Carlson impressed in spring training, raking 14 hits including a home run and two doubles, along with eight walks and 15 strikeouts in 47 at-bats, which helped him crack the Cubs’ 26-man roster out of camp.
However, once the regular season began, opportunities were scarce for Carlson: he came to the plate four times without a hit and started just one game in left field. Seiya Suzuki’s return from injury ultimately left Carlson without a clear path to regular playing time.
The Cubs DFA’d Carlson to make room on the roster for Suzuki, and after he cleared waivers, he was outrighted to the Triple-A Iowa Cubs. With five years of MLB service time, Carlson had the right to reject the minor league assignment and pursue free agency, which he did one day after the outright.
Bleacher Nation’s Brett Taylor suggested a reunion with the Cubs could still be on Carlson’s radar, noting the potential for a new deal that would involve the MLB minimum salary and a prorated savings for Chicago if he signs elsewhere or returns.
Across 570 MLB games, Carlson has a .682 OPS with 43 home runs. He showed strong promise early, finishing third in NL Rookie of the Year voting in 2021 after a 149-game season with the Cardinals, but has since seen limited playing time and has since moved among four organizations, including the Rays, Orioles, Cardinals, and Cubs. Carlson remains a player with noticeable hitting ability and a path to big-league opportunity will depend on the right fit and playing time.
