Cubs trade Taillon to Blue Jays for PTBNL or cash after DFA move

CHICAGO – With Monday’s 5 p.m. CT Trade Deadline just over 24 hours away, the Cubs traded RHP Jameson Taillon to the Blue Jays for a player to be named later or cash considerations.

Taillon was designated for assignment on July 27 after a disappointing and injury-hampered season thus far. A strained left hamstring kept Taillon on the injured list from June 9 to July 20, but even when healthy, he struggled to be as productive as he had been for the Cubs in previous seasons.

TRADE DETAILS
Chicago gets: Player to be named later or cash considerations
Toronto gets: RHP Jameson Taillon, cash considerations

In 15 starts this year, Taillon has a 5.92 ERA, and in his two starts since being activated from the injured list on July 20, Taillon gave up 11 runs in 8 1/3 innings pitched.

One of the primary issues that has plagued Taillon this season is the home run ball. Taillon has always been a fly ball-heavy pitcher, but his home runs per fly ball rate has jumped almost eight percent from where it was in 2025. This happening at the same time as a spike in Taillon’s walk rate has contributed to the increase in runs allowed.

In a Cubs tenure that goes back to 2023, Taillon was a reliable innings-eater when healthy, and he helped anchor the starting staff during their 2025 postseason run. But as the Cubs look ahead to the Trade Deadline and are on a trajectory toward another playoff appearance this October, they needed to move on from Taillon.

This move comes at a Trade Deadline where starting pitching has already been the hot commodity, with Tarik Skubal going from the Tigers to the Dodgers and Freddy Peralta from the Mets to the Rays. The Cubs are expected to be active on the pitching market, both for starting pitching and bullpen help. Their starting staff has been hit heavily by injury this season.