Cubs sign funky 3.84 ERA lefty pitcher to free agent contract

Billy Heyen

Cubs sign funky 3.84 ERA lefty pitcher to free agent contract image

It's always fun to have a pitcher on your staff who's just a little funkier than everyone else.

For the Chicago Cubs, that'll now be Hoby Milner.

The former Texas Rangers lefty has agreed to a one-year deal with the Cubs, according to The Athletic's Britt Ghiroli.

Milner has one of those fun, sidewinding deliveries and throws at a lot slower velocity than almost everyone in the majors.

Despite that, Milner has turned himself into a reliable MLB pitcher.

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He was a seventh-round pick by the Phillies way back in 2012 out of the University of Texas.

He made his MLB debut in 2017 for Phialdelphia, and he has since pitched for the Rays, Angels, Brewers and Rangers.

His 2023 for Milwaukee was his best season, with a 1.82 ERA. He finished his Brewers tenure with a 4.73 ERA in 2024.

That's when Texas gave him a shot, and Milner delivered a 3.84 ERA with 58 strikeouts in 70.1 innings pitched.

The 6-foot-3, 187-pound lefty is 34 years old.

In 2025, he averaged 87.9 miles per hour on his four-seam fastball, which he pairs with a sinker of the same velocity.

Milner throws his sweeper the most, though, at 35.1% of the time. Opposing batters hit just.232 off his sweeper and.154 off his four-seamer.

The Cubs won't need Milner for a high-leverage role, but he sets up to be a useful piece out of the bullpen for sure.

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