. Although Steele could return before the end of the season, it’s expected to be in a relief role rather than as a starter.

The injury issues don’t stop there. Ben Brown is currently sidelined with a stress reaction in his neck, leaving his return date uncertain, while Edward Cabrera is also unavailable because of a hamstring strain.

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What’s Next for Taillon?

Despite his disappointing season, Taillon’s experience could still attract interest from teams searching for veteran pitching depth.

Organizations dealing with injuries or looking for rotation help may view the former top prospect as a worthwhile reclamation project, especially if they believe mechanical adjustments or a change of scenery could help him rediscover his previous form.

For the Cubs, however, the decision signals a willingness to move in a different direction as they attempt to navigate one of the most injury-riddled seasons in recent franchise history. Whether Taillon gets another opportunity later this year or waits until the offseason, his next stop will likely come with a chance to prove that the difficult 2026 campaign was an outlier rather than the beginning of a permanent decline.

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