Cubs nearing multi-year deal with Shelby Miller, eyeing 2027 bullpen boost
Feb. 13, 2026 (ET) — The Chicago Cubs are finalizing a multi-year, major-league agreement with right-hander Shelby Miller, positioning the veteran reliever to rehab throughout 2026 following October elbow surgery and aim for a bullpen role in 2027.
Contract framework and roster mechanics
The agreement is expected to be structured with 2026 as a rehab year and value concentrated in 2027, when Miller would return to late-inning duty. Procedurally, he will require a spot on the 40-man roster when the deal is completed. Once camp and the regular season unfold, he can be transferred to the 60-day injured list to open a roster slot, a standard step for players signed while rehabbing long-term injuries.
Why the Cubs are betting on 2027
Miller, 35, has carved out a second act as a high-leverage reliever after an up-and-down run as a starter earlier in his career. Since Opening Day 2023, he has produced a 3. 13 ERA with a 25. 3% strikeout rate, 8. 2% walk rate, 13 saves, and 17 holds across 143 2/3 innings for multiple clubs. The righty opened 2025 in dominant form with Arizona, posting a 1. 98 ERA over 36 1/3 frames before a midseason move to Milwaukee.
Chicago’s calculus is clear: secure a proven late-inning arm at a time when rehab depresses immediate on-field value and aim to reap the payoff in 2027. The club’s bullpen build this winter has emphasized experienced relievers who can stabilize leverage innings, and Miller fits that template once healthy.
The injury arc and October surgery
After a strong August with Milwaukee, Miller felt a “pop” in his elbow during a September appearance and exited the game. Options presented earlier in the summer included an internal brace and flexor repair, but he ultimately underwent a second Tommy John procedure in October, paired with work on the flexor tendon. Given that timeline, the expectation is that Miller will miss the 2026 season while completing a full-year rehab progression. He turns 36 in October 2026, right around the one-year mark from surgery, setting up a realistic runway for a spring 2027 return if milestones are met.
A winding road to a late-inning revival
Miller’s career has traveled a remarkable path. A 2009 first-round pick and elite prospect with St. Louis, he finished third in NL Rookie of the Year voting in 2013. After two seasons with the Cardinals, he was dealt to Atlanta and delivered 33 strong starts in 2015. That winter, he headlined a blockbuster that sent him to Arizona in exchange for a package that included then–No. 1 overall pick Dansby Swanson, outfielder Ender Inciarte, and right-hander Aaron Blair.
Injuries derailed his stretch with the Diamondbacks, where he logged a 6. 35 ERA across 139 innings before being cut loose. He bounced around in subsequent years, including a brief 2021 stop with the Cubs in which he allowed seven runs over two innings. The shift to full-time relief beginning in 2023 revitalized his profile, culminating in the 2025 surge with Arizona before the late-season elbow setback.
How the move fits Chicago’s offseason plan
Miller’s pending arrival continues a bullpen-focused winter on the North Side. Chicago has added several veteran relievers, including Hunter Harvey, Phil Maton, Caleb Thielbar, Hoby Milner, and Jacob Webb. The larger roster build also features headline moves and rotation depth, with the front office stacking options across the staff.
For 2026, Miller’s role will be limited to rehab and clubhouse presence, but the organization is targeting him as a potential leverage anchor in 2027. On paper, the risk profile is straightforward: a delayed return with significant upside if Miller holds his post-2023 form. For a club intent on deepening its late-inning mix, banking on a seasoned righty with swing-and-miss stuff after a full recovery lines up with a long-view strategy.
