Nobody wants to be the one to deliver bad news. But sometimes you just have to say it straight and move on. The Chicago Cubs found themselves in that spot on Tuesday and the people who heard what was said were not happy about it at all.
There was a guy the Cubs were counting on to come back and help them this season. He had been away for a while dealing with an injury but the feeling around the team was that he would be back. Fans were patient. The front office stayed quiet. Everyone just kept waiting for good news that never really came.
When the team president finally sat down and talked it was not the update people were hoping for. He spoke clearly. He did not try to dress it up or make it sound better than it was. Sometimes the truth just lands flat and this was one of those moments.
Justin Steele is not coming back as a starter this season. Full stop. Jed Hoyer told the media that expecting Steele to be fully stretched out and starting games this year is unrealistic and that the best case is seeing him come out of the bullpen in short bursts later in the summer. Steele last threw a pitch in April 2025 and a flexor strain he picked up during rehab knocked his return date past the All Star break. That is a long time to be away from a team that needs him badly
Cade Horton is gone for the year after Tommy John surgery and Boyd, Cabrera and Taillon have all had their own injury problems this season. When you add Steele to that list it paints a pretty rough picture of what this rotation has been through.
Hoyer says the Cubs will be looking to make moves before the trade deadline to bring in pitching help. Steele might still show up late in the season out of the bullpen. But not having him in the rotation is a real loss. The Cubs needed him and right now he simply is not available. It is what it is and now they have to find another way
