3 Cubs prospects who would benefit most from a Cody Bellinger opt-out
If the former Rookie of the Year and MVP leaves, Chicago could look to its farm system for answers.
We won't get official word until early November, but a recent report indicates Chicago Cubs outfielder Cody Bellinger is 'leaning toward' opting out of the remaining two years on his deal and heading back to free agency.
Bellinger inked a three-year, $80 million deal with player opt-outs after 2024 and 2025 this spring after his last foray into free agency lasted until the end of February. Despite a resurgent 2023 campaign in Chicago that culminated in his winning NL Comeback Player of the Year honors, teams remained wary of giving him the nine-figure, long-term deal he sought.
That brought him back to the Cubs and set up the current situation. If Bellinger opts into the second year of his deal, this roster is largely locked in across the board. But if he leaves, he frees up nearly $30 million in additional payroll and gives Jed Hoyer a little more wiggle room as he looks to shake up this roster.
Assuming Bellinger is penciled in as the right fielder should he return, Chicago could give some of its top prospects some runway in 2025 as his potential replacement. Here are three with the most to gain should he instead opt out.
Owen Caissie stands to gain the most among Cubs prospects
Owen Caissie, the Cubs' second-ranked prospect and the #34 overall according to MLB Pipeline, has little left to prove in the minors. At Triple-A this year, the 21-year-old outfielder slashed .278/.375/.473 with 29 doubles and 19 home runs. That follows up a big 2023 showing at Double-A Tennessee, when he posted a .918 OPS in 120 contests.
Handing Caissie (or any prospect) the starting job comes with risk. We saw the growing pains that Pete Crow-Armstrong worked through in the first half before settling in at the plate late in the year. Given what's at stake for Chicago in 2025, that plan of attack seems unnecessarily high-risk.
But letting Caissie get reps as your everyday fourth outfielder could help him get his feet under him at the big-league level, laying the groundwork for him to take the reins from, as an example, Ian Happ, after his deal ends in 2026.
Kevin Alcantara has one of the highest ceilings in the bunch
We got a late-season first look at Kevin Alcantara at Wrigley Field. The long-levered outfielder got 10 at-bats and picked up his first MLB hit, but it wasn't near the sample size anyone would need to issue any serious evaluation.
Prior to that call-up, Alcantara split the year between Tennessee and Iowa, combining for a .278/.353/.428 slash line - including a very strong .292/.378/.469 mark in 148 plate appearances at Triple-A. Just 22 years old, he could return to Des Moines to open the 2025 season for some additional seasoning. After all, unlike Caissie, who spent the entire 2024 campaign with the I-Cubs, Alcantara played just 35 games with the team.
He could also be one of the guys the Cubs move via trade to address other needs. Hoyer won't make a move just for the sake of making a move, but it seems unlikely they hold tight to all eight of their top-100 prospects going into next season. One way or another, Alcantara has a role to play in shaping next year's club.
James Triantos is a utilityman who checks a lot of boxes
Given how often I've written about him lately (he made an appearance on my list of Cubs prospects who could benefit from Nico Hoerner's injury), I'd be shocked if James Triantos doesn't log serious time with the big-league club in 2025.
Organizationally, we know the Cubs love players with defensive versatility. Capable of spelling guys at multiple infield spots - and in the outfield - Triantos definitely fits the bill. Paired with some of the best bat-to-ball tools in the system, he would, at the very least, be a major upgrade off the bench in lieu of guys like Miles Mastrobuoni or Nick Madrigal.
I think he's the least likely to seize the starting right field job should the Cubs opt to go internal in replacing Bellinger. But I think he'll see a ton of playing time in Chicago (assuming, again, the Cubs don't trade him this winter) and could be an incredibly valuable piece for years to come.