The Cubs made a quiet but potentially meaningful move this week, signing veteran outfielder Chas McCormick to a minor league deal with an invite to spring training. It’s the kind of late-offseason addition that tends to fly under the radar – a depth piece, a bench bat, a contingency plan.

But don’t let the modest contract fool you. This move speaks to two priorities the Cubs are clearly focused on as they prepare for the 2026 season: outfield depth and roster flexibility.

On paper, the Cubs’ active roster looks fairly set, especially in the outfield. But dig a little deeper, and you’ll see why McCormick’s arrival makes sense.

Center field is a particularly delicate spot. Pete Crow-Armstrong is locked in as the starter, but behind him?

Things get a little thin. The Cubs did claim Justin Dean off waivers earlier this offseason – the 29-year-old got a brief taste of the majors with the Dodgers last year and is expected to open the season in Triple-A Iowa.

Kevin Alcantara is also in the mix, currently penciled in as a bench option, but his role is far from guaranteed.

Enter McCormick, a right-handed hitter with big-league experience and a track record that suggests he could be more than just a spring training body. While the deal is of the minor league variety, make no mistake: McCormick will have a legitimate shot to break camp with the big-league club. His most direct competition appears to be Alcantara, but Tyler Austin – another depth option – isn’t a lock either.

Now, let’s be honest: the last two years haven’t been kind to McCormick. Injuries have derailed his momentum and limited his production.

In 2024, he missed nearly a month with a hamstring strain, then fractured his right hand in September, cutting his season short. The following year, a left oblique strain sidelined him from late May through the All-Star break.

When he returned, he struggled at the plate, posting a 39 wRC+ over 63 plate appearances and eventually getting sent down to Triple-A at the end of August. After the season, the Astros removed him from their 40-man roster, and McCormick chose free agency rather than accept a Triple-A assignment.

The numbers from those two seasons paint a tough picture:

• 2024: .211/.271/.306, 65 wRC+, 5 HR in 267 plate appearances
• 2025: .210/.279/.290, 62 wRC+, 1 HR in 116 plate appearances

That’s not the kind of production that earns you a guaranteed roster spot. But if you believe health was the main culprit – and not a permanent decline – there’s reason for optimism.

From 2021 through 2023, McCormick was a steady contributor in Houston. Over that three-year stretch, he hit .259/.336/.449 with a 120 wRC+ across 342 games.

He launched 50 home runs during that span, including a breakout 2023 campaign where he posted a .273/.353/.489 slash line, 22 homers, 19 stolen bases, and a 132 wRC+ in 115 games.

That version of McCormick – the one who hit for power, got on base, and played above-average defense – is exactly the kind of fourth outfielder contenders covet. He brings experience, versatility, and a history of producing when healthy. And for the Cubs, who are trying to balance development with contention, that’s valuable.

There’s also a strategic angle here. Alcantara is still working through some swing-and-miss issues and hasn’t had a clean bill of health in the minors.

If he’s not going to get regular playing time in Chicago, it may be better to have him playing every day in Iowa rather than sitting on the bench behind Crow-Armstrong. McCormick, meanwhile, is better suited for a part-time role.

He’s been there before, knows how to stay ready, and can handle all three outfield spots defensively.

Of all the minor league deals the Cubs have handed out this offseason, McCormick’s may be the most intriguing. He’s not just a depth piece – he’s a legitimate candidate to make the Opening Day roster. If he can stay healthy and even approximate his 2021-23 form, the Cubs might’ve found a low-risk, high-reward solution to their outfield depth question.