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Chicago Cubs sign this quality 32-year-old veteran outfielder to a minor-league deal

Originally posted on ChiCitySports | By Zack Cariola | Last updated Feb 21, 2025 2:46 PM ET

The Chicago Cubs are in full swing for spring training and already have a win under their belt by beating the Los Angeles Dodgers by a score of 12-4 in their first spring game.

The Cubs have a lot of work ahead of them if they are to get ready to take on the reigning World Series Champions again when they cross the Pacific Ocean to play them in this year’s Tokyo Series.

The Cubs enter camp having a few injuries, with one of those injuries coming to the Cubs’ top outfield prospect Owen Caissie. Caissie will be sidelined with a groin strain and will be re-evaluated soon. In a corresponding move, the Cubs signed another outfielder to a minor-league deal to provide more depth with this news.

The Chicago Cubs add more outfield depth

The Cubs added more outfield depth with the news of Caissie’s injury by signing outfielder Greg Allen to a minor-league deal with an invite to spring training per the Chicago Sun-Times Maddie Lee.

“Greg Allen is joining the Cubs on a minor-league deal with an invite to big-league spring training camp, per sources. He was in the Cubs clubhouse this morning.”

Greg Allen is joining the Cubs on a minor-league deal with an invite to big-league spring training camp, per sources. He was in the Cubs clubhouse this morning.

— Maddie Lee (@maddie_m_lee) February 21, 2025

Allen, who will enter his eighth season in Major League Baseball. The soon-to-be 32-year-old will compete for a spot on the Cubs bench this spring.

During his career, the San Diego State University product has played for four MLB franchises, with the Cubs being his fifth team. Last season Allen appeared in 22 games for the New York Yankees, where he had a slash line of .217/.333/.478 and an OPS and OPS+ of .812 and 119.

A great signing for the Cubs

Since Caissie’s eta for a return is still up in the air, signing Allen was a shrewd maneuver for Jed Hoyer.

The 5-10 outfielder will bring valuable experience and depth to a Cubs team that needs all the depth they can muster.

Allen has an outside chance to obtain the last spot on the Cubs bench, but he will be competing with Gage Workman and Kevin Alcántara for that spot and will have his work cut out for him.

This article first appeared on ChiCitySports and was syndicated with permission.

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