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By Jackson Roberts
Contributing Sports Writer
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The Chicago Cubs still project to have one of the best outfields in Major League Baseball after letting Kyle Tucker walk in free agency.
Between Pete Crow-Armstrong, Ian Happ, and Seiya Suzuki, the Cubs have an impressive blend of athleticism, defense, and power. But the Cubs also traded top prospect Owen Caissie earlier this month, so there was room for some veterans to join the club for spring training and compete for a roster spot.
With Chas McCormick and Justin Dean already in the fold, both outfielders who have contributed to World Series champions in the 2020s thus far, there were already some options in Chicago. But the Cubs seemed to want one more veteran in the fold.
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According to a Saturday report from Greg Zumach of The Baseball Tribune, the Cubs have either signed or are planning to sign six-year veteran Dylan Carlson to a minor-league contract with an invite to spring training.
Carlson was once considered an integral piece of a St. Louis Cardinals outfield overflowing with young talent. He put up 3.2 bWAR and finished third in National League Rookie of the Year voting in 2021, playing a key role on a Cardinals team that surged from the middle of the pack to the top of the wild-card standings after the All-Star break.
Every year since that rookie campaign, however, the switch-hitting Carlson has regressed. He was traded from the Cardinals to the Tampa Bay Rays at the 2024 deadline, and this past season, he signed with the Baltimore Orioles and had negative-0.7 bWAR in 83 games.
Though his struggles made it unlikely that he would find another major league deal this spring, Carlson is still just 27 years old, and the Cubs have seen a lot of him over the years. They must believe there's still another gear they can unlock once they get him in camp.
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