Cubs parting with Moises Ballesteros at the trade deadline paves new path for rising prospect

One of the boldest moves the Chicago Cubs made at the trade deadline was giving up Moises Ballesteros as part of a trade with the Los Angeles Angels. The Cubs landed controllable reliever, and potentially future closer, Ryan Zeferjahn as part of the trade, but Ballesteros was long considered to be someone the front office wasn't looking to move.

While that does speak to how highly the Cubs view Zeferjahn and the fact he's under control through the 2030 season, it also might be a tell on what the Cubs think their catching situation will look like next season.

Ballesteros was the Cubs' Opening Day designated hitter, and initially, it looked like a natural fit. He slashed .338/.392/.620 through April, but things feel off a cliff since then. He posted a .358 OPS in May, followed by a .555 mark in June before his demotion.

Part of the demotion to Triple-A Iowa was meant to give Ballesteros regular catching reps, but also get his hit-tool back on track. The offense still hasn't returned for Ballesteros, posting an 80 wRC+ through 145 plate appearances before the trade, and it continued to seem like the Cubs weren't high on the idea of him being a regular catcher moving forward.

Moises Ballesteros' Cubs tenure came to an abrupt end, and Owen Ayers likely was a reason why.

As part of that conversation, Owen Ayers' meteoric rise also likely played a factor in the Cubs' decision to trade Ballesteros. Ayers was drafted by the Cubs near the end of the 2024 season, and the bat has popped this year. It took him only 66 games to go from High-A to Triple-A this season, and through his first 51 plate appearances with the I-Cubs, he spots a 140 wRC+.

What makes Ayers' rise so surprising is that by most accounts, he projected as glove-first catcher. For that reason, there's a need to see just how sustainable his offensive success this season is, but it's clear that the Cubs are viewing Ayers as a potential option to be the roster next season.

Carson Kelly is a free agent this offseason, and while the Cubs would certainly love to have him back, he's positioned to be the best catcher available in free agency this winter. Couple that with his age, 32, and the Cubs likely won't be at the top of his market.

The Cubs almost certainly will look to bring in a veteran to add some level of competition next season, but after the deadline, it's clear that Ayers and Miguel Amaya are tracking to be the catching tandem for the Cubs next season.

Add us as a preferred source on Google

Follow