Cubs Intensify Spring Training Competition with Latest Free Agent Signing
The Chicago Cubs have added another free agent outfielder as Dylan Carlson has agreed to a minor league deal that includes an invite to spring training, where he’ll be competing for the fourth outfield spot. The Cubs previously agreed to a minor league contract with former Houston Astros center fielder Chas McCormick, who will also be down in Mesa, Ariz., trying to win a job on the bench on the Cubs’ Opening Day roster.
You can read more about McCormick here.
Carlson, now 27-years-old, is infamously known as the player the St. Louis Cardinals reportedly refused to trade away to the Washington Nationals as part of a deal for Juan Soto. The switch-hitting outfielder had his best season in 2021, slashing .266/.343/.437, with 18 home runs and a 111 wRC+. Unfortunately for his career it’s been downhill ever since for Carlson, who stuck around with the Cardinals until he was traded to the Tampa Bay Rays on July 30, 2024, in exchange for right-handed pitcher Shawn Armstrong.
I completely understand the Cubs adding another body in the outfield and maybe his signing ultimately leads to nothing, but he could definitely serve as a depth option, ready to come up in case of injury from Triple-A. In 2025, Carlson played in 83 games with the Baltimore Orioles and his decline at the plate continued as he ended the year with a 74 wRC+ after posting a .203/.278/.336 slash line.
Throughout his career Carlson has recorded better results against left-handed pitching, a 113 wRC+ and .757 OPS as a right-handed hitter compared to an 83 wRC+ and .655 OPS vs. right-handed pitching. So, theoretically Carlson could be a suitable backup in center field and give Pete Crow-Armstrong a breather against the occasional left-handed pitching matchup.
Jon Heyman reported the details on Carlson’s contract on Tuesday. The outfielder can earn up to $3 million total with incentives.
I’m not particularly optimistic about Carlson compared to McCormick, but I guess he does have age on his side and I won’t complain about the team bringing in more competition. It’s good to have depth and you could much worse for your backup outfielder role than Carlson.
That being said, this probably points to the Cubs sending Kevin Alcántara to Triple-A to begin the regular season. After Owen Caissie was traded there was a sense that Alcántara would be in position to be the team’s fourth outfielder on the Opening Day roster, but now that they’ve added a few veterans it appears as though Alcántara will instead get regular playing time in Iowa to begin 2026.