The Cubs’ defense gave them a real foundation this season, and the hardware backed it up. The club won the National League Gold Glove Award, Alex Bregman and Pete Crow-Armstrong each won Gold Gloves, and Crow-Armstrong also added a Platinum Glove to the mix.
But if Chicago is going to push beyond that, the glove work alone won’t get it there. The roster still needs help, and the Cubs have a few different ways to attack it.
They can shop in free agency, where there are plenty of names and plenty of money to spend. They can swing a trade that helps now and later.
Or they can turn inward and see which young players are ready to force the issue by 2027.
That internal route matters most in the outfield. Pete Crow-Armstrong is the only starter locked in for 2027, while Ian Happ and Seyia Suzuki are both headed for free agency and most signs point to the Cubs losing both. With the pitching staff also needing attention, finding an outfield answer from within would give Chicago more room to spend on the mound.
The most obvious candidate is Josiah Hartshorn, the Cubs’ No. 1 prospect. He’s only 19, but he’s already climbed quickly and looks like a player who could matter soon. He was the only minor league prospect in the organization to win a Gold Glove this season, which fits the profile: elite defense first, and plenty of room for the bat to keep growing.
Hartshorn isn’t just a glove-only prospect, either. He brings real flexibility, with most of his time coming in the outfield but enough ability at first base to give Michael Busch a break when needed. He jumped through the system fast and reached Double-A Tennessee last season, and it wouldn’t be a surprise if he ends up on the major league roster sooner rather than later.
The numbers help his case. Across multiple levels, Hartshorn hit .284 with 23 HR, 112 RBIs and a .925 OPS. If that production carries into spring training and then into the start of 2027, the Cubs may not have much choice but to bring him to the big leagues.
Another name worth watching is James Triantos, the former 2023 second-round pick who could save Chicago from spending on a utility type in free agency. He can line up just about anywhere, having handled every outfield spot in the minors last season while also seeing time at second and third base.
Triantos already has some Major League experience, even if it was limited, and the Cubs now have to figure out whether he can win a real job and hold it. At this stage, the organization didn’t draft him that high to leave him parked in the minors forever.
With Triple-A Iowa last season, the 23-year-old played in 113 games and hit .300 with 9 HR and 58 RBIs. It feels like he’s done just about everything he can do at that level, which puts the pressure back on Chicago to decide whether he’s part of the next wave in the majors.
In Other News...
Cubs May Be Running Out Of Time On Two Former Top Prospects
The Cubs have a few moving parts already lined up for 2027, with internal names such as Matt Shaw, Pedro Ramirez, Justin Steele and Edward Cabrera expected to take on larger roles as openings develop in the rotation and outfield. But while the organization has some clarity on the next wave, it also has two former top prospects still sitting on the 40-man roster in Kevin Alcantara and Jordan Wicks, and both are at a point where the clock is starting to matter.
Alcantara and Wicks have not gotten enough consistent playing time to settle their cases, and performance concerns have only added to the uncertainty around where they fit long term. With the Cubs also staring at a potential roster crunch before the anticipated MLB lockout in December 2026, the front office may be forced to sort out those decisions sooner rather than later, even if the picture on both players is still incomplete. [Read more 🡒]
Cubs Outfield Reality Is Starting To Crush The Dream Options
The Cubs offseason priorities are coming into focus, and the outfield market is starting to look a lot less glamorous than some fans might have hoped. Chicago is expected to spend most of its energy on pitching in free agency, while the idea of swinging a blockbuster deal for a superstar outfielder has quickly drifted into the background.
Bryce Harper and Ronald Acua Jr. are the kind of names that can ignite a winter, but the reality around both makes those dreams feel remote. Harpers contract is a major obstacle, and Acuas trade status is uncertain enough to make a deal unlikely, which leaves the Cubs pointing toward shorter commitments for veteran hitters and more affordable outfield help on the open market. [Read more 🡒]
Cubs Offseason May Come Down To One Aggressive Pitching Decision
The Cubs offseason pitching plans are starting to sound less like a shopping list and more like a fork in the road. After another year of searching for more depth and stability on the mound, Chicago is weighing whether to simply add arms around the edges or make a bolder move for a starter who can change the shape of the rotation.
Drew Rasmussen has emerged as the kind of name that fits that bigger swing, especially with the Rays payroll situation making him a logical trade candidate. For the Cubs, the appeal is obvious: a chance to chase a true No. 1 type rather than patching over their recent pitching issues one piece at a time, even if nothing has been finalized yet. [Read more 🡒]