The Cubs are in agreement with first baseman Tyler Austin on a one-year, $1.25 million deal, sources confirmed Thursday. When completed, it will be the Cubs’ first major-league position-player signing of the offseason.
Austin, 34, returns to MLB after spending the last six seasons playing for Nippon Professional Baseball’s Yokohama DeNA BayStars in Japan. He recorded a .945 OPS in 403 NPB games, according to Baseball Reference.
A former Yankees prospect, Austin was drafted out of high school in the 13th round in 2010, and he debuted in 2016. He last appeared in a major-league game in 2019, when he played for three different teams, including the Brewers, who were managed by now-Cubs manager Craig Counsell.
Though the Cubs’ focus this offseason has centered on pitching, they’ve also prioritized improving their bench. Austin provides a right-handed bat to pair with first baseman Michael Busch, a left-handed hitter. Austin also has experience in the outfield.
It’s become increasingly common in recent years for players to revive their MLB careers by playing overseas, especially in NPB and South Korea’s KBO.
The Cubs’ emphasis on talent evaluation and acquisition in Asia has not only led to the signings of Japanese-born players like Seiya Suzuki and Shota Imanaga, but also American-born players like Mike Tauchman, who spent 2022 in the KBO, and now Austin.
With the Cubs, Austin is set to reunite with Imanaga, a longtime BayStars teammate.
Keller’s breakout 2025 season put him out of the Cubs’ price range.
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The one-year deal is pending a physical.
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The Cubs agreed to terms with left-hander Hoby Milner, sources confirmed Thursday.
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