$68M Starting Pitcher DFA'd For 1st Time in 10-Year Career

With an $18 million salary this season, 10-year veteran starter Jameson Taillon didn't expect his 2026 to go this way. But the Chicago Cubs have seen enough of his 5.92 ERA, and have designated him for assignment.

Jameson Taillon has been DFA'd by the Cubs pic.twitter.com/It9HFc8QXR

— Talkin' Baseball (@TalkinBaseball_) July 27, 2026

It's the first DFA of Taillon's career after a decade in the majors. 

Expect the Cubs now to get even more aggressive in trade talks to add starting pitching leading up to next week’s trade deadline. Taillon, in 76 innings over 15 starts this season, has been dreadful, giving a National League-leading 25 homers. The final straw for the Cubs came in the 34-year-old's last start, in which he was demolished for seven runs and another three homers in four innings by the Pittsburgh. Pirates.

The Cubs have been mentioned in rumors surrounding just about every potential rotation arm on the trade market, and that will now elevate to an even more urgent level.

Their rotation has been overwhelmed with injury troubles this season. Cade Horton, last year's Rookie of the Year runner-up, is out for the season after having Tommy John surgery. Former ace Justin Steele missed almost the entire 2025 season also due to elbow surgery. He's suffered several setbacks in his recovery this year and won't be rejoining the rotation in '26. 

Two exciting new additions to the rotation this year have also been knocked out of duty. Ben Brown was a terrific breakout arm for the Cubs earlier this season, but is now out indefinitely with a neck injury. Edward Cabrera is also out for another few weeks with a strained hamstring.