The Chicago Cubs made a bullpen move Saturday before facing the Cincinnati Reds, bringing Phil Maton back from the 15-day injured list and designating Jake Woodford for assignment.
The timing came in the middle of the 2026 MLB Draft, but the Cubs still had a game to play and a pitching staff to manage. Maton’s return gives Craig Counsell another arm, while Woodford’s stay in Chicago ended after just one outing.
Woodford’s exit was hardly a surprise. The Cubs signed him to a major-league deal, but the fit always looked temporary.
He had already posted a 6.94 ERA in 16 appearances with the Brewers, and his lone appearance for Chicago did little to change that. Against the Reds on Friday, he allowed three runs on five hits in two innings.
Maton’s activation matters more because of who is already unavailable. Daniel Palencia and Hoby Milner are on the IL, and Caleb Thielbar has struggled this season, leaving the Cubs short on reliable high-leverage options.
That said, Maton hasn’t exactly been a steady answer either. Chicago moved quickly to give him a multi-year deal in the offseason, but the results have been rough so far.
The 33-year-old has a 6.08 ERA in 30 appearances this season, and his effectiveness depends heavily on spin-rate. When that isn’t there, he becomes a pitcher who can’t be trusted in big spots.
There is at least a small reason for optimism. In his only minor-league rehab outing with the Iowa Cubs last week, Maton struck out three of the five batters he faced.
The Cubs were never going to stash Maton away for the rest of the year, and they’re not about to give up on him now. No matter what else happens before the deadline, they need him healthy and productive. If he isn’t, it’s tough to see the bullpen settling down before season’s end, especially with Palencia’s availability still up in the air.
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