The Chicago Cubs designated veteran right-hander Jameson Taillon for assignment, the team announced Monday.
Taillon, who's in the final season of a four-year, $68-million contract, had returned from the injured list last week after missing over a month with a hamstring strain. In two July starts, he allowed 11 runs over 8 1/3 innings, including seven runs against the Detroit Tigers on Sunday.
The 34-year-old is having a career-worst campaign, posting a 5.92 ERA, 6.74 WHIP, and 1.36 WHIP over 76 innings. Taillon's 25 home runs allowed lead all National League pitchers.
The Cubs elected to move on from Taillon despite their pitching staff being decimated by injuries throughout the year. The club currently has 12 pitchers on the injured list and has seen all of its regular starters, save for Colin Rea and Shota Imanaga, sidelined at least once in 2026.
"We had to make a hard decision as to whether we thought Jameson was going to pitch again," manager Craig Counsell said, according to Patrick Mooney of The Athletic. "With where we're at in the season and with what's gone on in his season, we just didn't feel like it was going to happen again.
"Jame-o's not only produced as a Cub, he has had a big impact on our culture and on our clubhouse, so that makes those decisions harder. But in the end, we just feel like we had to do better in that spot."
Taillon experienced both highs and lows during his Cubs tenure. Though he produced one of the best campaigns of his career in 2024 and helped the team reach the playoffs last year, he's made 30 starts in a season only once in his four years on the North Side.
The Cubs now have seven days to trade, waive, or release Taillon, who's earning $18 million this year. Taillon can also block trades to 10 teams of his choosing.
Chicago selected right-hander Andrew Wantz from Triple-A Iowa to fill Taillon's vacated roster spot.
