Chicago Cubs Sign Former Top Prospect Outfielder

The Chicago Cubs are taking a low risk swing on outfield depth, signing Dylan Carlson to a minor league contract that includes a spring training invite. 

Why Carlson is still an interesting bounceback bet

Carlson is only 27, he is a switch hitter, and the Cubs are betting the tools that once made him a headline prospect can still surface in the right role. 

Back in 2021 with the St. Louis Cardinals, he played 151 games, hit .266/.343/.437 with 18 home runs and 65 RBI, and he finished third in National League Rookie of the Year voting. 

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Hey there

Hey remember when the Cardinals refused to include Dylan Carlson in a trade for Juan Soto? https://t.co/BKQ1dEB7sO

— Cody Delmendo (@cody__cubs) January 24, 2026

That season is the reminder that there is real upside here if his health and timing ever line up again. Carlson was drafted in the first-round (33rd overall) of the of the 2016 MLB Draft by the St. Louis Cardinals.

What went wrong recently and what his path looks like in Chicago

The recent production has been rough, and that's why the deal is coming with minimal commitment. 

Carlson spent 2025 with the Baltimore Orioles and hit .203/.278/.336 with six homers and 20 RBI in 83 games. 

Dylan Carlson and Chas McCormick were, just a few years ago, considered uniquely talented outfielders with promising futures. Injuries and time took their toll. Adding OF on minor deals feels like how the team is treating their bullpen. https://t.co/vqlmPSkhsA

— Brendan Miller (@brendan_cubs) January 24, 2026

For the Cubs, the best path is a strong camp that earns him a bench job or first call up status, and if not, he becomes immediate insurance at Triple A for an outfield group that still wants to contend deep into October.

Photo Credit: James A. Pittman-Imagn Images