The Cubs are signing free agent outfielder Chas McCormick to a minor league contract and inviting him to major league camp this spring, reports Chandler Rome of The Athletic. The Covenant Sports client was outrighted by the Astros following the 2025 season and became a free agent.
McCormick, 31, had a few good years with the Astros but is coming off a couple of poor seasons. He got into 342 games for Houston from 2021 to 2023, stepping to the plate 1,184 times. His 27.6% strikeout rate in that time was high but his 9.4% walk rate was good and he popped 50 home runs. That led to a combined .259/.336/.449 slash line and 120 wRC+.
His 2023 season was particularly good. He hit 22 home runs and stole 19 bases. He slashed .273/.353/.489 for a 132 wRC+. He got strong grades at all three outfield spots, spending most of his time in center. FanGraphs credited him with 3.3 wins above replacement for the year.
He’s been in quite a trough since then, unfortunately. Dating back to the start of 2024, he has a dismal .211/.273/.301 line. He hit just six home runs in his 386 plate appearances and also only drew walks at a 6.8% clip. As mentioned, he was passed through waivers and elected free agency at the end of the 2025 season.
For the Cubs, there’s no harm in bringing him aboard in a non-roster capacity for some extra outfield depth. They have let Kyle Tucker depart in free agency, which has opened the door for Seiya Suzuki to move from the designated hitter spot to right field. He’ll be next to center fielder Pete Crow-Armstrong and left fielder Ian Happ.
They will need a fourth outfielder and have some candidates. Kevin Alcántara and Justin Dean are currently on the 40-man roster. Matt Shaw also might get some outfield playing time in a utility capacity, now that Alex Bregman has been signed to play third base.
McCormick gives the club another name to throw into the mix there. His righty bat could give him a leg up in the competition for a bench spot. He has a career .280/.353/.493 line and 137 wRC+ against lefties. Crow-Armstrong had a breakout season last year but put up a rough .188/.217/.376 line against southpaws.
Alcántara is also right-handed but the Cubs might prefer to have him getting regular playing time in the minors. He has used three options but may qualify for a fourth, so perhaps the Cubs will be able to send him down. Dean also swings from the right side but doesn’t have McCormick’s track record of major league success. He also has options and could be sent down alongside Alcantara.
McCormick would also have options if added to the roster, though with a catch. His service time count is at four years and 161 days. With 11 more days in the majors, he would get to five years and earn the right to not be optioned without his consent.
Ultimately, McCormick will still have to earn a job, but he’s a nice fit for Chicago’s current group. If things go well and he has a roster spot at season’s end, he can be retained for 2027 via arbitration.
Photo courtesy of Troy Taormina, Imagn Images
Solid no-risk signing. If he can regain his stroke, decent 4th OF who can play CF if needed.
Yes. Being a right-handed hitter also gives him a decent shot at securing the Cubs 4th OF spot where he can give PCA an occasional day off versus a tough lefty SP. All this assumes McCormick can approach his production from 2021-2023. Along with his counting stats, his defense has declined significantly over the past two seasons. Better health than what he’s experienced the past two seasons will also be needed for a rebound in 2026.
If McCormick can demonstrate some improvement in spring training and approach Baseball Reference’s 2026 projection for him the Cubs will gladly take it as their 4th OF. 🙂
Many Cubs fans have been hoping for a Mike Tauchman reunion as their 4th OF in 2026. Chas McCormick is a better fit with his right-handed bat and age for the 26 season (31 versus 35). McCormick’s “youth” should play better in CF and as a base stealing threat off the bench assuming he can avoid the oblique and hamstring issues that have plagued him the past two seasons in Houston.
The Cubs definitely need to keep McCormick away from the Bears training staff ahead of spring training. 😂
Interested in your findings of “many Cubs fans…hoping for a Mike Tauchman reunion.”
If almost zero equals many…..there’s that angle.
What Cub fans are you talking to?
Craig (manager) is not a fan of Tauchman. He won’t be back. Chas and the 35 year old first baseman they signed probably make the team. I can see the lineup card now
Happ, Crow-Armstrong,McCormick,Bregman, Swanson, Hoerner, Busch, Kelly, Shaw at DH, and Taillon or Boyd on the mound. Front office prefers certain types of players. SMH.
You know, he hangs out at that one bar where all the Cubs fans hang out. You know the one.
No chance that’s the lineup. You forgot Ballesteros unless he’s dealt and that still won’t be the lineup
His right hand
Another joke about Cub fans worshiping a former Cardinal legend?
I’ve seen plenty of Cubs blogs this offseason suggesting the Mike Tauchman reunion for 2026 after being a solid depth option in 2023 and 2024. Those writers are clearly Cubs fans. Unlike Chas McCormick, Tauchman hasn’t shown any signs of a decline. He actually put up even better numbers for the White Sox last season when he wasn’t hurt.
At least two national publications have also speculated about a Tauchman reunion on the northside of town:
si.com/mlb/cubs/onsi/news/3-realistic-free-agents-…
sportingnews.com/us/mlb/chicago-cubs/news/cubs-cou…
This Cub fan is hoping Kevin Alcantara gets the 4th outfielder slot and runs with it.
