Cubs lose outfield insurance plan to White Sox in under-the-radar roster move

With Kevin Alcantara having secured a minor-league option for the 2026 season, the expectation entering the weekend was that one of Chas McCormick or Dylan Carlson would secure the final spot on the bench for the Opening Day roster. Both veterans will be in camp on a minor-league deal, but the Cubs may not be content with just handing the role over to someone who will be considered a reclamation project.

That likely was at the center of the Cubs' interest in veteran outfielder Austin Hays. Jon Heyman reported that the Cubs were among the teams in the bidding for Hays, who signed with the Chicago White Sox on Saturday.

White Sox quietly snag Austin Hays, who the Cubs could’ve used to patch the final roster need

There's been speculation that the Cubs could add another veteran bat to the mix before spring training, and the interest in Hays seems to have confirmed that.

The issue that the Cubs will find themselves in is that they don't exactly have a ton of plate appearances to offer. In Hays' case, it makes sense that he chose the White Sox over the North Siders, considering he will have a chance to play nearly every day.

With the Cubs, Hays likely would have been relegated to only pinch-hitting duties, with the occasional spot start in the outfield. Ian Happ, Pete Crow-Armstrong, and Seiya Suzuki are integral parts of the Cubs' starting lineup, and Matt Shaw and Tyler Austin will likely be the first to spell Moises Ballesteros as the team's designated hitter. That's a tough sell to free agents who are looking for playing time.

One option could be a reunion with Mike Tauchman. The left-handed-hitting outfielder spent the 2025 season with the White Sox, and likely had his path to a return blocked with the signing of Hays. Tauchman likely wouldn't be in line for as much playing time as he had during his last run with the Cubs, but would check the box of being an established fourth outfielder that raises the floor of production from the bench.

If not Tauchman, the Cubs may be resigned to deciding between McCormick or Carlson. Carlson is a switch-hitter, and that versatility would likely give him a leg up in the competition. Alcantara, one of the team's top prospects, could benefit from playing every day in Triple-A Iowa.