One could argue that no matter what happens at the upcoming trade deadline, the Chicago Cubs already made the biggest trade of the season.
Sure, there's an argument to be made for either of the blockbusters involving the Boston Red Sox. Yet Kyle Tucker is not only an All-Star starter, but a legitimate candidate to win the Most Valuable Player Award.
The dilemma, of course, is that Tucker is only guaranteed to be in town for a year. Which means that if the Cubs are going to win a World Series, they'd better do it now, before they enter a period of total uncertainty.
So in short, more huge trades could be coming. And that means that Chicago's top prospects, even the number-one player in the farm system, could be on the move.
On Wednesday, Jim Bowden of The Athletic reported that outfielder Owen Caissie was a name he had heard a lot in trade whispers from major league executives of late.
"I get the impression the Cubs are 'all-in' to win this year and will trade Caissie or Alcántara if that lands them the right pitcher(s). Caissie’s name in particular has come up a lot in my conversations and texts with front office execs in both leagues," Bowden wrote.
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Caissie, 23, is big-league ready. He's put up a .963 OPS and 18 home runs in 71 games at Triple-A this season, and would make a nice addition to a lot of teams' lineups both now and for many years to come.
The Cubs could see Caissie as their eventual Tucker replacement if the older superstar leaves in free agency. But if the Cubs don't end up making a difference-making trade and can't get it done in the playoffs, their year with Tucker will be remembered as a huge disappointment.
Caissie will just have to wait alongside everyone else to see if his front office pulls the trigger.
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