The Cubs added one notable reliever this winter already when Phil Maton was signed. On December 11, the Cubs added another one, and a pitcher whom Craig Counsell is familiar with from his time with Milwaukee. Veteran Hoby Milner, who spent 2025 with the Rangers, is reportdly headed to the Cubs.
A Look at Milner
If I showed you just this one picture — which illustrates Hoby Milner‘s pitch map from 2025 — it should be obvious what kind of pitcher he is:
The 34-year-old Milner made a name for himself a few years ago as a tough-to-face left-hander out of the Brewers’ bullpen. Just two years ago, Milner posted a sensational 1.82 ERA for Milwaukee. However, the Brewers non-tendered him in November 2024, which saw him head to Texas.
Milner pitched well out of the Rangers’ bullpen. The former University of Texas pitcher ranked 121st of the 221 relievers who pitched in at least 30 games last season in wOBA (.298). And as far as other numbers were concerned, Milner struck out 58 over 70 innings, along with a 3.84 ERA.
Despite the unimpressive strikeout numbers, Milner is one of those unique arms that, generally speaking, fit on good ballclubs. Why? Well, for one, Milner does throw from a unique arm angle. Milner is a side-arm delivery pitcher who, on average, last season, had an average arm angle (-6°). It’s varied over the years between positive and negative.
That, optically, becomes a major problem for opposing hitters trying to pick up the release point. Simply put, there are few pitchers in baseball nowadays that have that kind of release (think Tim Hill and Tyler Rogers as other, more extreme examples).
Milner throws a heavy sinker that sits in the high-80s and low-90s. He changed his pitch mix over the years, moving from being a heavy four-seamer to a heavy two-seamer pitcher. That change happened while he was with Milwaukee.
Yes, he will throw a four-seamer at times. And yes, it does have above-average VAA for those interested. However, the key to his arsenal is that sinker, along with a sweeper that generally plays well with the sinker, based on how both pitches move in opposite directions.
Milner does a lot better against left-handers than right-handers. That’s reflective in the slash marks. Opposing left-handed hitters slashed .208/.226/.300 off him last season. Against right-handed pitchers, it jumped up to .295/.375/.445. He won’t give up a lot of home runs, thanks to his sinker/sweeper/changeup mix. However, he will bleed hits.
Per reports, including MLB.com, Hoby Milner will join the Cubs on a one-year deal.
Analysis
The Cubs had a good mix of left-handed relievers last season, between Caleb Thielbar and Drew Pomeranz. The two were part of a deep bullpen for the Cubs. However, both hit the free agency market after the 2025 campaign.
Generally speaking, middle relievers are sometimes not the most exciting to talk or write about. However, Milner is, for several reasons.
One, he’s a true match-up arm against left-handed hitters, thanks to his sinker and sweeper, as well as the deception involved. Two, Milner is a unique arm because of that mix and arm angle. Given how championship teams are built with diverse relief cores, having someone like Milner is invaluable.
The Cubs didn’t have too much left-handed relief pitching depth on the 40-man roster. Luke Little is on the 40-man, as is 27-year-old minor leaguer Riley Martin. Milner adds to that bunch, and he joins a Cub that could greatly benefit him, simply because of the Dansby Swanson/Nico Hoerner combination up the middle.
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