Former Cubs top prospect awkwardly hints at what went wrong in Chicago

When Owen Caissie made his debut for the Chicago Cubs last August, the impression was that the final two months of the regular season would serve as a preview for a larger role in 2026. Caissie's ascension was believed to be one of the primary reasons why the Cubs were willing to let Kyle Tucker walk via free agency this offseason. The impression was short-lived as Caissie was the headliner in the Cubs' trade package for Edward Cabrera.

Now with the Miami Marlins, Caissie has a clear runway at the major league level. As the former Cubs top prospect reported to camp for the Marlins earlier this week, he may have hinted at some friction toward the end of his time in Chicago.

Owen Caissie has an awkward reflection on his time with the Cubs.

Caissie was asked for a comparison between his time with the Cubs and early months with the Marlins, and the first thing he pointed to was Miami's desire to...compete. Considering the Cubs were a game away from reaching the NLCS last season, and the Marlins haven't made the playoffs since 2023, it's an odd thing to point out.

As if that wasn't confusing enough, Caissie seemed to point the finger at the Cubs in terms of why he was held back in Chicago. He mentioned his strikeout rate in passing, but suggested that what truly held him back was the fact that he was blocked.

He's not entirely wrong, considering he made his debut at a time when the Cubs had Tucker, Ian Happ, Pete Crow-Armstrong, and Seiya Suzuki on their roster. That being said, given Tucker's wave of injuries to end the 2025 season, Caissie would've had an opportunity to get some regular plate appearances in September had it not been for his own injury concern.

Caissie is also ignoring the fact that he was in line to replace Tucker in right field had he not been traded to the Marlins.

If nothing else, it's clear that Caissie felt a disconnect once he reached Chicago last summer. Perhaps that is one of the reasons why the Cubs didn't shy away from trading the outfield prospect this time around after avoiding such a move at the trade deadline last July.