Cubs get closure on Phil Maton's season but not the headache that comes with it

Not that there was much expectation of a return, but Phil Maton won't be back with the Chicago Cubs this season. Maton is undergoing knee surgery this week, and has been sidelined since being placed on the IL in July. Once the surgery is completed, the Cubs are expected to reveal the details of the procedure, along with the an initial recovery timeline.

As the Cubs look to stabilize their bullpen before the playoffs, it's hard to ignore the whiff that was signing Maton to a two-year deal last November. While there were no concerns in his metrics, or success he had last season, there did appear to be concern last offseason of a lingering knee ailment.

The hope was that Maton could pitch through the discomfort and likely have surgery this season. He quickly landed on the IL with a knee tendinitis in April, and at no point this season did he look comfortable. Through 31 appearances with the Cubs this season, Maton had an ERA of 6.18. Once he landed on the IL in July, it seemed clear that he wouldn't been seen again this season.

Considering how bad Maton was this season, Cubs fans have been eager for the team to move on from the veteran relief pitcher. The reality of the situation was the Cubs were never going to do so. Given that Maton was in the first year of a two-year deal, he was going to be given the benefit of working through his struggles.

Cubs can't simply move on from Phil Maton even after his 2026 season comes to an end

Even now, considering the injury, the Cubs aren't going to cut ties with Maton. He is their problem to fix. Short of Maton having major knee surgery, the hope is that he's ready by Opening Day. On the chance that this surgery resolves the knee issues he's had this season, there's a chance he returns to being an effective option out of the bullpen.

If not, Maton's will be working with a much shorter leash in 2027, considering he will be on an expiring deal. If he's not getting results, the Cubs won't drag out of the process of trying to fix him.

The bullpen figures to be a priority for the Cubs this season. As they approach the end of the season, it's become clear that they can't always count on the idea of Jed Hoyer turning something into nothing. It might be time for an exception, which means the Cubs spending money of consequence on a established closer.

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