Dream Chicago Cubs starting lineup for 2026 MLB Opening Day

The Chicago Cubs fielded the fifth-most prolific run-scoring offense in baseball in 2025, but with Kyle Tucker heading for less windy pastures this offseason, there's going to need to be some improvement on that side of the ball.

I'm going to attempt to pull a balancing act here. This is a "dream" lineup, but that doesn't mean I'm going to throw objectivity out the window. I'm sure we'd all love to have Shohei Ohtani at DH (and pitcher) next year, but the Dodgers wouldn't let him go for all the (deferred) money in the world.

What might a "realistic dream" lineup for the Cubs look like in 2026?

So, I'll be treating this like a "realistic dream"; in other words, there has to be some semblance of logic and believability behind each player being on this roster. That doesn't mean the Cubs can't go big-fish hunting, but rather that you won't see Bobby Witt Jr. and Aaron Judge anywhere on this list.

Catcher: Carson Kelly & Miguel Amaya

Kelly broke out with a 115 wRC+ in 2025 as the team's starting backstop, and prior to injury, Amaya was having a breakout of his own with a 124 wRC+. Both are under contract through 2026, and given the state of the free-agent market at the position, neither should feel threatened.

The real "dream" scenario is the Cubs finding a way to retain Reese McGuire on a minor-league deal as the third catcher, but barring that, Kelly and Amaya are going to be the team's catchers in 2026.

First Base: Michael Busch

What actually needs to be said here? After leading the team in home runs (34) and recording a 140 wRC+ at the cold corner, not even Pete Alonso could threaten Busch's status as the Cubs' starting first baseman. His postseason heroics alone are enough to salivate over.

Second Base: Nico Hoerner

Another shoo-in to maintain the status quo. A .297/.345/.394 batting line has proven to be par for the course for Hoerner, and his 29 steals and immaculate defense at second base contributed to a career-high 4.8 fWAR in 2025. There are few, if any, second basemen in the league who have better all-around games than Hoerner.

Third Base: Bo Bichette

Now we're talking.

Though most would opt for Alex Bregman here thanks to his far superior defense and championship experience, Bichette has the edge in age (won't turn 28 until March) and contact ability. The Toronto Blue Jays' shortstop would have to move positions to accommodate Dansby Swanson (and because of his -13 Outs Above Average in 2025), but he hit .311/.357/.483 with a 14.5% strikeout rate this year. He's exactly what the middle of the lineup needs.

After watching Matt Shaw hopelessly flail at every pitch he swung at in the playoffs, the Cubs need to capitalize and upgrade at the hot corner this offseason, even if it requires a $200 million contract to do so.

Shortstop: Dansby Swanson

With a mega-contract for Bichette in place, the Cubs are going to find themselves stuck with Swanson, though that may not be a terrible thing after his defensive showing in the NL Wild Card Round.

Swanson can lock down the left side of the infield while Bichette gets used to his new digs, and if he can improve on his .244/.300/.417 performance at the plate, he can still provide some value to the Cubs in the bottom of the lineup.

Even if that doesn't happen, though, the team is simply stuck with the remaining four years on his contract.

Left Field: Steven Kwan

Trade alert!

Kwan was floated as a trade candidate at the deadline before the Cleveland Guardians pulled back, but expect the rumors to reignite this offseason. He's a bat-to-ball maven who is hitting .281/.351/.390 (112 wRC+) in his career, and his strikeout rate dropped to a career-low 8.7% in 2025. Like Ian Happ, Kwan is a four-time reigning Gold Glove winner in left field.

Speaking of, Happ is a Chicago institution, but his streakiness and pending free agent status after 2026 might mean it's time to move on for a hitter who, like Bichette, can introduce far more contact to the Cubs' lineup.

Center Field: Pete Crow-Armstrong

Nothing to see here. PCA's second-half struggles at the plate were well documented, but he's still the best defensive center fielder in the league who is coming off a 30-30 season. He's the present and future in center field on the North Side of Chicago.

Right Field: Owen Caissie

Assuming Kyle Tucker isn't coming back, Caissie is more than ready to take over the starting right field role for the Cubs.

The Canadian slugger wasn't perfect in his brief cup of coffee in the big leagues in 2025, but he hit 22 home runs and posted a 139 wRC+ with Triple-A Iowa this year. With some more contact entering the lineup in the form of Bichette and Kwan, the Cubs can afford to watch Caissie strike out while selling out for jaw-dropping home runs.

Designated Hitter: Seiya Suzuki & Moises Ballesteros

This is the position I struggled with the most, especially because I remain concerned that Bichette can handle the transition to third base.

Regardless, Ballesteros posted a 143 wRC+ in 20 games with the Cubs in 2025 and looks more than ready for regular duty. Suzuki, meanwhile, hit a career-high 32 home runs and caught fire leading into October. When he's right, he's as deadly a force as the Cubs have.

Bench: Amaya, Ballesteros, Matt Shaw, Kevin Alcantara

This is really just a who's who of the Cubs' top prospects over the last half-decade.

Amaya, as previously discussed, is a lock to be the 1B catcher to Carson Kelly's 1A. Ballesteros should get plenty of chances to play at designated hitter when Seiya Suzuki is needed in the outfield. And Shaw has the defensive versatility and acumen to play most infield positions and would be a suitable backup at the hot corner in case Bichette continues to struggle with the glove.

Alcántara is the only notable name here, given what has already been said, but the Cubs will need another outfielder on the bench in case of injury, and "The Jaguar" is out of minor league options. Barring a trade (perhaps for Kwan), he'll have a home on Craig Counsell's bench in 2026.