Cubs Bring In Serious Competition for Outfield Battle
The majority of fans will dismiss the acquisition’s importance For the most part, these types of late-offseason minor league signings, especially when it comes to veteran bench guys going to contenders. At first glance you might look at the Cubs’ active roster and think there isn’t really an opening, but given the recent rumors and now the signing of Chas McCormick the team is obviously interested in addressing two overall goals heading into the 2026 season.
To begin with, the outfield depth isn’t all that deep on the 40-man roster, especially if an injury occurred to Pete Crow-Armstrong, which would leave center field exposed. Earlier this offseason the Cubs claimed Justin Dean off waivers. Dean, 29, played in 18 games with the Dodgers last season and is slated to begin this year at Triple-A with the Iowa Cubs. Meanwhile,
Kevin Alcantara is currently penciled into a bench spot in the majors, but McCormick’s presence now serves as additional depth and some serious competition to become the fourth outfielder on the Opening Day roster. McCormick has agreed to a minor league deal with the Cubs and he’ll be in camp once spring training begins.
Don’t make a mistake about it, McCormick will be given a shot to win a bench spot with the Cubs out of spring training and while his most direct competition appears to be Alcantara, there’s really no guarantee that Tyler Austin will make the team either.
McCormick is coming off a few brutal years with the Houston Astros, but if the Cubs are certainly hoping the outfielder can return to full health in 2026. In 2024, McCormick missed time on the injured list because of a hamstring strain that sidelined him for nearly four weeks and then he missed most of September after suffering a fracture in his right hand.
In 2025, McCormick was limited to only 66 games. He was placed on the injured list on May 31, with a left oblique strain, which kept him out until after the All-Star break. The right-handed hitter struggled after his stint on the injured to the tune of a 39 wRC+ in 63 plate appearances, leading to a demotion to Triple-A at the end of August.
The Astros removed McCormick off their 40-man roster after the regular season and he eventually elected free agency after rejecting an assignment to Triple-A.
There’s no hiding it, McCormick has been very during the past two years.
2024: .211/.271/.306, 65 wRC+, 5 HR, 27.0 K%, 6.4 BB% (267 plate appearances)
2025: .210/.279/.290, 62 wRC+, 1 HR, 26.7 K%, 7.8 BB% (116 plate appearances)
However, if you believe a return to full health is the key to McCormick’s bounce back, he does have a solid track record to fall back on that gives the Cubs some hope that he can still provide value in the majors. From 2021-23, McCormick slashed .259/.336/.449, with a 120 wRC+ in 342 games. He hit 50 home runs in his first three years combined, including 22 during his career-best 2023 season.
In 2023, McCormick slashed .273/.353/.489, and recorded a 132 wRC+ in 115 games. He also stole 19 bases to go along with 22 home runs.
At the end, maybe it’s in the Cubs’ best interest to keep Alcantara getting every-day at-bats in Triple-A, instead of keeping him on the bench as the backup to Crow-Armstrong. McCormick has a proven track record at the plate and has been an above average defensive outfielder, so he may be better suited for the fourth outfielder role than Alcantara, who has still battled through injuries and whiff issues in the minors.
Out of the handful of position players the Cubs have signed to minor league deals this offseason McCormick definitely has the best chance to make the team out of spring training.