Chicago Cubs acquire minor league outfielder, suggesting MLB Trade Deadline moves

We are less than one week away from the Major League Baseball Trade Deadline, and the Chicago Cubs made their first move on Thursday.

In a minor trade with the Pittsburgh Pirates, the Cubs acquired Triple-A outfielder Gilberto Celestino.

Celestino has 264 plate appearances with the Pirates' Triple-A affiliate this season, compiling a slash line of .271/.348/.356 with 3 home runs. Celestino is carrying a wRC+ of 88 on the season.

Celestino arrives in the Cubs' organization with some past Major League experience. The 25-year-old outfielder appeared in 145 games with the Minnesota Twins between 2022 and 2023, slashing .222/.292/.300 with a 73 wRC+.

On the heels of signing Trayce Thomspon earlier this month, the Cubs appear to be adding outfield depth to their organization. While Thompson's signing was likely tied to the fact that Mike Tauchman, Alexander Canario, Brennen Davis, and Owen Caissie were dealing with various injuries and the team needed outfield depth, acquiring Celestino could be preparing the organization for one of their outfielders to be traded.

Even though Bellinger is sidelined with a broken finger, he was able to take live batting practice this week, and the idea of the Cubs being able to move him before the deadline on Tuesday has not been ruled out. Mike Tauchman returned from the IL this week as well and could be a trade candidate for a team in search of a fourth outfielder.

If one or both of Bellinger and Tauchman are moved before the deadline, it would seem that Canario and Caissie would be on their way to the Major League level. Caissie would be making his Major League debut to create a soft landing for a potential spot on the 2025 Opening Day roster, while Canario would finally have a path to regular plate appearances.

In that scenario, the Cubs would likely depend on Celesino for depth for Triple-A Iowa.