The Cubs have agreed to a minor league deal with outfielder Greg Allen, reports Maddie Lee of the Chicago Sun-Times. The CAA client has been invited to major league camp.
Allen, 31, has appeared in parts of seven big league seasons. The 2024 campaign was the first time since 2016 that he hasn’t appeared in the majors in a given season. He spent last year with the Yankees organization, hitting .225/.338/.360 with three homers and 13 steals (in 15 attempts) during 58 Triple-A games.
A plus runner with a light bat, Allen has never hit much in the majors. He carries just a .231/.300/.340 line in 828 plate appearances. However, he’s swiped 48 bags in 57 tries (84.2%) and has regularly provided good defense across all three outfield slots — particularly in left field.
The Cubs aren’t hurting for outfield depth by any means. They have Ian Happ, Pete Crow-Armstrong and Kyle Tucker lined up to start, with Seiya Suzuki filling a DH role and likely spelling Happ and Tucker in the corners. Utilityman Vidal Brujan has primarily been an infielder but has gained experience across all three outfield slots over the past few seasons. Kevin Alcantara and Owen Caissie, both ranked among the game’s top-100 prospects, are on the cusp of MLB readiness. The Cubs are deep enough that they felt comfortable designating out-of-options slugger Alexander Canario for assignment earlier this week.
That said, the potential loss of Canario and a groin strain for Caissie that currently has him shut down from all baseball activity has at least thinned the group a bit. Allen can add some cover at all three outfield positions and bring an element of speed to the upper levels of the Cubs’ system. He’s unlikely to break camp with the club, but he’ll bring a career .276/.387/.413 line in parts of six Triple-A seasons to the Cubs’ top affiliate in Iowa if he begins the season in Triple-A.
I guess a backup CF for Iowa in case Alcantara has to get called up. Meh.
Pinch runner in October?
Will he be running on the treadmill at home after the Cubs miss the playoffs again?
Would be better off with Greg Allman
There’s man out there….might be your man…. I don’t know.
He wants to do some spring training jogging, but there’s nobody left to run with anymore.
Or Cher who is still among us.
MAKE it A HEADLINE FOR THREE DAYS CAUSE CUBS!!!!
DID THEY SIGN TURNER AGAIN TODAY???
ALL CUBS !!!!!
Visit your local crying room ASAP! Tell them you suffer from CDS
Who is crying?
Keep thinking it’s just a coincidence there’s so many cubs articles here. Dude you are dense!!!!
It’s a very simple process—-use your right hand and scroll past.
Manuel Margot? Don’t care…next article…
Akil Baddoo? Don’t care. Scroll by.
Cubs story—let me take it all in. Especially the stuff from the obsessed trolls.
From the collective Cub fandom—-thanks for caring, madethatup.
I cried when Cleveland was up 3-1 and lost on 2016.
BITA burner
Another one. Poor guy is gonna have a rough time with all the Cubs news this summer.
BITA spoof.
Youneedapsychiatrist
The next Mike Tauchman? See him in late May and help the team because that what he really wants to do.
One of the outfielders of all time
I like Allen, didn’t get much run with the Yankees but he has value. Consistent ABs would help him at the plate, but he’s a depth piece at best. Wish him luck
Yea more junk
Whatever he’s paying his agent, it ain’t enough.
Have glove, will travel.
No chance