Unexpected Cubs injury update could stop Jed Hoyer from making this offseason move

If Kyle Tucker and the Chicago Cubs surprisingly reunite in free agency, there is next to no clear path to regular at-bats for the likes of Kevin Alcantara, Owen Caissie and Moises Ballesteros next season. Even without Tucker, finding playing time for all three prospects could be challenging - but the team's chances of trading Alcantara may have just taken a hit.

Alcantara underwent surgery to repair a sports hernia this week and is expected to have a 'mostly normal' offseason, according to Marquee Sports Network. The Cubs anticipate him being ready to go for spring training - but this injury could make it harder for Jed Hoyer to trade the young outfielder in a move for pitching help this winter.

With at least one more year of Ian Happ and Seiya Suzuki on the roster and Pete Crow-Armstrong locking down center field for the rest of the decade, it makes little sense for Chicago to carry both Alcantara and Caissie heading into 2026. Factor in the fact that Alcantara cannot be optioned to the minors next year without being exposed to waivers, and he made a ton of sense as a logical trade candidate.

Kevin Alcantara makes a lot of sense as a Cubs trade candidate

Will a team still bite on him in talks? It's definitely possible. After all, we're talking about a young player with a ton of upside who has been a consensus top 100 prospect each of the last three preseasons, according to MLB Pipeline. But the medicals could certainly impact talks, perhaps dinging his value - although it's worth noting that Dansby Swanson had a similar procedure this time last year and was good to go come spring.

Alcantara, like Caissie, spent most of the year at Triple-A Iowa - due largely to a lack of opportunities at the big-league level. In 430 plate appearances with the Cubs' top affiliate, the 23-year-old slashed .266/.349/.470, extending his streak of having an OPS north of .800 to his sixth-straight professional season.

With needs in the rotation and the pen, Hoyer could revisit trade talks and tap into his prospect pool to shore up the staff without paying top-dollar in free agency. The surgery update isn't a guarantee that Alcantara won't get moved, but it could definitely give some teams pause if he's a main piece in a proposed trade.