The Cubs announced the signing of first baseman Tyler Austin to a one-year contract. It’s reportedly a $1.25MM guarantee for the Ballengee Group client, who has spent the past six seasons playing in Japan. The Cubs had seven vacancies on the 40-man roster, so no corresponding move was necessary.
Austin, now 34, played in the big leagues from 2016 to 2019. He suited up for the Yankees, Twins, Giants and Brewers without being able to cement himself as a big league regular. He hit 33 home runs in 583 plate appearances over four seasons but also struck out at a 36.9% clip.
Milwaukee passed him through waivers in November of 2019. He elected free agency and signed with the Yokohama DeNA BayStars of Japan’s Nippon Professional Baseball. Since then, he has been mashing pretty consistently for that club, when healthy. He only played 65 games in 2020 but hit 20 home runs in his 269 plate appearances. In 2021, he got that up to 28 home runs over 107 games and 439 plate appearances.
Then came an injury spell, as he only played 60 games total over the 2022 and 2023 seasons due to various ailments. He underwent shoulder surgery in September of 2023, according to Sanspo Sports, but was back in form in 2024. He hit another 25 home runs last year in 445 plate appearances. He struck out 19.8% of the time while drawing walks at a 10.1% clip. His .316/.382/.601 line translated to a 197 wRC+, indicating he was 97% better than the average NPB hitter.
This year, he only got into 65 games. According to Yahoo Japan, he dealt with pain in his right knee. The BayStars decided not to bring him back for 2026. However, he did still hit well when on the field. He launched 11 home runs in just 246 plate appearances, with an 18.3% strikeout rate and 10.6% walk rate. His .269/.350/.484 line may look only decent at first blush but the NPB has had some issues with dead balls lately, so that line actually translated to a big 147 wRC+.
The Cubs are clearly intrigued by the big offensive numbers. It’s a bit of a risky pick-up, in the sense that Austin hasn’t played in the majors since 2019 and has had some health issues. But $1.25MM is barely above the league minimum, which will be $780K next year. The Cubs are also giving up a roster spot but they came into today with a 40-man count of 33, so it’s not as though they have a squeeze at the moment.
Chicago already has a first baseman in Michael Busch but he is a lefty swinger who needs a platoon partner. He’s coming off a huge 34-homer season with a .261/.343/.523 line and 140 wRC+. However, he slashed just .207/.274/.368 against southpaws for an 81 wRC+.
The Cubs also have some lefty bats in their designated hitter mix. Seiya Suzuki was the primary DH in 2025 but he might take over right field with the departure of Kyle Tucker. The Cubs would then have guys like Moisés Ballesteros and Owen Caissie, both lefties, battling for DH time.
Last year, the Cubs gave 40-year-old Justin Turner $6MM to be their righty-swinging first base/DH type. He did his job with the platoon advantage, hitting .276/.330/.429, but hit just .141/.232/.155 otherwise. That led to a combined .219/.288/.314 line and 71 wRC+ for the year.
Presumably, the Cubs are hoping that Austin can be a younger, cheaper and more successful version of their Turner signing. It may not work out but they are barely paying him over the league minimum, as mentioned, so it’s not much of a risk financially. If he can produce anything like his NPB stats, he’ll be a bargain.
Jeff Passan of ESPN first reported the Cubs were signing Austin to a big league deal. Jon Heyman of The New York Post had the $1.25MM salary. Photo courtesy of Michael McLoone, Imagn Images
Way to replace Tucker Jed
Not the player from Japan we were hoping for.
Thanks for playing, but this guy replaces Justin Turner
Do you actually believe that the Cubs think he is a Tucker replacement? C’mon.
Will be Caissie, Alcantara and Ballestroes soaking those PA’s
Justin Turner had a salary of six million dollars last season.
The Six Million Dollar Man was a character with the last name Austin played by an actor with the last name Majors.
Could Tyler Austin be the first bionic MLB player? We have the technology to make him stronger, faster…
Major League deal?
Penny-pinching mothereffer
The Cubs are really going for it. Way to own October! The Dodgers must be getting nervous about seeing the Cubs in the post-season……or not.
Cubs had a record of four wins and three losses against the Dodgers in 2025.
I don’t think the Dodgers are “nervous” about any other team, but with a healthy Horton and Steele it will be fun to watch.
I hope you’re right but I don’t know how much fun this Cubs team will be. I love to watch winning baseball as we did last year.
What concerns me is that in the first half of 2025, their offense benefitted from unbelievable performances by Tucker and PCA. In the 2nd half, PCA was one of the worst hitters in baseball. Tucker is gone. Meanwhile,, Steele won’t get on a major league mound until June at the earliest. And you will have to watch his innings closely. I agree that Horton is fun, but he pitched over his head last year – he’s good, but he is simply not quite that good.
