The Chicago Cubs agreed to a contract with first baseman Tyler Austin on Thursday.
It’s a name that might be familiar to Cubs fans.
Austin was once a top prospect in the New York Yankees organization. He famously debuted on the same day as Aaron Judge in 2016, with the two hitting back-to-back home runs in their first major-league games — a moment that made Austin look like a future cornerstone slugger in the Bronx. He later spent time in the NL Central with the Milwaukee Brewers as well.
After two-and-a-half seasons with the Yankees, Austin bounced from the Minnesota Twins to the San Francisco Giants and eventually to Milwaukee. His last MLB appearance came with the Brewers on September 29, 2019.
Since then, Austin has played professionally in Japan with the Yokohama DeNA BayStars of Nippon Professional Baseball’s Central League. In 403 NPB games, he has hit 85 home runs with a .945 OPS. His best season came in 2021, when he launched 28 home runs and posted a 1.006 OPS.
Now 34 years old, Austin is back in Major League Baseball on a one-year deal with the Cubs worth $1.25 million.
This is obviously not the signing Cubs fans were hoping for or expecting. Chicago has been linked to several marquee corner infielders this offseason — most notably Alex Bregman — and when a depth signing is announced after weeks of rumors tied to top-tier free agents, it’s easy for it to feel underwhelming.
But I actually love the value the Cubs are getting here.
Austin provides right-handed power as a backup first baseman behind Michael Busch, and he profiles as a clean platoon fit. It won’t be an even split by any means. As manager Craig Counsell noted earlier this offseason, Busch has earned the right to more consistent at-bats. But he’s still vulnerable against left-handed pitching.
In 2025, Busch hit just .207 with a .642 OPS against lefties. 30 of his 34 home runs came against right-handed pitching, where he also posted a .910 OPS.
Even during his MLB career — where he finished with a .743 OPS and 33 home runs — Austin was consistently effective against left-handed pitching, owning a .884 OPS against southpaws. There’s also reason to believe he matured as a hitter during his time in Japan, where he refined his approach and consistently produced power.
This is a low-risk, potentially high-reward signing for the Cubs. Austin complements Busch’s skill set, adds right-handed pop that should play well at Wrigley Field, and provides roster flexibility at a minimal cost.
For $1.25 million, this could end up being a steal — a signing Cubs fans look back on fondly, even if frustration remains about the club’s lack of big-ticket spending so far this winter.
