Ranking Cubs' best trade chips for deadline blockbusters

With a lead in the NL Central that has stretched as far as six games, the Chicago Cubs clearly appear to be one of the National League's premier contenders in 2025.

With that status comes expectations, especially in regards to the team's buyer status at the MLB trade deadline. Though it's still six weeks away, the Cubs have some obvious holes they need to fill, some of which may require some superstar glue to patch.

Luckily, the team has plenty of valuable trade chips to part with in the form of prospects and major league-ready pieces. Which of their young stars will the team be willing to trade come July 31?

4 best trade pieces Chicago Cubs have for 2025 MLB trade deadline

Before diving into the proceedings, let's acknowledge the players the Cubs won't be parting with at the trade deadline.

Obviously, none of the regulars on the MLB team will be going anywhere. This isn't a year to tightrope walk between timelines, à la their Cristopher Morel for Isaac Paredes swap in 2024. The MLB roster won't be losing any key contributors this time around.

Beyond that, I'd wager that Moises Ballesteros and Jaxon Wiggins are both safe. The former has already made his MLB debut this year, while the latter is emerging as a top pitching prospect with a 1.95 ERA in 50 innings across two levels this year. They aren't necessarily untouchable, but their sky-high ceilings are probably too alluring to pass up on at this moment.

With that preamble out of the way, let's examine the team's top trade chips.

4) Javier Assad

It doesn't help that Assad has missed the entire season with an oblique injury, which would naturally drive his value way down, but as a 27-year-old, pre-arb starter with years of quality MLB results, the righty will surely interest teams that have a rental piece available.

A team like the Red Sox could be the perfect fit for Assad, given their vast needs in the rotation behind Garrett Crochet. Betting on Assad's health isn't nothing, but his 3.40 ERA in 294.0 career innings will sure look attractive.

He isn't going to be the centerpiece of a blockbuster, but if the Cubs look for short-term reinforcements, Assad could be a perfect counterweight.

3) James Triantos

Thanks to the presence of Matt Shaw, Dansby Swanson, and Nico Hoerner, there's simply no room on the Cubs' infield right now.

Triantos is a high-floor prospect who is having a down-year in Triple-A (.606 OPS), though his positional versatility and penchant for low strikeout rates and high batting averages will appeal to some team with a hole at second or third base.

He isn't quite the level of prospect that could bring in a household name, but Triantos would be an excellent secondary piece to include in any blockbuster trade at the deadline.

2) Owen Caissie

Caissie is arguably the highest upside player on this list, thanks to his titanic power and impressive arm in right field.

Like Triantos, Caissie is currently blocked at the big league level, though Kyle Tucker's impending free agency could open up a spot without much hassle. Of course, the better solution for the Cubs is that Tucker signs a long-term extension, though that would keep Caissie blocked in the minor leagues.

A surefire Top 100 prospect, Caissie does present some flaws, namely his ghastly 33.6% strikeout rate, but 51 homers and 127 wRC+ over the past three seasons are going to make some sellers weak in the knees. If the Cubs go big-fish hunting at the deadline, Caissie will be on the chopping block.

1) Kevin Alcántara

"The Jaguar" is a five-tool player with a lanky 6-foot-6 frame, making it hard to imagine that the Cubs would willingly let go of him, even for a great player.

Alcántara took 10 at-bats for the team in his MLB debut at the end of last year, though he's been working through struggles (88 wRC+, 32.2% strikeout rate) at Triple-A Iowa this season. Still, at just 22 years old (23 by the trade deadline), the outfielder has all the tools to be another team's building block for the future.

It should be noted that the Cubs likely won't part with both Caissie and Alcántara at the deadline — if they do choose to trade an outfielder, it'll be one or the other. How they choose which one to keep may ultimately be up to the team they're trading with.