The rotation lacks an ace. The bullpen lost some important high leverage guys like Keller. Look, I admit that I’m not some blind loyalist fan – I tend to be a very critical type of fan who is sickened by this cheapskate approach, despite Wrigley being full, owning their own network, having hotels and a casino on prem, all while charging one of the highest ticket prices in MLB.
You know, it’s ironic how last year when his contract was up, Hoyer did the same thing most players do at the end of their deals – produced at a higher level. Had a sense of urgency. Not any more. I’m sure it’s just a coincidence 😏.
All fair points. Here is my response. Cubs did ok in second half with no Steele, and with Tucker and PCA doing little at the plate. Keller is a loss. I think the Cubs will be very similar in 2026 to 2025. If Milwaukee keeps Freddy, I see them as the division winner again, but Cubs as a very likely wild card especially if they add a FA solid starter. They just need one star to emerge out of Caissie, Alcantara, Ballesteros and Austin.
I just have no faith that ‘Nickels Ricketts” will ever make the same kind of major moves the other large market teams always make. A TOR starter and another solid late inning arm is absolutely a must, and Hoyer is in a post season coma. Another bat is needed as well, but I’m not holding my breath for any of it.
@remember, commentor, rondon: You all make good points and I agree with most of them. I’d demure on one thing: the loss of Tucker will not hurt them much; he was really only good for a period of a few weeks in April and was oddly a nonfactor overall. It was Suzuki who, along with PCA, carried the offense before the break. The main reason the Cubs probably won’t be as good as last season is that Suzuki and PCA will be more like their second-half selves than their first-half selves.
And because Keller is gone. He might have been the team MVP, in terms of being the difference between winning the game and losing the game. Let’s hope Maton, who is not a bad signing, can do what Keller did–though he sure doesn’t have Keller’s stuff.
Jonathon Long can do everything this guy can do and probably better. The only thing I don’t get is why this is a Major League deal. Still it’s only a little over 1 million. Hoyer has walked away from bigger waste deals. Not sure why he keeps making them though. Must have seen something in him. The Cubs have some AB’s to fill in ST with Caissie and PCA in the WBC and maybe some others not named yet. It’s still kind of confusing.
Was thinking the same in regard to Long, and wanting to see him get those at bats. I’m sure Jed wanted a non-youngster in the mix, but I don’t see Austin as any less of a risk.
I”m not sure how spending over 200 million on payroll annually makes him Nickels Ricketts.
Alcantara most likely won’t make the roster and will be shipped out for a prospect. Out of options. Otherwise one of Cassie or Ballesteros are going to Iowa.
League changing if it alerted me on the espn app..! lol
THE HOT STOVE BOILING
Feels like we’ve had a lot of ex-NPB and KBO guys signing MLB deals so far this offseason.
good for austin, and good for ponce, griffin, weiss, etc. i was just talking about how the pipeline of players going to and from asia to america to play baseball is stronger than ever, and clearly to everybody’s benefit.
Justin Turner’s replacement
This made me smile. I always loved Tyler Austin when he was a member of the Yankees (fun fact – he made his debut on the same day as Aaron Judge – who he went back to back with in HRs in their first ABs). Wishing him the best – and happy to see him back in the MLB!
His dad, on the other hand, is a jackass.
Stone Cold Steve Austin is his father? Always liked him. Never came off as a jackass.
They just showed that game on MLB Network a few days ago
“MLB,” not “the MLB.” There is no such thing as “the MLB.”
And, if you like this signing, you aren’t a Cubs fan.
Ridiculous take.
Where can we get his stats from there?
It links to Baseball Reference, and you can click “show non-major” there
Google Tyler Austin NPB stats and you will get a link for baseball reference minors and Japan stats for him
Now there’s a name that is not on my Bingo card!
Yet–already inched up the easy to DFA when that time comes around.
Holy cow, this was a pull out of a scouting report that I didn’t know existed.
That’s a name I haven’t heard in a while. I remember being excited when the Twins brought him back for Lance Lynn about 8 years back.
He’s always had some pop in his bat. Hope he can have success in Wrigleyville.
I was very upset about that trade. I thought if this kid had the consistent ABs he’d be a solid ball player
Seems like another Hoyer wasted roster spot and cash. I am sure they will be 1.25 million short of signing a player of signifigance
@Led
if they ever tell you they were close to signing someone but couldn’t muster up an additional $1.25 mil them they’re lying to you.
Thst’s his point. KnicksFan: They are liars.
If he can stay healthy, a big if, Austin would likely be useful to the Cubbies as a power hitting right-side hitting platoon player.
Rather have DJ LeMahieu as he can move to 3B and 2B.
About 30M left to spend. I expect a hard push on Imai now. Pen and bench are pretty much set.
DJLM can barely move at all let alone at 3b or 2b
Busch doesn’t need to be platooned when there’s a lefty on the mound.
His career splits say it wouldn’t hurt ….
Caissie probably does, however. Suzuki to RF, Austin to DH.
This pretty much kills Ballesteros’ chance to make the roster out of spring training, however, as Alcantara, Austin, Amaya, and the eventual backup MI would make up the bench.
