The Chicago Cubs added Owen Caissie to their 40-man roster before Tuesday’s deadline to protect him from the upcoming Rule 5 draft. As a 6-foot-3, left-handed slugger, Caissie made that an obvious decision with his performance and potential. Still, the question remains: Where will Caissie play?
There isn’t an obvious answer yet, and the Cubs certainly don’t have to force one right now. It’s not only about Caissie, either. But with limited flexibility to their everyday lineup, a cluster of top prospects in the upper levels of their farm system and no appetite for Juan Soto’s projected megadeal, this will be a recurring offseason theme.
The Cubs continued reshaping their 40-man roster by also adding Double-A infielder Ben Cowles, who was acquired from the New York Yankees as part of the summer’s Mark Leiter Jr. trade. To open those spots, the Cubs designated for assignment former closer Adbert Alzolay (who’s recovering from Tommy John surgery) and outfielder Brennen Davis (whose promising career has been derailed by injuries). Their 40-man roster is now full.
Could Cody Bellinger be available in a trade? No doubt; Cubs president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer has shown no player is untouchable. Would Cubs officials listen to offers for Nico Hoerner? Of course; that’s their job. There are only so many names that can be realistically discussed when Seiya Suzuki, Ian Happ and Dansby Swanson have no-trade clauses.
That doesn’t mean it will be simple for a data-driven front office to find matching value for Bellinger, the former MVP who’s coming off a down season and able to earn $30 million next year. It might also be nearly impossible to sell high in a deal involving Hoerner, a solid homegrown player who’s recovering from flexor tendon surgery.
Replacing everyday players with 3 WAR floors and 5 WAR potential would be easier said than done. Bellinger and Hoerner provide Gold Glove ability, defensive versatility at key positions, speed and instincts on the bases, and contact skills that can diversify an offense. After posting back-to-back 83-win seasons, the Cubs need to add more established major-league talent.
The Cubs also want to create pathways for young players. Caissie, 22, has emerged as the organization’s only significant prospect from the Yu Darvish salary-dump trade with the San Diego Padres during the COVID-19 pandemic. Continuing his ascent, Caissie produced 19 home runs, 75 RBIs and an .848 OPS in 127 games this year with Triple-A Iowa.
“He’s moved up very steadily, rung after rung, at a very young age,” Hoyer said earlier this month during Major League Baseball’s general managers’ meetings. “He’s kind of gone one after another and really proved himself at every level. He’s still a prospect. But he’s a really good, young prospect, and he’s done it at every level at a young age.”
The next step would be Wrigley Field. However, with Bellinger opting into his contract for next season, the Cubs might already have their regular outfield set, with Happ and Bellinger in the corners, Pete Crow-Armstrong in center and Suzuki in a more consistent role as a designated hitter.
Hoyer has also talked about the value of having one of the game’s top 100 prospects only a phone call away whenever an everyday player gets injured. Besides Caissie, the Cubs placed seven other prospects on MLB.com’s updated rankings. Trading from that group would be one way to shake up a roster that has been competitive but not good enough.
(Top photo: Lily Smith / The Register / Imagn Images)
