Dee Strange-Gordon opts out of deal with Cubs

Veteran infielder Dee Strange-Gordon has opted out of his minor-league contract with the Cubs, reports Jeff Passan of ESPN (Twitter link). He’s now a free agent, but Passan adds he’s expected to sign elsewhere in the next few days.

It’s the third time this season Strange-Gordon has been let go from a minor-league deal after he didn’t crack the 40-man roster. The speedster signed with the Reds over the winter, was released in spring training, and hooked on with the Brewers in April. Strange-Gordon was released by the Brew Crew in late May and signed with the Cubs a few days later.

While Strange-Gordon hit well in a 10-game stint with the Brewers’ Triple-A affiliate, his longer run with the Cubs’ top farm team didn’t go well. Between the two organizations, the 33-year-old has hit just .259/.299/.361 in 168 plate appearances in Triple-A this season. It’s a continuation of Strange-Gordon’s offensive struggles throughout his 2018-20 tenure with the Mariners.

Nevertheless, it’s not surprising to hear there’s still interest in Strange-Gordon around the league. He’s a two-time All-Star and respected veteran who still has plenty of speed and has played both middle infield positions in the minors this year.