Cubs Designate Hoby Milner for Assignment

The Cubs signed lefty sidearmer Hoby Milner to a one-year, $3.75 million contract over the offseason, and he made 38 relief appearances before going on the IL due to an appendectomy. He began his rehab assignment with Triple-A Iowa on July 29, so the 30-day window to activate him was coming up. Though he had pitched well for the I-Cubs after posting a 3.53 ERA for the big club, he was designated for assignment rather than being activated.

That relatively solid ERA felt like a mirage, however, as Milner was among the lowest in the league when it came to whiff and strikeout rates. For a team that needs shutdown relievers, he just wasn’t going to be in the picture for the stretch run and postseason. Because he was still on just the 15-day IL, designating him means the Cubs open up a 40-man spot.

That room will come in handy if and when they activate Shelby Miller, Justin Steele, or another of their relievers currently on the 60-day. There’s also the possibility that they’ll call up breakout catching prospect Owen Ayers.