The Chicago Cubs have designated right-hander Jameson Taillon for assignment after a difficult start to the 2026 season, ending his tenure with the team. The move came ahead of Monday’s series opener against the St. Louis Cardinals as the Cubs look to improve their pitching staff during a critical stretch of the season.

Taillon, 34, struggled significantly this year, posting a 5.92 ERA across 15 starts and surrendering 25 home runs in 76 innings. His performance metrics ranked among the lowest in Major League Baseball, with a -1.1 fWAR and 6.74 FIP—the worst among pitchers with at least 60 innings pitched. Despite a seven-week absence due to a hamstring strain earlier in the season, Taillon was unable to regain command or reduce his home run rate in his two appearances following his return.

“The results speak for themselves,” Taillon acknowledged after a costly seven-run outing against the Pittsburgh Pirates on Sunday, during which he allowed three home runs. “I feel pressure to do better, for myself especially, but I’ve been around long enough to know that I’m hurting the team.”

Cubs manager Craig Counsell described the decision as difficult but necessary. “We had to make a hard decision as to whether we thought Jameson was going to pitch again,” Counsell said. “With where we’re at in the season and with what’s going on in his season, we just didn’t feel like it was going to happen again.” He also emphasized Taillon’s positive impact off the field. “He’s had a big impact on our culture and on our clubhouse and so that makes those decisions harder. But, in the end, we just feel like we had to do better in that spot.”

To fill the vacancy, the Cubs called up right-hander Andrew Wantz from Triple-A Iowa, with Javier Assad expected to take Taillon’s starting slot on Friday against the New York Yankees at Wrigley Field. Additional rotation support may arrive following the trade deadline, and right-hander Edward Cabrera is anticipated to return from a hamstring injury in mid-August after completing a rehab assignment.

Taillon concluded his Cubs career with a 4.21 ERA in 96 games, including 95 starts. Although his recent struggles overshadowed his performance, teammates praised his professionalism and influence within the clubhouse. Infielder Dansby Swanson, who joined the Cubs the same offseason as Taillon, called the decision a difficult moment for the organization and recognized Taillon as one of his closest friends. “Definitely on my Mount Rushmore of teammates,” Swanson said, highlighting Taillon’s commitment to supporting his teammates both on and off the field.

Left-hander Matthew Boyd and outfielder Ian Happ echoed these sentiments, noting Taillon’s consistent presence and leadership regardless of on-field results. “There’s something to be said about someone who shows up the same way every day,” Boyd said. Happ reflected on the challenge of parting ways with a veteran teammate. “When you have someone with 10 years of big-league experience that you’ve been with for that long, these are the ones that are really challenging because of the friendship.”

Taillon’s tenure with the Cubs included periods of strong performance, most notably in the late stages of the 2025 season when he posted a 1.85 ERA over his final seven starts and delivered key victories in the playoffs. However, this season lacked those moments of resurgence, leading management to move in a different direction as the team pursues a playoff push.

While his time in Chicago has ended, the Cubs’ pitching staff and clubhouse acknowledge Taillon’s potential to continue his major-league career elsewhere, contingent on resolving underlying mechanical issues that have affected his delivery and overall effectiveness this season. “It comes down to performance and we’re all held to that same measure,” Boyd noted, “We get it, but that doesn’t make it easier.”