Cubs Outright First Baseman Tyler Austin
Chicago moved Austin, who missed the 2026 season after knee surgery, off its 40-man roster and to Triple-A Iowa.
Updated on Nov. 3, 2026 in Baseball
The Chicago Cubs outrighted first baseman Tyler Austin off their 40-man roster, sending him to Triple-A Iowa. Austin, 35, signed a one-year, $1.25 million contract with the Cubs in December 2025 but did not appear in a regular-season game for the team.
Why it matters
The move clears a 40-man roster spot for the Cubs while leaving Austin, who was sidelined all of 2026, to decide whether to pursue free agency or another minor league deal. It closes out a brief Chicago stint for a veteran who had previously played in Japan and for three MLB clubs.
Austin's career MLB numbers across 209 games from 2016 to 2019 include a .219 batting average, 33 home runs and 91 RBI on 521 at-bats. His $1.25 million one-year Cubs contract was signed in December 2025 after six professional seasons in Japan.
The players
Tyler Austin
Tyler Austin is a 35-year-old first baseman who played four MLB seasons, including three with the New York Yankees, and spent six seasons professionally in Japan before joining the Cubs.
Chicago Cubs
The Chicago Cubs are a Major League Baseball franchise based in Chicago that competes in the National League Central division.
The details
The Cubs outrighted Austin to Triple-A Iowa, a move recorded in the team's official transactions log. Austin underwent surgery on the patellar tendon in his right knee during spring training and did not return to play in 2026.
Timeline
December 2025: Austin signed a one-year contract with the Cubs.
Spring training 2026: Austin underwent right knee patellar tendon surgery.
2026 season: Austin was sidelined for the entire year.
November 3, 2026: The Cubs outrighted Austin off the 40-man roster.
In the coming days: Austin may elect free agency.
Season Trajectory
Outright assignments like this one are a routine way for MLB clubs to manage 40-man roster space during the offseason, and they show how teams trim depth heading into a new season. For Chicago, the move signals that Austin's injury-shortened stint did not produce a place for him on the major league roster.
The outright frees a 40-man roster spot for the Cubs, which matters to fantasy and depth-chart watchers tracking first base options in Chicago's system. Austin's status now depends on whether he accepts a minor league assignment or enters free agency.
The takeaway
Roster outrights often signal the end of a veteran's time with a club, even when a player is not released outright. Readers tracking Chicago's depth should watch for Austin's free-agency decision in the coming days.
What happens next
Austin may elect free agency in the coming days, which would determine whether he remains in the Cubs organization.
Further reading
Find more on the team's moves in our Baseball coverage.
