The Chicago Cubs are off to an excellent start to the 2025 season, but to make a deep playoff run in a stacked National League, they may very well need extra firepower.
Compared to the other top NL teams, the Cubs don't have a stacked rotation. Shota Imanaga is a serviceable number-one, but the loss of number-two starter Justin Steele means the Cubs could be relying on smoke and mirrors to hang with the other contenders.
For that reason, the Cubs have long been rumored as suitors for Miami Marlins ace Sandy Alcantara, the 2022 NL Cy Young Award winner who made his return from Tommy John surgery on Opening Day.
It's going to take a hefty prospect package to pry Alcantara from the Marlins with two-and-a-half years of team control remaining on his contract. And one baseball writer believes the Cubs' number-three prospect could be on the move.
On Tuesday, ESPN's David Schoenfield named Cubs outfield prospect Owen Caissie, MLB Pipeline's No. 50 overall prospect at the moment, as a "trade candidate" who could be included in a package to help Chicago land Alcantara.
"With staff ace Justin Steele out for the season, the Cubs will be on the hunt for a replacement -- and just happen to have a nice farm system with plenty of depth to make a deal for Alcantara," Schoenfield wrote.
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"Caissie and Kevin Alcantara (not related) are two young outfielders in Triple-A, and even if Tucker isn't re-signed, there won't be room for both youngsters in 2026, so either could headline a deal. Caissie's high-end power potential would certainly be intriguing for the Marlins, who have long been searching for a power-hitting outfielder."
Caissie, 22, has a strong chance to make his major league debut this season, after a 19-homer campaign with an .847 OPS in Triple-A Iowa in 2024. But the Cubs' outfield is loaded, and Caissie is therefore blocked out of a starting role unless there's an injury.
Plus, a long list of other teams would love to get their hands on Caissie if the Marlins aren't willing to part with Alcantara.
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