Chicago Cubs Could Get Unexpected Boost in 2026

At first, it seemed like right-handed reliever Shelby Miller was going to miss the entire 2026 season and the main reason he signed a multi-year deal with the Chicago Cubs was so he could return from rehabbing the following season. However, Miller sounds a lot more optimistic about his chances to give the Cubs a boost if needed late this year.

Miller, 35, underwent Tommy John surgery last fall, but speaking to the Chicago Tribune the veteran pitcher is eyeing a return back to the mound in 2026 with the Cubs.

“My goal is hopefully be back even a little bit sooner than that (September), depending on how I feel, but I’m really optimistic about getting back this year and contributing. “I feel like I’ve taken a pretty big step forward in the gym, and the way my elbow’s recovering and not getting sore from all the lifts and stuff I’m doing, I feel like I’m ready to go …. “It’s more about just the way I recover,” Miller said. “How am I feeling after I start throwing, is there any soreness, how’s my stuff, how is my sweeper and fastball and my sliders and then you just go from there.”

That would be an incredible comeback for Miller, who is recovering from his second Tommy John surgery. The right-handed pitcher first had the elbow surgery in 2017, when he was still a starting pitcher with the Atlanta Braves.

Of course, the Cubs certainly will not rush Miller back and at this point who knows if the team will even need an extra arm in the bullpen down the stretch. However, it can’t be a bad thing to have Miller as a potential arm if there was a scenario when the Cubs were desperate for relief help.

In 2025, Miller began the season with the Arizona Diamondbacks and he was one of the top bullpen arms in baseball before his first stint on the injured list. In his first 37 appearances Miller recorded a 1.98 ERA with 40 strikeouts in 36.1 innings. He was so good that despite being on the injured list at the trade deadline the Milwaukee Brewers struck a deal to acquire Miller from the Diamondbacks.

After being sidelined for a month Miller returned to the mound on Aug. 9, for the Brewers. The veteran made 11 relief outings for Milwaukee, but his there was obviously something off with his arm and he was shut down in early September after he failed to get an out against the Philadelphia Phillies. In October, Miller went through with Tommy John surgery, which at the time seemed to guarantee that he would miss the entire 2026 season.

At one point of his career Miller seemed destined to become a star pitcher after a few solid years with the St. Louis Cardinals and then an All-Star Game nomination in 2015 with the Braves. The righty was a full-time starting pitcher from 2013-18, but it took him a while to get back on track after his first Tommy John surgery.

Miller was actually with the Cubs for a brief time during the 2021 season, but he only made three appearances and was then placed on the injured list with a back strain. He was sent on a rehab assignment to Triple-A and his time in the organization came to an end when he was released by the Cubs on May 31.

He had minimal MLB time after his Cubs tenure, but then Miller resurfaced in a major way in 2023 with the Los Angeles Dodgers. Miller posted a 1.71 ERA in 42 innings. That led to an up and down 2024 campaign with the Detroit Tigers and then his bounce back season between the Diamondbacks and Brewers in 2025.

Shelby Miller as RP (2023-25)
2023: 41 IP, 1.76 ERA, 0.90 WHIP, 25.8 K%
2024: 55.2 IP, 4.53 ERA, 0.97 WHIP, 21.8 K%
2025: 46 IP, 2.74 ERA, 1.04 WHIP, 29.0 K%

Before we get way ahead of ourselves Miller still has to be cleared to officially begin his comeback. The pitcher will undergo an MRI later in March, and if he gets the green light, then we can start to track his progress.

Miller and the Cubs agreed to a two-year contract that guarantees the righty $2.5 million. According to Jon Becker, the deal also includes an option for the 2028 season, plus a bunch of incentives that if maxed out Miller could earn as much as $7.25 million over three years.

Shelby Miller Contract Details
2026: $1 million
2027: $1.25 million
2028: $2.5 million club option or $250K buyout
2028 option increases by $125K each for 50, 55, 60, and 65 games pitched in 2027

2027 and 2028 incentives: $125K each for 40, 45, 50, and 55 G; 20, 25, 30, 35 GF $250K each for 60, 65 G

Despite all those incentives the most likely scenario is that Miller is 100% healthy for the 2027 season. Anything else is a bonus for the Cubs.