Chicago Cubs President of Baseball Operations Jed Hoyer answers questions during a news conference at Wrigley Field on Wednesday, Oct. 15, 2025, in Chicago. (Eileen T. Meslar/Chicago Tribune/Tribune News Service via Getty Images)
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The Chicago Cubs have been shuffling the lower levels of their organization ahead of the trade deadline, looking to recapture some strong momentum from the beginning of the season to help drive a playoff push in the second half.
And that has included some noteworthy moves for former World Series champion outfielder Chas McCormick, who joined the Cubs in the offseason only to be released amid a strong showing at the plate and now brought back just shortly afterward.
Chicago Cubs Bring Back Veteran Outfielder After Mysterious Release
“OF Chas McCormick is going back to the Cubs on a minor league deal,” 7News’ Ari Alexander reported. “McCormick has an .801 OPS in Triple-A this season.”
McCormick’s departure from the Cubs didn’t last very long.
After the veteran outfielder was surprisingly released despite producing solid numbers at Triple-A, the Cubs decided to bring him back, giving the former Houston Astros’ World Series champion another opportunity to work his way toward the major league roster.
The quick reunion suggests Chicago still believes the 31-year-old could provide value later this season. And it was another surprising development in a career that has taken a sharp turn.
“Less than four years ago, McCormick was the proverbial World Series hero for the Houston Astros,” Jackson Roberts noted for Baseball Now. “His game-saving catch in the ninth inning of Game 5 against the Philadelphia Phillies may have been the single most impactful play of the series… The 31-year-old was in the middle of a decent campaign at the Triple-A level, which creates a few possibilities about how the release came about.”
It’s possible that McCormick’s contract with the Cubs included an opt out that allowed him to test the market. But for whatever reason, he is now headed back to the Cubs.
Chicago Cubs’ Veteran Outfielder Looks To Recapture Earlier Success
McCormick’s recent struggles have overshadowed a stretch in Houston when he developed into one of the club’s more productive everyday players.
“McCormick, 31, had a few good years with the Astros but is coming off a couple of poor seasons,” Darragh McDonald wrote for MLB Trade Rumors. “He got into 342 games for Houston from 2021 to 2023, stepping to the plate 1,184 times. His 27.6% strikeout rate in that time was high but his 9.4% walk rate was good and he popped 50 home runs. That led to a combined .259/.336/.449 slash line and 120 wRC+.”
Those offensive numbers, combined with his defensive versatility and postseason pedigree, help explain why the Cubs remain interested despite the brief roster shuffle.
McCormick’s strong Triple-A production indicates there may still be something left to unlock. By re-signing him almost immediately after cutting ties, Chicago has preserved its depth while giving the veteran another chance to force his way back into the major league picture before the end of the season.