5 Chicago Cubs prospects that could headline a Pete Alonso trade

Rumors are swirling around the Chicago Cubs orbit that the team will be in on New York Mets first baseman Pete Alonso, who may be available via trade this winter.

Although Alonso only has one year of control left on his contract, he is one of the year's premiere power hitters who cranked 40+ home runs in his last two seasons. This kind of production will command a significant haul of prospects in return for the 28-year-old first baseman.

If the Cubs hope to pull off this deal, they will have to dip into their deep farm system of top prospects. Here are 5 Cubs prospects who could headline a trade for Alonso.

1. LHP Jordan Wicks

Jordan Wicks was the Cubs' first-round pick from 2021 and he was finally brought up to the active roster at the end of August. He dominated his first start of the year, where he gave up just one earned run in five innings pitched and made history by setting down 15 straight batters.

Although Wicks' season ERA doesn't look stellar at 4.41, this stat was inflated from the final game of the season, where Wicks was nabbed for six earned runs in 1.2 innings of garbage time. The team already knew they weren't making the playoffs in this game so I don't fault Wicks for not showing off his best start in this game.

In Wicks' small sample size, he mostly lived up to his first-round selection. He showed great fortitude in his debut and seamlessly transitioned into the starting rotation. His stuff doesn't blow hitters away, but his changeup still misses a lot of bats and he induces a lot of ground balls. The Mets will almost certainly want a top-tier young pitcher for Alonso and Wicks would be an enticing asset.

2. RHP Cade Horton

Cade Horton has surprisingly transformed into the best pitching prospect in the Cubs' system. Similar to Wicks, Horton was a first-round pick from 2022 but he did not have much success before he was chosen. In fact, many criticized the Cubs for drafting Horton so high as he only recently developed a devastating slider which he utilized successfully in the College World Series. But the Cubs saw something in Horton, and now he is the 29th-best prospect in baseball according to MLB.com.

In his first full season, Horton has been able to fully harness his slider in tandem with a powerful upper 90s fastball to rack up 117 strikeouts in 88.1 innings. By the end of 2022, Horton made his way to the Double-A Tennessee Smokies and he posted a 2.65 ERA. The 22-year-old will likely make his way to the Triple-A level next year and be primed for an MLB debut within the next two years.

The Cubs already have a wealth of starting pitching depth even without Horton in the picture so letting go of him would not be the end of the world. Horton's high value could also keep the Cubs from giving up too many players in this hypothetical deal.

3. OF Owen Caissie

Outfielder Owen Caissie is finally getting some national recognition this year. MLB has the Canadian native ranked 64th on the top 100 prospects list and Baseball America awarded him the team's minor league player of the year honor.

Caissie saw a power surge as a member of the Tennessee Smokies this year with 31 doubles and 22 home runs. With 84 RBI and 76 walks, Caissie also showed clutch hitting and plate discipline as he ascended to the no. 3 ranked Cubs prospect. But at 21 years old, there is plenty of time for Caissie to improve on his defensive flaws.

Although the Cubs could use a left-handed power bat in their lineup, Caissie probably won't be ready to help the team compete next year and even if he was, there isn't room for him in the outfield. Using him as trade bait would be a smart move considering the outfield depth the Cubs have right now.

4. RHP Ben Brown

Ben Brown was acquired from the Philadelphia Phillies at the 2022 trade deadline in exchange for David Robertson. Since coming to the Cubs, Brown has worked his way up to the Triple-A level while becoming a respectable pitching prospect.

At 24 years old, Brown has become a potential big-league starter during his time with the Cubs. His arsenal includes a mid-to-high 90s fastball, a power curveball, a hard slider and an underdeveloped changeup. With two-plus pitches already in his repertoire, Brown would probably be a great high-leverage bullpen option and maybe even a closer.

But if he can continue to work on his other two pitches, a rotation spot is not off the table for Brown. This high upside and his placement of 86th on MLB's top 100 prospect list would make Brown a high commodity in trade talks. The Cubs are constantly developing both starters and relievers these days making Brown expendable should the Mets want him in the Alonso trade.