The Cubs are heading into an offseason with plenty of holes to patch, and the outfield is one of the trickiest parts of the puzzle. Chicago could lose Ian Happ, Seiya Suzuki, Tyrone Taylor and Michael Conforto, a group that helped define the club’s recent identity on both sides of the ball. Happ and Suzuki, especially, were central pieces this season, combining for 50 home runs and two Gold Glove finalist nods.
If the Cubs want a cleaner, less expensive way to soften that blow, Mauricio Dubón looks like the kind of move that makes a lot of sense. The Braves infielder-outfielder is one of the league’s best modern utility pieces, and his defensive résumé is already loaded.
He won utility Gold Gloves in 2023 and 2025 with the Astros, then picked up another nomination this year with Atlanta. Across his career, he’s been above average everywhere except catcher and pitcher, which is exactly the sort of range that gives a front office options.
That versatility matters for Chicago. Dubón could slide right into one of the corner-outfield spots if Happ or Suzuki leaves.
He could also stay in a true super-utility role, giving Matt Shaw the chance to focus on just one of those outfield positions. Either way, the Cubs would be adding a player who can move around without the defense taking a hit.
There’s some bat here too. Dubón had the best offensive season of his career in Atlanta, putting up a .719 OPS and 99 wRC+ while hitting 12 home runs and stealing 10 bases. For a team that wants to keep its offense among the league’s best, that kind of production would matter, especially if he’s coming off the bench.
Free agency will be new territory for Dubón, but he should still draw strong interest after totaling 4.6 fWAR over the past two seasons. A qualifying offer seems unlikely, yet the market could still get crowded fast, with contenders chasing his defense and flexibility. The contract may end up getting uncomfortable for a 32-year-old whose career wRC+ sits at 88.
For the Cubs, that’s the call to make. Dubón isn’t a straight replacement for Happ or Suzuki, but he could give Chicago a valuable table-setting move and free the front office to attack other areas of the roster.
In Other News...
Cubs May Have A New Outfield Factor In Future Trade Plans
The Cubs spent much of their 2026 draft chasing pitching, but they still came away with a position player who has already started to look like more than a side note. Caden Sorrell, their second-round pick, handled his first taste of Single-A well in 22 games, flashing the kind of speed-and-power blend that tends to get a front offices attention. MLB Pipeline already has him ranked as the seventh-best prospect in the system, which is a noteworthy place to be for a player just getting started.
Sorrells rise matters because Chicago already has several outfield prospects ahead of him, and that crowding could eventually shape how the club handles its roster. If he keeps moving forward, the Cubs may have to decide whether to keep stockpiling young outfield talent or use some of that depth to address other needs. That is where names like Kane Kepley and Ethan Conrad enter the conversation, with Sorrells development adding another layer to the teams longer-term trade planning. [Read more 🡒]
Craig Counsell Just Raised A Tough Nico Hoerner Question
Nico Hoerners 2026 season has put a familiar Cubs debate back in the spotlight, even if the organization does not sound alarmed by it. After a career-best 2025, Hoerners offense dipped noticeably this year, with his batting average and OPS+ both moving the wrong way, a reminder that his value has never been built on loud production alone. Craig Counsell recently pointed to the way Hoerner plays the game as part of the explanation, suggesting his results can swing heavily with fortune because of how much of his profile lives in contact and execution.
The Cubs, though, do not appear interested in tinkering with what makes Hoerner effective. They continue to trust the consistency of his approach and do not plan to change his mechanics or style, even with the numbers trending down from last season. For Chicago, the real question is whether this is just the kind of offensive variance that comes with Hoerners game, or the start of a longer stretch where the results keep lagging behind the process. [Read more 🡒]
Cubs Still Have One Real Reason For Hope After 2026 Collapse
The Cubs had all the ingredients for a frustrating 2026 season, from repeated losing streaks and injuries to a rotation and bullpen that never quite settled in. Even with the offense leading baseball in runs, the inconsistency on the mound kept Chicago from turning production into the kind of year it expected, which made the late stretch feel like a long exercise in what-ifs.
Pete Crow-Armstrongs National League MVP season gave the club a centerpiece, but the broader reason for optimism was what held up behind him. Chicago finished at the top of the league in defensive runs saved and fielding percentage, with several players surfacing as Gold Glove finalists, giving the Cubs a foundation they can actually trust as they head into 2027. [Read more 🡒]