Chas McCormick Signs Minor-League Deal with Cubs, Eyes Comeback in Chicago
Chas McCormick is headed north. The longtime Astros outfielder has signed a minor-league deal with the Chicago Cubs, complete with an invite to spring training. After being non-tendered by Houston following the 2025 season, the 30-year-old now gets a fresh shot at proving he still belongs in the big leagues.
McCormick will enter Cubs camp next month with a chance to compete for a backup outfield spot. The starting trio of Pete Crow-Armstrong, Seiya Suzuki, and Ian Happ is set, but the fourth outfield role remains up for grabs.
Kevin Alcantara currently occupies that spot, though his hold on it isn’t exactly ironclad. If McCormick can show flashes of the player he once was, he could very well find himself on the Opening Day roster.
And let’s not forget – there was a time when McCormick looked like a long-term piece in Houston.
He made his debut in 2021 and made an immediate impact, launching 14 home runs as a rookie. Over the next two seasons, he became a regular presence in the Astros lineup, slashing a combined .260/.343/.450 with 36 homers and a 124 wRC+. That kind of production, especially in a lineup as deep as Houston’s, made McCormick a valuable contributor.
But things started to shift in 2024. Despite avoiding arbitration with a $3.4 million deal, McCormick was pushed to the bench after Cam Smith’s standout spring.
Reduced playing time didn’t help his rhythm, and injuries once again became a recurring theme. A hamstring issue followed by a fractured right hand limited him to just 94 games.
It was a frustrating follow-up to 2024, when an oblique strain sent him back to Triple-A Sugar Land.
That back-to-back run of injuries and inconsistency ultimately spelled the end of his time in Houston. The Astros decided to move on, and McCormick hit the open market.
Now he gets a clean slate in Chicago, where opportunity knocks. The Cubs are still shaping their roster, and if McCormick can stay healthy and rediscover his swing, there’s a real path for him to contribute – especially given his ability to handle all three outfield spots and provide some pop off the bench.
Astros fans will no doubt remember McCormick for more than just his stat lines. His game-saving catch in Game 5 of the 2022 World Series is etched into Houston baseball lore – a moment that helped secure a championship and cemented his place in team history.
As he heads to the Windy City, McCormick is chasing more than just a roster spot. He’s chasing a second act. And if he can tap into the form that once made him a key part of a World Series contender, the Cubs might just find themselves with a savvy veteran who still has something left in the tank.
