One of Canada's top starting pitchers has been exposed to waivers.
The Chicago Cubs designated Jameson Taillon for assignment on Monday, the team announced.
The Cubs called up reliever Andrew Wantz from triple-A Iowa and needed to open up a roster spot.
Taillon, born in Lakeland, Fla., has represented Canada twice at the World Baseball Classic in 2013 and 2026. He has dual citizenship because both of his parents were born and raised in Canada, and Taillon has also said that he plays for Canada to honour his grandmother.
The 34-year-old right-hander has struggled this season, pitching to a 5.92 ERA with 68 strikeouts and 27 walks over 76 innings.
Taillon's fastball velocity has continually decreased season-over-season, now down to 91.8 m.p.h., compared to the 94-95 m.p.h. it averaged during his prime.
The 10-year MLB veteran has split time between the Pittsburgh Pirates, New York Yankees and Cubs, logging a 3.99 career ERA and 1,141 strikeouts over 239 appearances, 238 of them starts.
The Cubs will now have a seven-day window to trade or release Taillon before he's exposed to waivers. If he goes unclaimed, he will be outrighted to their minor-league system.
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