The Chicago Cubs have designated left-hander Drew Pomeranz for assignment while trying to reinforce a pitching staff hit hard by injuries. The move came as the club activated Jameson Taillon from the 15-day injured list and added newly acquired right-hander Aaron Civale to the active roster.
Chicago remains 56-43 and holds a Wild Card position despite losing multiple rotation and bullpen options. The roster shuffle underlines the pressure on the Cubs to find dependable innings before the August 3 deadline.
Pitching staff under strain
Taillon returns after missing more than a month with a hamstring strain, providing the Cubs with a needed option for their depleted rotation. Cade Horton is out for the year following Tommy John surgery, while Justin Steele has encountered setbacks in his attempt to return from UCL surgery.
Steele could return this year only as a reliever, according to the reported outlook. Ben Brown and Edward Cabrera are also on the injured list, leaving Chicago with reduced depth behind its active starters.
| Pitcher | Roster Status | Key Detail |
|---|---|---|
| Jameson Taillon | Activated | Returned from a hamstring strain after more than a month |
| Aaron Civale | Activated | Recently acquired from the Athletics |
| Drew Pomeranz | Designated for assignment | Allowed five earned runs in 5 2/3 Cubs innings |
| Phil Maton | Placed on 15-day IL | Sidelined by right knee tendinitis |
Matthew Boyd, Shota Imanaga and Colin Rea have recently been part of Chicago’s starting mix. The club also acquired David Peterson from the Mets late last month, and Civale gives the group another available arm.
Pomeranz joined the Cubs earlier this month on a minor league deal after the Angels released him. In six appearances for Chicago, he issued four walks and struck out one batter across 5 2/3 innings.
The 36-year-old had delivered a sharp comeback with the Cubs last year after missing the 2022 through 2024 seasons with throwing-arm injuries. He posted a 2.17 ERA in 49 2/3 innings, with a 28.1% strikeout rate and 7.4% walk rate.
That performance earned Pomeranz a $4MM contract with the Angels, but his results have fallen off this season. Between the Angels and Cubs, he has a 5.59 ERA, a 12.6% strikeout rate and an 11.9% walk rate over 29 innings.
As reported by www.mlbtraderumors.com, Pomeranz has enough service time to reject an outright assignment if he clears waivers. The Cubs could instead release him, and another team could sign him for the prorated league minimum while the Angels remain responsible for the rest of his salary.
Bullpen losses add to the urgency
The Cubs also placed right-hander Phil Maton on the 15-day injured list with right knee tendinitis. It is his third injured-list stint this season for the same issue, and he carries a 6.18 ERA over 31 appearances.
Maton’s struggles mark a sharp change from last season, when he posted a 2.79 ERA with the Cardinals and Rangers. Chicago signed him to a two-year, $14.5MM deal after that performance.
Hunter Harvey, Porter Hodge, Riley Martin, Shelby Miller, Hoby Milner, Daniel Palencia and Ethan Roberts are also on the injured list. With both its rotation and bullpen thinned out, Chicago is positioned to seek additional starting and relief help in the coming weeks.