MESA, Ariz. — Spring training barely has begun, and the Cubs already are making moves for 2027.
They are working on finalizing a deal with veteran right-hander Shelby Miller, 35, a source confirmed Friday. ESPN reported the parties had agreed to terms on a two-year contract worth $2.5 million.
Source confirms the Cubs are working toward a multi-year deal with reliever Shelby Miller, as @ByRobertMurray first reported. It’s a move for the future – Miller is set to miss most or all of the 2026 season after undergoing offseason elbow surgery.
— Maddie Lee (@maddie_m_lee) February 13, 2026
After having surgery on his pitching elbow during the offseason, Miller is likely to miss the 2026 season, barring a condensed rehab program.
Miller was set to be a highly sought-after reliever at the trade deadline last season after posting a 1.98 ERA and a career-high 10 saves in 37 appearances for the Diamondbacks.
A few weeks before the deadline, however, he landed on the injured list with a forearm injury. The Brewers, who already had the best record in MLB but had the Cubs breathing down their necks at the time, still acquired Miller for their playoff push. But after 11 appearances, he landed on the IL again with a damaged ulnar collateral ligament.
Last season proved that, when he is healthy, Miller can be a difference-maker in high-leverage situations. It was a new chapter in his 13-year career.
A first-round draft pick in 2009, Miller was a starting pitcher — and even earned an All-Star nod in 2015 — until he had to chart a new path after Tommy John surgery in 2017. He went from a swingman to a middle-inning reliever to a trusted arm at the back end of the bullpen.
On that journey, he made a pit stop with the Cubs in 2021. He made only three appearances and allowed seven runs in two innings for them.
Celebrity sighting
Basketball Hall of Famer Charles Barkley was spotted at the Cubs’ spring-training complex, sporting a Cubs hat and a green track suit. He zipped between fields on a golf cart with Cubs great Rick Sutcliffe and Baseball Hall of Famer Fergie Jenkins.
Manager Craig Counsell said he sat in his office with Barkley for a half-hour.
‘‘It was great,’’ Counsell said. ‘‘He’s wonderful. Wonderful heart. I think that’s the thing that sticks out most. He’s a big deal.’’
We’ll do it live
Friday was the biggest day of live batting practice in camp so far. Seven pitchers were scheduled to throw to hitters on the back fields, including top pitching prospect Jaxon Wiggins.
‘‘First big-league camp, this is a camp for him to learn, listen, pick things up [and] improve routines from watching older players who have had a lot of success go about their business,’’ Counsell said. ‘‘Set up a good foundation for the future, set up a good foundation for the season and go from there.’’
WBC departures
The Cubs said most of their World Baseball Classic participants are scheduled to leave camp Feb. 28 to join their national teams. Thirteen players in the organization, including eight members of the 40-man roster, are on WBC rosters.
Right fielder Seiya Suzuki (Japan) and first baseman Jonathon Long (Chinese Taipei), a non-roster invitee, are the exceptions. Traveling to Tokyo for pool play, Suzuki is set to depart Feb. 23. Long is expected to leave a couple of days early.
