Chicago Cubs: The team could keep its young outfield intact

Most folks expect the Chicago Cubs to move at least one of their young outfielders. But there are paths to success that keeps the core intact.

Theo Epstein’s end-of-season press conference was chock-full of brutal honesty and expectations, but the enduring message was that no single player on the Chicago Cubs roster was safe heading into the offseason.

But despite this message preaching accountability and responsibility for every player, it is no secret that the three most prevalent names that have arisen as possible trade pieces are Kyle Schwarber, Ian Happ and Albert Almora.

All three are 25 or younger, and have flashed their potential at the big-league level for multiple seasons as contributors to a perennial contender. The Chicago outfield remains crowded with the likes of Jason Heyward and Ben Zobrist also taking regular reps out there.

With dire bullpen needs, the Cubs could address their glaring weakness with a trade of one of their young high-upside outfielders. But are there ways for Epstein to win the offseason this time around without breaking up his group of former first-rounders?