CHICAGO — The Chicago Cubs signed pitcher Jake Woodford to a Major League deal and added him to their active roster on July 4, 2026. Woodford replaced Bryse Wilson, who was designated for assignment by the team. Wilson threw 72 pitches on July 3, 2026.

Woodford, a 29-year-old right-handed pitcher, previously spent approximately four weeks with the Cubs organization during the 2025 season after signing a Minor League deal before being designated for assignment. Prior to his current signing, he inked a Minor League contract with the Tampa Bay Rays during the 2025-2026 offseason.

The Rays traded Woodford to the Milwaukee Brewers before Opening Day 2026. The Brewers released him on July 4, 2026. Before his release, Woodford spent the month preceding July 4, 2026, in the Brewers' Triple-A system. In his first 6 ⅓ innings pitched in Triple-A in 2026, he recorded an ERA of 9.95, a WHIP of 2.21, and eight strikeouts.

Woodford's most recent Major League appearance occurred on June 4, 2026, when he allowed four runs on seven hits over three innings. In 2026, he posted a 6.94 ERA across 23 ⅓ innings pitched with the Brewers. His strikeout rate with the Brewers in 2026 was 17.9%. His expected batting average against ranked in the 1st percentile with a .336 mark, and he recorded a 20% whiff rate and a 27.6% chase rate with the Brewers in 2026.

A former first-round draft pick, Woodford posted a 7.97 ERA across nine outings in the 2024 season. He also recorded a 6.44 ERA in 22 relief appearances with the Arizona Diamondbacks in the 2025 season. In five Triple-A appearances before being designated for assignment in 2026, he posted an 18.2% hard-hit rate, a 40.8% chase rate, a 17.9% swinging strike rate, and a 35.5% whiff rate.