The Cubs have agreed to a minor league contract with free agent outfielder Dylan Carlson, as first reported by Greg Zumach. The ALIGND Sports client receives a non-roster invitation to major league spring training, where he’ll compete for a bench job.
Carlson is the second veteran outfielder to sign a minor league deal with the Cubs in the past week. Former Astros outfielder Chas McCormick also received an NRI from Chicago and will be in the mix for a bench spot.
The 27-year-old Carlson was the No. 33 overall pick in the 2016 draft by the Cubs’ archrivals in St. Louis. He ranked as one of the ten best prospects in the sport prior to his big league debut and had a nice showing in his first full season back in 2021 (.266/.343/.437, 18 homers) but has seen his bat stall out since. Carlson was a league-average hitter in 2022, but in three subsequent big league seasons has mustered only a .210/.294/.314 batting line in 761 trips to the plate between the Cardinals, Rays and Orioles. He’s dealt with shoulder, ankle, hamstring, thumb and wrist injuries along the way. The ankle injury, suffered in 2023, required season-ending surgery.
Carlson, a switch-hitter, had an uncharacteristically poor showing against left-handed pitching last year, but that came in a small sample with Baltimore. He’s been good against lefties throughout his career, hitting them at a .274/.347/.410 clip in 566 plate appearances. His left-handed swing and approach haven’t been nearly as refined; in 1421 turns at the plate versus right-handed pitching, he’s a .217/.298/.356 hitter.
The versatile Carlson can handle any of the three outfield spots, though his defensive grades in center field have slipped in small samples over the past couple seasons. Statcast graded his sprint speed comfortably above average earlier in his career, but Carlson was closer to the mean in 2025, sitting in the 56th percentile of big leaguers in that regard. He typically shows plus arm strength, based on the velocity of his throws from the outfield, but was closer to average in that regard this past season as well.
Carlson may not have developed into the star the Cardinals hoped, or even a quality regular, but if he can get back on track against left-handed pitching and play solid defense across the three outfield spots, he’s a fine fourth outfielder. Chicago’s outfield is set with Ian Happ, Pete Crow-Armstrong and Seiya Suzuki lining up from left to right, but Crow-Armstrong hit only .188/.217/.376 against lefties this past season.
If the Cubs want to give Crow-Armstrong some breaks against tough southpaws or even move to more of a platoon system, Carlson’s skill set could lend itself well to a complementary role, though the same could be said for fellow NRI McCormick. Waiver claim Justin Dean and prospect Kevin Alcantara are both on the 40-man roster as well. Both hit from the right side of the plate and can handle all three outfield spots.
Some players just can’t get over the hump. I think he’s a better defensive than the stats tell us. But, stats are stats.
A potential bench piece depending on his spring training showing.
I remember he was going to be the next big thing for the Cards. Also, I remember when the Cardinals were trying to trade for Juan Soto at the deadline in 22, and the Nats wanted Carlson in the package, and the Cardinals would not put him in the deal.
It’s not like it was going to be a 1 for 1 deal for Carlson. If the Cards did that they still probably don’t get to or win the world series in 2022. Soto would have left by this point and St Louis would be without likely Winn and several other players so I don’t regret that they didn’t do it.
Hey Harry, Carlson spelled backward is Noslrac.
He seems like the kind of player who takes a minute to get going and then plays based on momentum – thus a bad bench piece. He was getting going at a good clip last year right when he got optioned after his first stint. Never showed anything of value afterwards.
Carlson and Kelenic were two players I thought every year this is their year and wet the bed every time.
Both are with Chicago teams now
How do you feel about Jordan Walker this year? Need to know for fantasy purposes 😀
gshep7- hoping that Walker takes pressure off of himself and just plays the way he can play. He has a lot of talent, definitely think he will put in a place to get regular playing time.
So we which teams are giving out Depends now! Who will change them when they get dirty.
He has always been a nepo baby. Look him up, his father was his college coach
Neither Carlson nor Kelenic played in college.
@Gocats I ment he was his highschool coach
What are you talking about? Neither Walker, nor Carlson when to college.
@Jmelltt I ment he was his highschool coach
I don’t know that he’s any better than Alcantara, just as I don’t know that McCormick is any better than Alcantara. But Hoyer doesn’t seem to like the idea of giving Alcantara a fair shot, just as he didn’t seem to like the idea of giving Canario a fair shot last spring, or giving Velasquez a fair shot the spring before, or holding on to Cam Smith or Zyhir Hope. I see a pattern here, but draw your own conclusions
Sadly, I think you might be correct. I think Kevin Alcantara has real potential, but he is going to need a super strong Spring to force their hand.
Hopefully the young prospects have a great spring training and force Hoyer to add them to the bench at least.
He was justified with both Canario and Velasquez. Canario got playing time in Pittsburgh, couldn’t get on base (.274 OBP) and was non-tendered at the end of the year. Velasquez started hot in KC after the trade and then the league adjusted to him and he spent a chunk of 2025 playing in Mexico since both the Royals and Pirates gave up on him.
Both those guys played in the bigs and worth a shot as depth pieces. That is how you put a complete team together.
Dylan Carlson was Kurt Cobain’s best friend. I’m serious. Google it.
Well considering he wasn’t even born before Cobain died I’m gonna go out on a limb and say it’s a different Dylan Carlson.
Not putting your eggs in one basket and adding minor league depth is the pattern here.
He’s dealt with shoulder, ankle, hamstring, thumb and wrist injuries along the way.
How many players have one or two good years and then just disappear into the abyss of injury? It’s kind of sad how much this happens.
Yeah, but how many guys have a good rookie year as a youngster and then just keep playing worse (when healthy) every year after that? Carlson and Paul DeJong?
I like this pickup for depth. Maybe he turns a corner. Maybe he pushes the younger guys. It’s a low risk move.