The Cubs are heading toward a new look behind the plate, and Owen Ayers is right in the middle of it.
Carson Kelly is now a free agent after declining his $7.5 million mutual option for next season earlier in November, and Chicago does not seem eager to pour big money into free-agent position players. That has opened the door for Ayers, the organization’s top catching prospect, to become a major piece of the 2027 club.
Kelly gave the Cubs exactly what they needed over two seasons. The 32-year-old hit .254/.335/.402 with a 109 wRC+, 4.3 fWAR, 27 home runs, 108 RBI and a 10.0 BB% rate since 2025.
He also handled the job well defensively, posting positive metrics and successfully challenging pitches under the newly implemented ABS Challenge system in 2026. Chicago still hasn’t ruled out a reunion, but the direction looks clear: the team is leaning young.
That’s where Ayers comes in. The switch-hitting catcher was drafted in the 19th round of the 2024 MLB Draft out of Marshall and finished the 2026 season with the Iowa Cubs in Triple-A.
Across three minor-league levels, he hit 25 home runs and put together a 143 wRC+ in 538 plate appearances. His .289/.403/.526 line and 15.2% walk rate show a bat that kept forcing its way into the conversation.
The Cubs may still bring in veteran competition to begin the season. Miguel Amaya has been solid in his role, but he hasn’t fully locked down the future starting job.
Asking Ayers to jump in as a rookie, learn a new pitching staff and contribute offensively right away would be a lot. Even so, the organization seems convinced he can handle a real role quickly.
That confidence matters, especially after the Moises Ballesteros experiment last season. Ballesteros was given a big opportunity, but after a disappointing midseason stretch, he was traded to the Los Angeles Angels. The Cubs clearly believe Ayers is a different case, and that his 2026 breakout can translate into an immediate impact in Chicago.
In Other News...
Cubs Trade Hopes Just Hit An Early Reality Check
The GM Meetings were supposed to offer the Cubs a chance to get creative, but the early read around the industry suggests the market is not lining up for a quick strike. With a potential lockout hanging over the winter and teams wary of moving players with only one year of control left, the kind of surprise deal that can reshape a roster in November looks harder to pull off than it did a few weeks ago.
MLB Networks Jon Morosi reported that several notable players in that category are unlikely to be flipped for prospects this month, which leaves Chicago in a tricky spot as it weighs its next move. The Cubs may have to work the margins instead, exploring more inventive trade conversations around players such as Christopher Shaw and Seiya Suzuki, whose pending free-agent status limits the kind of return they can bring back. [Read more 🡒]
Cubs Pitching Plan May Reveal How Aggressive Jed Hoyer Really Is
The Cubs are already lining up their offseason pitching priorities, and the early read is that they want to stay active before the looming MLB lockout complicates everything. Clay Holmes and David Peterson are both viewed as strong fits for Chicagos rotation, with Peterson in particular making a positive impression after arriving midseason and giving the club a clearer sense of what he can offer over a full year.
What makes this plan worth watching is the balance it reveals in Jed Hoyers approach. The Cubs appear willing to chase the right arms, but they also sound cost-conscious enough to steer away from the top of the market, which could keep them from jumping into bidding wars for pitchers such as Tarik Skubal, Michael King and Freddy Peralta. [Read more 🡒]
Cubs May Revisit One Part Of The Michael Busch Trade Soon
Michael Busch is still the Cubs everyday first baseman through 2029, so the trade that brought him over from the Dodgers remains very much part of Chicagos present and future. Even after a down 2026 season, Busch gives the Cubs stability at a premium infield spot, which is why the deal continues to matter beyond the original transaction and why the front office can still feel the ripple effects of what it gave up to get him.
One of those ripple effects is Zyhir Hope, who has quickly grown into a top prospect in the Dodgers system and gives Los Angeles a long-term piece to dream on. Jackson Ferris has taken a tougher path in the minors, though he did show improvement late in 2026 and could still factor into the Dodgers bullpen down the road, leaving this trade looking like one the Cubs may want to revisit in hindsight even if Busch remains an important part of their lineup. [Read more 🡒]