In a surprising move, the Chicago Cubs designated reliever for assignment just hours after reinstating him from the 60-day injured list. The decision came despite his strong performance last season, when he emerged as a key bullpen piece with a sparkling 2.15 ERA in 49 appearances following a midseason trade from the Seattle Mariners in May 2024.
Top star, 29, opened the 2025 season on the injured list and worked his way back with two separate rehab stints at Triple-A Iowa. Across 12 outings, he posted a solid 2.77 ERA, appearing poised to rejoin a Cubs bullpen that had shown signs of improvement in recent weeks. However, with the bullpen’s recent success, there simply wasn’t room for the right-hander on the current roster.
“We just didn’t feel Tyson was at the point where he could take a spot from someone on the current roster. That’s always a tough call,” Cubs manager Craig Counsell said. “He had an outstanding season last year and was very effective. We wish him all the best.” Counsell’s comments reflect the difficult balance between past performance and current roster dynamics—a challenge familiar to every big-league club.
Chicago’s bullpen entered Thursday’s game in Washington with a 3.56 ERA across 222 2/3 innings, a marked improvement from the 4.59 ERA relievers held as of mid-May. With the relief corps stabilizing, Miller became the odd man out in a crowded bullpen. As he hits the waiver wire, other teams could come calling for the veteran righty with a proven track record and playoff-caliber experience.