Cubs adding 1B Tyler Austin, a former Yankee returning from Japan: Source

Tyler Austin played Nippon Professional Baseball with Shota Imanaga on the Yokohama BayStars. Elsa / Getty Images

While the baseball industry awaits decisions from the next wave of Japanese players, the Chicago Cubs are bringing back an American hitter who spent the past six seasons overseas.

The Cubs have reached an agreement with Tyler Austin, a league source said Thursday, adding a 34-year-old right-handed first baseman who originally came up with the New York Yankees.

The deal, first reported by ESPN, will give Austin a spot on Chicago's 40-man roster and a $1.25 million base salary while with the major-league club next season.

Austin produced his best year with the Yankees in 2018, when he hit 17 home runs in 69 games. He then bounced around with the Minnesota Twins, San Francisco Giants and Milwaukee Brewers. His last major-league at-bat came during Game 162 of the 2019 season.

Austin moved on to Nippon Professional Baseball, where he played with Shota Imanaga on the Yokohama BayStars. Across almost 1,500 plate appearances in Japan, Austin generated a .293 batting average and a .945 OPS.

With their everyday lineup mostly set -- barring a trade or a much bigger signing -- the Cubs are trying to create more depth and matchup possibilities with their bench players. Austin has some outfield experience, but he's primarily been a first baseman or a designated hitter throughout his professional career.

By signing Imanaga and Seiya Suzuki and helping them launch successful major-league careers, the Cubs have made inroads in Japan. They have been repeatedly linked to Tatsuya Imai, the top Japanese pitcher in this class of free agents.

Imai's posting window will close Jan. 2. Munetaka Murakami, a left-handed slugger who has drawn comparisons to Kyle Schwarber, is facing a Monday deadline to sign with a major-league club. Kazuma Okamoto, a right-handed hitter and a corner infielder with the Yomiuri Giants, can continue negotiating with major-league teams through Jan. 4.