The Chicago Cubs have signed right-handed pitcher Jake Woodford to a big league contract. Woodford just recently opted out of his contract with the Milwaukee Brewers.
Cubs Sign Woodford
Woodford has appeared in 16 games this season, all with the Brewers. The St. Petersburg native has a 1-0 record alongside a 6.94 ERA.
#Cubs are signing righty Jake Woodford to a big league deal today.
— Steve Adams (@Adams_Steve) July 4, 2026
Woodford’s Career So Far
In seven MLB seasons, Woodford has a 11-17 record to go with a 5.25 ERA.
He started his career with the St. Louis Cardinals, spending four seasons with them. His best season came in 2022, when he went 4-0 with a 2.23 ERA in 27 appearances, all but one coming out of the bullpen.
After the Cardinals, Woodford split the 2024 season with the Chicago White Sox and Pittsburgh Pirates. He played for the Arizona Diamondbacks in 2025 after opting out of a minor league deal with the Cubs. Woodford only pitched in the minors, so he has yet to pitch in a game for the team.
Woodford’s Role
His role with the Cubs is unclear as of now. The Cubs’ pitching has struggled, despite reinforcements. They brought in David Peterson to help bolster the rotation, but he was blown up for 10 runs by the Cardinals on Friday. The Cubs may be hoping Woodford can provide some durability either in the rotation or the bullpen.
Since Woodford has pitched at the big-league level this season, he does not need to go to the minor leagues for conditioning. The Cubs could have him on the roster for Saturday’s game against the Cardinals. Bryse Wilson had to pitch 3.1 innings in relief of Peterson on Friday, so manager Craig Counsell may want an innings eater available.
There have also been some rumblings that Counsell may go to a six-man rotation. With 25 starts to his resume, Woodford could be someone Counsell considers as a sixth starter. However, his last start was back in 2024, so the Cubs would either need him to stretch out in the minors or use him as an opener.
Of course, his role is all speculation at this point. We will get those answers soon enough.
Upcoming Games
The Cubs finish their series with the Cardinals on Saturday and Sunday. They will then have Monday off before visiting the Baltimore Orioles and Cincinnati Reds before the All-Star Break.
Main Photo: Michael McLoone- Imagn Images