…and you be clear…it is nothing about or against Mike Tauchman. Had a very, very serviceable stay with the Cubs a couple years ago…local kid…somewhat versatile. BUT…I have not seen a single story, talked to a single person, let alone many that are looking for a reunion.
Also, not jumping on the Chas bandwagon either here in January.
If we lived with the Brujan, Berti combo mess last season I’m hoping Alcantara is given the rope at least into June to be the 4th outfielder/down the bench guy.
25th and 26th guys on the roster are usually pretty bad….I’m hopeful Kevin can get over that bar.
Alcantara can’t hit his way out of a paper bag. So far at least. He needs more time in Iowa.
Rondon
What makes you think that? I have seen a few – admittedly limited – of his minor league and major league at-bats. I would not be shocked to see Kevin hit for a higher average and on base percentage than PCA.
Alcantara is out of options. He either makes the team out of spring training or not. McCormick is around to cover the “or not” possibility.
In two short stints in the majors with a total 21 ABs Alcantara has a .238 average. However last season he had a 364 average. Seems unfair to say he can’t hit his way out of a paper bag before there’s a greater sample size
I think Kevin has a lot of skills. He was 4 for 11 in the show last year, so my analysis is not based too much on that.
I just posted two recent stories from national publications regarding a potential Mike Tauchman reunion with the Cubs. I can also try and find the Cubs blogs I referred to if they are still archived. Most of those blog columns have comment sections and I don’t recall a horde of Cubs fans rejecting the suggestion. 🙂
How can you say that when he’s shown absolutely nothing offensively at the ML level? Along with his flat out bad K rate at Iowa and Chicago, I don’t see anything that makes me believe he’s anywhere close to PCA.
Cubs are setting up for a big trade
Agreed, they’re clearly following the blueprint that all teams do before a big trade
1. Sign Chas McCormick
2. ????
3. Big trade
If they trade some of the rookies they need depth but you’re right nobody does that
@Gambler: I don’t think the Cubs have any prospects that interest other teams right now, except Wiggens, and he’s not going to be traded. So I’m not sure what/who you have in mind, on either side of a “big trade “
Johnny Long their minor league player of the year perhaps, but it seems he gets less than zero respect. I mean the Cubs signed a guy exiled to Asia for 1b backup with Long already in the fold. My guess is they’ve tried to trade him and heard crickets chirping. Best solid left is yes Wiggins and Ethan Conrad, who i personally think is going to be a beast
Ballesteros
@alan You would be surprised what Ben Brown Jordan Wicks Johnathan Long Moises Ballesteros Kevin Alacantra and Matt Shaw value is to other teams, just Matt Shaw might pull a couple top lower arms from Boston or Seattle, maybe Alacantra and Brown to KC for one of their starters and then you deal Shota at end spring training to a team that lost a starter to injury
@Gambler: I would be surprised indeed if any team valued any of those players enough to offer anyone of value to the Cubs for them. I think Shaw is seen as a qualified bust last season, Ballesteros as a fatty, Brown as not having enough pitches, Wicks and Alcantara as washouts. “Jonny Long” is a creation of Brett Taylor and that screaming shill Alex Cohen; few GMs have even given him a moment’s consideration. It sounds like you are making the typical fan’s mistake (I have done this myself in the past, I’m guilty too) of over-valuing Cubs’ prospects and spinning a web of wishful-thinking trades that are never going to happen. But we’ll see.
Keep em coming Jed
Bc the Angels don’t need a cf and 4th outfielder. Good sign. 2 years removed from a solid year
How could the Angels not consider him as a minor league depth signing?! Surely bidding on a minor league contract was not going to bust the budget!
It’s because you guys unfortunately have the most inept and befuddled GM of any in baseball over the last 20 years.
Probably will make the team over Dean and Alcantara as the back-up outfielder.
Alcantara has a 4th option year somehow. If that’s the case it’s probably better to let McCormick rot on the bench and have Alcantara get steady playing time at Iowa.
I don’t think Alcantara is seen as a significant prospect anymore. He has never really shown much, and they don’t seem to believe in him.
My guess is he’ll be DFA’d sometime in the next few weeks.
I agree that Alcantara is not a top prospect, but I think he is a very good option as the fourth outfielder.
Maybe they do consider Alcantara a prospect which allowed them to trade Caissie
I sure think he is a prospect, just not a “top” prospect. Now is his time!
Y’all can book it: Alcantara will not be a Cub for long. He’ll be this spring’s Canario.
I hope he makes the Opening Day roster.
@Commenter: Not sure if you’re referring to Alcantara or McCormick, but it will be the latter who makes the Opening Day roster. Alcantara is on the way out.
I am referring to Kevin Alcantara. ⚾️
Jed Hoyer continues his Astros’ dumpster raiding.
As previously mentioned once they hit the tax this is what can be expected.
Thanks Cubs! McCormick got a deal!
Cub fans should learn the Chaz Chomp. McCormick, an Astro legend, has found a new home
They signed McCormick? Spicy!
Interesting. I thought minor league signing guys generally look for a path to MLB time.
That’ll be tough with the Cubs.
A minor league contract is a no risk deal for the Cubs. The last two years are not indicative of the type of player McCormick can be. With a change of scenery and coaches… all the ingredients are there for a rebound. Also, consider that the Astros hitting coaches got fired for a reason.