The Cubs have signed a player from Nippon Professional Baseball! It’s not a name as big as Tatsuya Imai or Munetaka Murakami, but the deal is a really solid get for the Cubs’ roster. As first reported by ESPN’s Jeff Passan, Chicago is signing Tyler Austin, a former top prospect with the New York Yankees. Jon Heyman reported the financials, with Austin set to earn $1.25 million before possible incentives.
Austin was drafted by the Yankees in 2010 and made his MLB debut in 2016. He was a top prospect in New York’s system but never quite found his footing at the major-league level.