Thew 2027 Chicago Cubs could be the definition of Jed Hoyer's vision

Trying to determine the Chicago Cubs' roster for 2027 before the 2025 season has started may seem like a fool's errand, but here I am.

While Jed Hoyer takes some heat, and rightfully so, for his conservative approach, a blurry look into the future should give Cubs' fans reason for optimism.

Let's take a look at what the 2027 roster might look like.

Catcher: Miguel Amaya - I don't look for Amaya to turn into a star, but he should at least be a functional MLB catcher in the future. Beyond Amaya, there is highly touted left-handed hitting prospect, Moisés Ballesteros. There is a big question as to whether Ballesteros' glove will work, but there are few questions about his bat. His bat should play somewhere in the 2027 Cubs' lineup.

First base: Michael Busch - Michael Busch was a big reason there was no need for the Cubs to pursue Pete Alonso. Busch projects to be a 20-25 home run guy with an OPS of 800+ while playing gold-glove-caliber defense. And on top of everything else, he should come at a reasonable price.

Second base: Nico Hoerner - While Nico Hoerner has been the subject of a ton of trade rumors, he may remain with the Cubs. In 2027 Nico should still be in his prime. Hoerner is a free agent after the 2026 season but may choose to stay with the Cubs. If Hoerner goes elsewhere, James Triantos should be ready to step in. In some ways, Triantos has a similar skill set to Hoerner. Both are good baserunners with limited power but good bat-to-ball skills. If Triantos can match Hoerner's glove remains to be seen. Regardless, the Cubs seem to be set at second base for a while.

Shortstop: Dansby Swanson - Yes, Dansby Swanson is still here. And he's slowed down some but still provides some power and steady defense, though it comes with a little less range. If Swanson falters, there are a bunch of shortstop prospects in the Cubs' farm system that are lining up to take his place.

Third base: Matt Shaw - By 2027, Matt Shaw will hopefully have established himself as a decent defender while hitting close to .300 with 20 homers and 20 stolen bases a year.

Left field: Ian Happ - This is more speculative than many picks. Happ is a free agent after the 2026 season. However, Happ seems happy to be with the Cubs, and he's been a solid, if streaky, performer. And, he will still be only 31. If he is not in the Cubs lineup, Kevin Alcantara may finally get his chance. This may also be where the Cubs would take a look at the free-agent market.

Center field: Pete Crow-Armstrong - Few things give Cubs fans more of a warm fuzzy than thinking about the future of Pete Crow-Armstrong. By 2027, Crow-Armstrong is projectable as a gold glove defender while hitting .270+ with 15-20 home runs with 50 stolen bases. He could be, if he isn't already, one of the five most exciting players in baseball.

Right field: Owen Caissie - Here's another position where things get fuzzy. It's very likely that Kyle Tucker will be one-and-done with the Cubs. If that's the case, Owen Caissie should be ready to slide in. Caissie projects as a 20+ home run guy with contact issues which in turn result in a low batting average. He also has a strong arm and should be a plus defender.

DH: Moises Ballesteros. Seiya Suzuki will probably be gone by 2027. That will open up a slot at DH. If not Ballesteros, this could be an area where the Cubs look at free agents.

And here's a quick look at the staring rotation

Starter 1: Justin Steele: Steele will still be under team control and be only 30 years old.

Starter 2: Shota Imanaga: Imanaga is also signed through the 2027 season and will be 32.

Starter 3: Cade Horton: Horton should have proven himself one way or another by this time.

Starter 4: Ben Brown: Brown was very impressive before being derailed by injury in 2024. He, like Horton, has top-of-the-rotation potential.

Starter 5: Javier Assad.: I'm using Assad as a placeholder, as I expect that the Cubs will make some moves, including adding starting pitchers, though Assad could be a viable option

Closer: Porter Hodge: Hodge is young enough and cheap enough to be the Cubs closer for the next few seasons

As for the rest of the bullpen, that area of the team is much too volatile to project this far out

And some disclaimers

A few things could alter the course of the Cubs and MLB in general. The labor agreement expires after the 2026 season, and it's quite possible there will be a work stoppage in 2027. Even if there isn't, the new agreement could alter free agency.

While the Cubs look well positioned for the future, injuries could impact things. In addition, projecting young players is far from an exact science. Still, the Cubs look to be better than most teams to be competitive for the next few seasons.