Cubs reportedly make the least surprising signing of all-time, adding Hoby Milner

Seriously, anyone with even a decent understanding of Jed Hoyer's bullpen-building strategy and the organizational trends behind them saw this one coming a mile away. According to Michael Cerami of Bleacher Nation, the Chicago Cubs have reportedly agreed to a deal with veteran southpaw Hoby Milner.

Mark Feinsand adds it's a one-year deal for Milner worth $3.75 million (plus possible incentives) - so this definitely isn't a move that breaks the budget and fits the bill for the type of deal the Cubs give out every offseason.

Milner figures to slot into the void left by departing veterans Caleb Thielbar and Drew Pomeranz, slotting in alongside fellow newcomer Phil Maton as a key piece of Craig Counsell's bullpen. Counsell, for what it's worth, has plenty of familiarity with Milner - he managed the lefty from 2021-23 in Milwaukee.

Hoby Milner joins a Cubs bullpen that's currently under construction

Last season, the soon-to-be 35-year-old made 73 appearances for the Texas Rangers, pitching to a 3.39 FIP and 1.265 WHIP in 70 1/3 innings of work. A groundball pitcher, Milner isn't going to overpower anybody, but has been excellent in limiting hard contact in his career - again, this guy had 'Jed Hoyer target' written all over him.

It took Milner awhile to establish himself at the big-league level. From 2017-21, his first five seasons in the league, he struggled to a 5.78 FIP and 1.513 WHIP in 77 1/3 innings of work. But dating back to the start of the 2022 campaign, he's been far more effective, evidenced by a 3.21 FIP and 1.152 WHIP in 264 frames.

Milner leans heavily on a sweeper-sinker combination that accounted for more than two-thirds of his pitches in 2025. He mixes in a four-seamer and change-up, as well. But, again, don't look for him to get a lot of swing-and-miss: his whiff rate last year ranked in the bottom one percent of the league.

Chicago will need more left-handed pitching depth alongside Milner. Looking at the Cubs' 40-man, internal options that could get a look in camp include Luke Little and Riley Martin, the latter of whom is coming off a strong year at Triple-A Iowa (2.69 ERA in 47 appearances). Jordan Wicks could fill the swingman role, assuming he's not traded at some point this winter.