Right-hander Tyson Miller has been outrighted by the Cubs to Triple-A Iowa, according to his transactions tracker at MLB.com. That indicates he cleared waivers after being designated for assignment last week. He has the right to elect free agency, though it’s not yet clear if he will exercise that right.
It’s a bit of a surprise to see no one take a flier on Miller as he’s coming off a strong season. He logged 62 innings for the Mariners and Cubs last year, allowing just 2.32 earned runs per nine. His 23% strikeout rate was around league average for a reliever while he only gave out walks to 4.7% of batters faced.
He hasn’t yet had a chance to build on that showing here in 2025. He went to Japan with the Cubs for the Tokyo Series but didn’t pitch in the official big league games. He landed on the injured list due to a left hip impingement prior to domestic Opening Day. He had been rehabbing in recent weeks, with a 2.77 ERA in 13 Triple-A innings, but the Cubs didn’t want to plug him back onto the active roster. Since he’s out of options, that meant bumping him from the 40-man.
It’s possible that major league clubs don’t have much faith in Miller being able to replicate last year’s results. There was likely some luck in his numbers, as his .203 batting average on balls in play and 81.9% strand rate were both to the fortunate side. He also averaged less than 90 miles per hour on both of his fastballs last year, a level where it’s tough to succeed in the modern game.
During his recent rehab outings, though his 2.77 ERA was good, his 19% strikeout rate and 15.5% walk rate were both subpar figures. He managed to keep runs off the board by not allowing any home runs, a feat that would not be sustainable over a larger sample.
It now seems that Miller is destined for more minor league work, since no club is currently willing to give him a big league job. That could be for Iowa if he accepts his assignment or he could head to free agency and look for opportunities elsewhere.
Photo courtesy of Darren Yamashita, Imagn Images
I think the Cubs will win their division if they win their season series against both the Brewers and Cardinals, and won’t if they don’t. 7-6 is fine, but any worse is problematic. Qu’en pensez-vous?
I think the Cubs will win their division if they have more wins and less losses than the other teams in the division. Qu’en pensez-vous?
I guess the Cubs are going to be just fine then. I remember holding my breath and biting my nails when you told us all the Cubs were going to struggle in those series against the Marlins and White Sox.
Since they were able to escape that week of your trolling, I’m guessing they’re not worried about the Cards or Brewers.
And now to something relevant to the actual story….hope Miller stays. Just never know many more arms will be needed the rest of the way. Even if it is supplying innings in Iowa, he can be useful.
Yes, I was wrong about the White Sox series (Fortunately, it was played right BEFORE the Sox started to get better.) But hating on me is not the point; the Cubs winning the division is the point. I think we agree we hope they do. Regarding Miller, I hope he stays too, because he gives hitters a different look and I think he can be effective again if he is healthy.
I doubt Miller will stay. The Cubs have a bunch of guys who are getting it done at Iowa and I gotta think Miller would be down the list of call ups. A lot of guys would have to start getting injured for him to be called up and he’s probably got a better shot with another team. In fact I don’t know what kind of deals some of those guys have with opt outs and all but they might start losing some. One thing I gotta hand it to Hoyer is that he seems to take sketchy arms every year and turns them into gold. I don’t know if it’s scouts, Hoyer or Hottovy but they seem to set guys right when they get here. Kudos for that.
Doggone it uncle. You’re getting down right ‘over the top’, with your appreciation of Jed. I’m starting to suspect there could be something going on with you two.
Pretty soon you’ll start giving him credit for his Drafts also?
Seriously though, I’m still with Ray Epps, I’d like to see Luke Little get another run, but I doubt that happens until rosters expand.
Bone- I can’t call it luck because he’s done it ever since they started the rebuild. They took guys nobody wanted and turned them into trade chips. Now they’re taking guys and putting them in the pen and making them useful. I mean I thought Thielbar stunk and then all the sudden he’s useful. Pomeranz was over, Now he’s useful. Hollowell, Kriske, Keller, and on and on. Not even I can call that luck. I mean they even took back Michael Fulmer and he’s getting it done but with Nowhere to go. Even a critic has to give props when they’re due. I’m not down with everything he does but I can’t call the pen moves luck.
Put on a showcase for the teams. We don’t know if you’re healthy enough to pitcher anymore.
Let me know if he responds.
@Ignorant Son-of-a-b
He just DM’d me.
He’s not a free agent, so he can’t do a showcase for teams.
@sidewinder11
He has the chance to do so.
I think he meant just by pitching well in Iowa for the Cubs that essentially would be his “showcase”.
“Down goes Tyson, down goes Tyson!”
He can spin it and will get a deal.
Keep telling me how good Tucker is, guys, keep telling yourselves. Here’s a lesson about baseball, a lesson about life: It has to actually HAPPEN sometimes to be real. The IDEA that Tucker is a difference-maker is just an idea until he actually starts making a difference once in a while. Oh, and just because a lot of people SAY something, that doesn’t make it so. To be true, it has to in fact be true.
Who is the cubs best bunter and at advancing runners because without the homer they are very weak and mediocre
Still waiting for the Tucker heroics. They never come.