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The Cubs took a multiyear flyer on Shelby Miller in hopes of landing an impact arm for 2027.
The Chicago Cubs are hoping to use this offseason to leapfrog to the top spot in the National League Central. Their latest signing, however, seeks to strengthen their bullpen in 2027. Robert Murray of FanSided reports that the Cubs are finalizing a deal with right-hander Shelby Miller.
The Cubs should be familiar with Miller, 35, who previously pitched for them in 2021. It came near the lowest point of his career, where he surrendered seven runs in two innings. He’s also faced them in the NL Central, pitching for the St. Louis Cardinals, Pittsburgh Pirates, and Milwaukee Brewers.
The multiyear deal aspect of that signing is important, as Miller is unlikely to pitch at all in 2026. The right-hander will spend the entire season recovering from Tommy John surgery. It is the second time he’s undergone UCL reconstruction, the first time coming in May 2017.
Miller was a former failed starter who found new life in the bullpen in 2025. After signing with the Diamondbacks last spring but emerged as one of their key arms. With Arizona, Miller pitched to a 1.98 ERA and 10 saves.
Despite the success, injuries negatively impacted his season. He went on the injured list with a forearm strain with Arizona in July. After getting traded to the Brewers while still on the IL, he pitched in 11 games before his elbow popped. Having to get surgery again, followed by another lengthy rehab process, resulted in him signing in February in a market where quality relievers flew off the shelves.
Why the Cubs Would Sign Shelby Miller
Miller gives the Cubs another potential power arm once he finishes his rehab. The right-hander averaged 95.1 MPH on his four-seamer. He pairs the velocity with a lot of movement, overpowering hitters. Opposing hitters batted just .235 and slugged .296 against Miller’s four-seamer.
The Cubs signed Hunter Harvey in the offseason to form the bridge to closer Daniel Palencia. Harvey signed a one-year deal and will hit free agency after the season. Signing Miller provides Chicago with a potential in-house replacement.
In order to obtain Miller’s services for 2027, that means taking a flyer on him for a year he won’t pitch. The right-hander underwent the knife on October 20, which completely wipes out any chance he’ll pitch at all, even for the postseason. But by signing him to a multiyear deal, the Cubs can monitor his rehab closely.
The ideal timeline is that Miller finishes his rehab before reporting to Spring Training in 2027 and can fully participate. Once recovered, he should be in the mix for a late-inning role. Chicago still believes that he’ll be an impact reliever, which is why they’re willing to waste a year to sign him.
While the Cubs have to free a 40-man space for the Miller signing, they can easily put him on the 60-day injured list. He won’t take up a roster spot during the season, which doesn’t hurt Chicago too much from a roster construction standpoint.
Cubs’ Bullpen Situation in 2026
Palencia is the Cubs’ likely closer. What they did this offseason was to address the bridge after losing Brad Keller to the Phillies in free agency. They signed five relievers to remake their bullpen, including retaining left-hander Caleb Thielbar.
Their notable additions beyond Harvey and Thielbar include Phil Maton, Hoby Milner, and Jacob Webb. Milner and Maton give a uniqueness element due to outlier pitches and release points. Webb is a middle-innings arm that can provide multiple innings for manager Craig Counsell.
The Cubs are hoping that their revamped bullpen, plus the addition of Alex Bregman, is enough to tip the scales in their favor. They came close to dethroning the Brewers in October, so they’ll enter 2026 confident in their team.
Michael McDermott Michael McDermott is a writer at Heavy Sports covering the Arizona Diamondbacks and Major League Baseball. Michael has 10 years experience writing about the D-backs and their farm system for AZ Snake Pit, Burn City Sports, and Diamondbacks On SI. More about Michael McDermott
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