Cubs' top prospect mired in trade rumors shines in MLB All-Star Futures Game

The game's best prospects got MLB All-Star Week started on Saturday in Atlanta in the Futures Game, with the National League defeating the American League by a 4-2 final at Truist Park.

A Los Angeles Dodgers prospect took home MVP honors (and thankfully, for the sake of Cubs Twitter, that prospect wasn't Zyhir Hope, who was traded to LA in the Michael Busch deal) - but Chicago outfield talent Owen Caissie did a little bit of everything in the affair.

Caissie walked twice and doubled, which certainly won't do anything to cool the recent trade rumors that have been swirling around him. The 23-year-old has been riding a crazy hot streak at Triple-A Iowa in recent weeks, slashing a ridiculous .394/.487/1.091 (1.578 OPS) with seven long balls over his last eight contests.

Cubs' Owen Caissie is driving his trade value through the roof lately

On the year, he's up to a .961 OPS in 321 plate appearances, thanks to a 103-point year-over-year jump in slugging percentage. Acquired in the Yu Darvish salary dump heading into the 2021 season, Caissie has lived up to the hype and figures to, once again, be a major part of trade discussions as the Cubs look to push their chips in at the deadline.

“I don’t have Twitter, so I don’t check that stuff at all," Caisse said. “I never really paid attention to that stuff, and I’m not going to start now. Playing GM isn’t a good idea because you never know what’s going to happen. ...I’m just going to show up at the ballpark every day with a smile on my face and just try to be the best I can be."

There's no clear path to playing time for Caissie, with Seiya Suzuki slotted in as the full-time DH and enjoying a career year, three-time Gold Glover Ian Happ in left and MVP candidates Pete Crow-Armstrong and Kyle Tucker rounding out the outfield mix. That's why he's viewed as a logical trade chip, especially with Chicago shopping at the top of the market for starting pitching.

Some of the biggest names rumored to be available include Sandy Alcantara, Edward Cabrera, Zac Gallen, Mitch Keller and Merrill Kelly. If the Cubs look more for the change-of-scenery type like Lucas Giolito, it's unlikely Caissie is included in the deal. But if there's one prospect the industry seems to expect will be moved in the next few weeks, it's the sweet-swinging Canadian.