Maton’s Knee, Cubs’ Bullpen Struggles | Chicago Cubs News

Phil Maton’s return to the Cubs bullpen marks a pivotal moment after a rough first half plagued by knee issues dating back to June. Signed to a two-year, $14.5M deal, Maton’s early struggles led to Jake Woodford being designated for assignment, highlighting the Cubs’ bullpen chaos this season. Though Maton isn’t blaming his knee, he’s working on mechanics to manage it and is eager to contribute, hoping this is his turnaround. Manager Craig Counsell remains tight-lipped on usage but emphasizes team cohesion. Maton’s focus? Throwing zeroes and staying consistent, acknowledging reliever stats can be volatile. Meanwhile, Counsell’s own past—earning a $5K bonus in 1992, spent on food—adds a quirky footnote to his current status as baseball’s highest-paid manager. Listen in comfort:Get a discount on a Soli Pillow: http://solipillow.com/discount/dnn. Advertise on DNN:[email protected] This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.Report issues to [email protected]. View sources & latest updates:https://sources.thednn.ai/b0e9fae4dfb52a5a