Chicago Cubs outfielder/first baseman Tyler Austin will be sidelined for "months" following knee surgery, manager Craig Counsell said Wednesday.

Austin, 34, signed a one-year contract for a reported $1.25 million in December after playing the past six seasons in Japan with Yokohama, where he hit .289 with 94 home runs and 268 RBIs.

Austin played in the major leagues from 2016-19, batting .219 with 33 homers and 91 RBIs in 209 games with the New York Yankees (2016-18), Minnesota Twins (2018-19), San Francisco Giants (2019) and Milwaukee Brewers (2019).

He was competing this spring to back up first baseman Michael Busch and provide outfield depth.