The Chicago Cubs have made a familiar depth move by bringing back veteran outfielder Dylan Carlson on a minor-league contract after he was designated for assignment earlier in the roster shuffle. Although Carlson briefly tested free agency after being removed from the 40-man roster, he quickly returned to the organization and has since reported back to Triple-A Iowa, where he rejoined the club over the weekend.
Carlson’s return keeps him in the Cubs’ system as experienced outfield insurance, even as his path back to the majors appears uncertain. The 27-year-old has seen limited action at the big-league level this season, going hitless in just four plate appearances. Across his MLB career spanning time with the St. Louis Cardinals, Tampa Bay Rays, Baltimore Orioles, and Chicago he holds a .233 batting average with 43 home runs over 570 games.
His best season came in 2021 with St. Louis, when he emerged as a regular contributor, hitting .266 with 18 home runs, 31 doubles, and a solid on-base profile across 149 games. Since that breakout year, however, Carlson’s production has steadily declined. Over the past several seasons, he has posted a .220/.302/.339 slash line in more than 1,200 plate appearances, performing well below league-average offensive standards. His 2025 stint with Baltimore also struggled, as he hit just .203 over 217 at-bats.
From a roster perspective, the Cubs currently have a set outfield alignment featuring Seiya Suzuki in right field, alongside Ian Happ and Pete Crow-Armstrong, with additional depth provided by players such as Michael Conforto, Scott Kingery, and Matt Shaw.
At Triple-A, Carlson now functions as experienced depth, but his route back to the majors is far from guaranteed. He will need to outperform internal competition, including prospects like Kevin Alcantara and Justin Dean, who remain on the 40-man roster and are also in the mix for future call-ups despite their own inconsistency at the plate.
For Chicago, the move represents a low-risk attempt to preserve outfield depth while continuing to evaluate internal options as the roster evolves throughout the season.
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