I would absolutely rather have Moises Ballersteros over Tyler Austin. He just turned 22 in Nov. Raw power and tremendous bat to ball skills. I wanna see what he can do.
Btw thank you for spelling Owen Caissie’s name correct. A lot of people call him Cassie. They don’t realize that extra I is in his name. I usually just say ONKC.
Moises and ONKC are competing for the same playing time, with Suzuki playing either RF (Moises DH) or DH (ONKC RF). Alcantara is the 5th outfielder because he can play CF and is out of options.
I think Moises will start the year in Iowa and stay there long enough to not end 2026 with a full year of service time. Meanwhile, ONKC will start in Chicago to try and earn ROY and get the extra draft pick, and get a stint in Iowa at some point if he slumps significantly.
Alcantara will not make the team, Brick House. You heard it here first. He will be cut in spring training.
I don’t think he will be cut, but I think there is a chance he is traded to a rebuilding team who can afford to develop him playing 3x/week. But that would mean that they find a backup MI who can also play CF if PCA gets hurt or needs a day off here and there against a tough lefty.
Alcantara will be cut in all likelihood. when the Cubs need a 40 man spot. If he was worth anything in a trade it would have happened by now. The Cubs have tons of 40 man spots right now but they will fill up fast if Hoyer is signing guys like this. The Cubs basically replaced him with their draft picks from last year. Conrad, Kepley , Snell and to a lesser extent the HS kid Hartshorn who is years away. Conrad probably the closest. He and Hartshorn were both injured last year so I’ll be interested in seeing where they get placed. I really like Kepley. Kid does all the dirty work and knows how to play.
Yes, Brick House, Hoyer has somehow manipulated himself into a position where the team needs a back-up shortstop-centerfielder. He has done that before. Last year it ended up being Vidal Brujan for most of the season.
I love this. Color me a big fan of Austin. Huge power, high strikeout but hopefully the years in Japan improved that. Has the ability to play the OF as well.
1B-only since ’23, what is he, the weak side of a 1st-base platoon? This is a low-risk depth piece with replacement-level floor at minimal cost.
If he brings back any of the upside he showed in Asia, this will be a signing unhappy fans might actually give the Cubs props for later.
People miss that, but he has plenty of games played in MLB at corner OF.
Wish him well but seems like Jed could have gotten a similar AAAA player as a NRI to spring training instead of a guaranteed MLB contract and using a 40 man spot.
The Cubs’ 40 man stands at what, 34, 35?
So don’t worry, there’s more slop to come.
Very true. There are still plenty of 40 man spots for another round of Nicky Lopez..
What’s his vs LHP splits from Japan? Busch can’t hit lefties so gotta have someone who can hit them on those days.
Until this minor league signing, non-roster invitee Scott Kingery was currently representing the biggest upgrade on the bench, that has to change, and fast. The Cubs were fortunate the starting infielders were all relatively healthy. The bench last season was pretty poor and overall unreliable for any offense.
They have scads of room on the 40 man. Just because it’s a major league contract, he’s not guaranteed at all to make 25 man. That walk rate is pretty impressive though for a power hitter .
I would think if they guaranteed him 1.25M then he’s definitely breaking camp with the team. How long he lasts is up to him
They should’ve just kept Matt Mervis.
More like a Patrick Wisdom
Shhhhh…don’t give Jed any ideas, or next thing you know, Wisdom will be a Cub again too…
He got knee surgery?
The cheapest rich team in baseball
Number of >.600 SLG Seasons in NPB Since 2020 (min. 200 PA)
Tyler Austin 3
Munetaka Murakami 2
Yuki Yanagita 1
Seiya Suzuki 1
Rest of NPB 0
Guy is only 34 and a bench warmer with now an mlb contract so give the brilliant Jed a big break!
Isn’t Tyler Austin the one who Joe Kelly beat the snot out of?
It’s fascinating how everyone on this thread who likes this acquisition identifies themselves, in their posting name, as other than a Cubs fan.
I don’t particularly like it, but I understand it. The only even possible backup 1B in the organization is Jonathan Long.
I’m doubtful that any of their AAA/AA position player prospects with under 100 current MLB PA will have a 10 WAR career or reach 6 years of service time. Maybe Alcantara if he turns into a more powerful version of Henry Cotto.
A platoon 1B only guy just shortens your bench so much. My friends complained about how bad their bench was last year that this doesn’t feel like it accomplishes much.
37% strike out rate. Great job, Jed.
So the Cubs bought a couch for backup, nice. Speaking of furniture, does anyone know about glass coffee tables and Jack Brickhouse? It’s quite a story.
You rang?
Hey Hey!!
Wonder if palencia were to be put up for trade, how much other teams would have interest in him.
Cross town Sox seem to have a plan while the cubs do not have such any plan to bring home any championship maybe only getting to the playoffs going forward.
Talk about dumpster diving. This ownership and front office is shameless.