If there was any lingering doubt about who the Cubs consider their most untouchable prospect, the recent MacKenzie Gore trade should clear that up. When the Washington Nationals finally sent Gore to the Texas Rangers in exchange for a five-player prospect package, it wasn’t just a move that reshaped the Rangers' rotation-it also shed light on some behind-the-scenes conversations involving the Cubs.
Turns out, the Nationals had their eyes on Chicago’s top talent last summer. According to a well-connected Cubs insider, Washington asked about Owen Caissie during trade deadline talks for Gore.
But the name that ultimately stopped any serious momentum? Jaxon Wiggins.
Let’s unpack how we got here.
The Cubs have been active in the pitching market for over a year now. They’ve kicked the tires on several arms, both via free agency and trade.
One of the more notable pursuits came last offseason when they nearly landed Jesus Luzardo from the Marlins. That deal was reportedly scrapped due to medical concerns, but the Cubs circled back this winter and found a different match in Edward Cabrera.
This time, they were willing to part with Caissie, who had finished 2025 as the team’s No. 1 prospect, per MLB Pipeline.
Caissie was also part of the proposed Luzardo deal that fell through, and now he's headlining the return package for Cabrera. That tells you how highly the Cubs valued Cabrera-and how willing they were to move from a position of depth in the outfield.
But here’s the key: Caissie wasn’t the sticking point in the Gore talks. The Cubs were willing to deal him.
The name they wouldn’t budge on was Wiggins.
That’s telling.
Wiggins, a 2023 second-round pick out of Arkansas, has quickly become the crown jewel of the Cubs’ pitching pipeline. He was on a carefully managed workload in 2025, but even with the training wheels on, he was dominant.
Across 78 innings, he posted a 2.19 ERA, racked up strikeouts at a 31.0% clip, and held opposing hitters to a paltry .160 average. Those are video game numbers.
By season’s end, Wiggins had earned a promotion to Triple-A, and he’s now firmly on the radar for a 2026 debut.
At 24 years old, Wiggins has logged just under 140 innings in the minors, but he’s already being talked about as one of the premier right-handed pitching prospects in baseball. And when you look at the Cubs’ long-term rotation outlook, it’s easy to see why they’re holding him so close.
Shōta Imanaga and Jameson Taillon are both set to hit free agency after 2026. Matthew Boyd and Colin Rea could follow if their options aren’t picked up.
That’s potentially four rotation spots up for grabs within the next two seasons. Wiggins isn’t just a luxury-he’s part of the plan.
And when you consider the Cubs’ willingness to trade Caissie, despite losing Kyle Tucker in free agency and with both Ian Happ and Seiya Suzuki entering walk years in 2027, it becomes even clearer: Wiggins is the guy they won’t touch. The one they’re building around. The one they believe can anchor the next era of Cubs pitching.
So, while the headlines will focus on Gore going to Texas and Caissie heading to Miami, the real story in Chicago is who didn’t get moved. Jaxon Wiggins is still a Cub. And that tells you everything you need to know about how the front office sees the future.