Cubs News: Hoby Milner decision, former first round pick released, Sammy Sosa calls Pete Crow-Armstrong's huge game

There's nothing like some home cooking. The Chicago Cubs honored the member of their 150th anniversary team on Saturday and then the 2026 club put a shellacking on the Cincinnati Reds, taking down the NL Central rival by a 17-5 final.

It was amazing to see so many Cubs legends in one place - including guys we don't often see around the Friendly Confines these days, like Greg Maddux, who threw the first pitch pre-game. From Billy Williams to Anthony Rizzo, generations of fan-favorites were on hand to take part in the festivities and enjoy the high-powered Chicago offense put on a show.

Sammy Sosa predicted Pete Crow-Armstrong's three-homer game

Pete Crow-Armstrong quickly stole the spotlight once the game started, smashing not one, not two, but three home runs, making him the hands-down favorite to bring home National League MVP honors at season's end.

Prior to the game, Sammy Sosa told PCA he would hit three homers - and, just like that, the All-Star outfielder delivered, bringing his season total to 36 and giving him a real chance to be the first Cubs player to notch 40 homers in a season since Derrek Lee more than two decades ago.

Sosa remains the only player in MLB history with three 60-homer seasons in his career and, while Crow-Armstrong goes about his business in a different way, he's making his own mark in record books in a history-making season.

Cubs finally cut ties with former first-round draft pick bust Ed Howard

With all eyes on Wrigley Field, the organization's minor-league transactions log broke the news that Ed Howard's injury-marred time with the Cubs is officially at an end.

Hindsight is 20/20 and nobody is disputing the 'draft bust' label that's been applied to the former Illinois prep infielder in recent years - but six years ago, he was a really highly-regarded draft prospect. Howard was among the top high school talents in the country (even ranking higher than guys like PCA) when the Cubs took him with the #16 overall pick - but a freak injury in 2022 changed everything.

He worked tirelessly to get his career back on track, but those efforts never materialized into results on the field. Across parts of six seasons and more than 1,200 plate appearances, Howard carries an abysmal .209/.266/.281 slash line. Hopefully, brighter days lie ahead for the 24-year-old Chicago native.

Cubs (officially this time) designate Hoby Milner for assignment

On Friday, reports suggested Hoby Milner was designated for assignment, then corrections clarified he was placed on waivers. Well, on Saturday, Bruce Levine reported the left-hander had been DFAd, in a weird string of events that leaves his future with the team very much in question.

Given the fact rosters expand this week, we'll see how it plays out. There's a path for him to remain with the club, but we'll have to wait and see. Prior to undergoing an emergency appendectomy in late June, he made 38 appearances, working to a 3.53 ERA and 4.54 FIP, struggling to get punchouts with a 4.5 K/9 mark.

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