Shelby Miller

There was a chance that Miller would make it back from his second career Tommy John surgery to contribute for the Cubs in the postseason, but the club decided not to take any chances. The 35-year-old should be ready for the start of spring training.

The 35-year-old right-hander has been working in extended spring training games in Arizona and is now ready for affiliated game action. He should only need a handful of appearances there before he’s an option to help out the Cubs’ bullpen.

Miller should begin pitching in official games soon. At 35, he’s trying to pull off a quick return from October surgery to repair his UCL. The Cubs signed him to a two-year, $2.5 million deal in February.

Miller is going to likely miss all of the 2026 season while recovering from Tommy John surgery. The right-hander is now off the 40-man roster, and the Cubs claimed Ben Cowles with the extra room.

The deal also includes a club option for the 2028 season. Miller is expected to miss most, if not all, of the 2026 season while recovering from Tommy John surgery. To clear a spot on the Cubs’ 40-man roster, Ben Cowles was designated for assignment.

Jesse Rogers of ESPN reports that the deal is a two-year, $2.5 million contract. Miller will likely be out for most, if not all, of 2026 following Tommy John surgery in October of last year. However, he was really impactful as a reliever last season, pitching to a 2.74 ERA in 46 innings for the Diamondbacks and Brewers. The multi-year deal would allow him to rehab with the Cubs this season and then be a factor in their bullpen in 2027.

Miller was hoping to avoid surgery, but it wasn’t meant to be. This will most likely cost the 35-year-old all of 2026. Miller, who had a 2.74 ERA in 46 innings for the Diamondbacks and Brewers this year, will become a free agent after the World Series.