Latest Chicago Cubs lineup change has major implications for future

It's no secret that the Chicago Cubs have a logjam in the outfield. Ian Happ and Seiya Suzuki are locked into long-term contracts, and several of the team's top position prospects are outfielders.

In the weeks leading up to the Major League Baseball Trade Deadline, when it seemed that the Cubs were going to be sellers, one idea was for the Cubs to trade one of Suzuki or Happ in order to create a path toward playing time for Owen Caissie, Kevin Alcantara, and/or Pete Crow-Armstrong.

Crow-Armstrong has found his footing as the team's starting center fielder but there hasn't been too much of a roster concern due to Cody Bellinger being relegated to designated hitter duty as he continues to recover from a fractured finger.

Bellinger seems to be close to returning to the field, and when he does, the Cubs are planning a major shift for Suzuki. Matt Spiegel of 670 The Score reported on Tuesday that when Bellinger is cleared to play defense, he will move to right field with Suzuki being the permanent designated hitter.

Given the defensive struggles that Suzuki has had this season, along with the overall inconsistency he has had over the course of his career, it seemed that the Cubs were at a point of no return. If anything, Suzuki's defensive skills have only gotten worse since making his Major League debut in 2022.

What wasn't clear is if this is the plan only for the remainder of this season or if Suzuki will be considered the team's designated hitter entering the 2025 season. If that is the case, with Cody Bellinger potentially opting out, the Cubs will have a corner outfield spot open for either an offseason addition or a promotion of one of their top prospects.

Caissie may be the first prospect to get that opportunity. Spiegel also reported that Caissie is expected to be among the Cubs' September Call-Ups next month. Caissie is not currently on the 40-man roster, so there would need to be a corresponding move.