Cubs Add Former Yankee to Bolster Outfield Depth

The Chicago Cubs have made their first addition to the Major League lineup this off-season, signing former outfielder Tyler Austin to a one-year, $1.25 million deal with a mutal option for the 2027 season. Austin, who spent the last six seasons as a standout for the Yokohama BayStars in Japan, returns to the States as a depth piece capable of providing significant power off the bench.

Before moving to the NPB, Austin was a journeyman across four MLB seasons, making stops with the Yankees, Twins, Giants, and Brewers. While his early Major League stint yielded 33 home runs and a .219/.292/.451 slash line over 209 games, it was in Japan where he truly found his stride.

During his tenure with the BayStars, Austin reinvented himself as an elite offensive threat. He was a 2024 NPB All-Star and capped his career in Japan with a .865 OPS and 12 homeruns, leaving Japan with a career .293/.377/.568 slash line, 85 home runs, and 236 RBIs. Now, the veteran slugger returns to "The Show" with a refined approach and a chance to prove his production translates back to the Big Leagues.