Overview
- The Cubs removed veteran first baseman Tyler Austin from their 40‑man roster this week and outrighted him to Triple‑A Iowa, a transaction recorded in the team's official log.
- Austin missed the entire 2026 season after late‑February debridement surgery on his right patellar tendon and did not appear in any games for Chicago.
- Austin signed a one‑year, $1.25 million deal with the Cubs in December 2025 following six seasons with Yokohama DeNA in Japan, where strong offense earned him another MLB opportunity.
- He remains in the Cubs organization but now has the right to elect free agency, leaving open options to stay on a minor‑league deal, sign elsewhere in MLB, or return to NPB.
- The roster move frees an offseason 40‑man spot as Chicago sorts priorities for the winter, and it reduces the need for a short‑side lefty platoon at first base after Michael Busch handled most starts in 2026.