If the Cubs get to winter with at least one of Ian Happ or Seiya Suzuki heading elsewhere, the corner-outfield conversation gets a lot louder fast. Happ looks like the likelier return, while Suzuki has the kind of free-agent ceiling that could send him into the top tier of the market. Either way, Chicago could be staring at a real gap heading toward 2027.
That’s where the trade market starts to matter. The Cubs are not in a position to paper over an opening by simply rolling out a mix of Pedro Ramirez, Matt Shaw and Kevin Alcantara and calling it good, especially with most of the financial heavy lifting expected to go toward rebuilding the pitching staff. If Jed Hoyer wants to get creative before the lockout, he may have to use prospects to fill a major need on the big-league roster.
One of the more unexpected names to enter the conversation is CJ Abrams.
Abrams, 26, just turned in the best season of his career for the Washington Nationals, posting 5.1 bWAR with almost all of that value coming at the plate. He hit 33 home runs and stole 34 bases in 152 games, putting himself in the 30/30 club. The catch is the defensive side, where he has long been viewed as one of the worst defensive middle infielders in baseball.
That makes the fit look odd at first glance, because the Cubs already have Dansby Swanson and Nico Hoerner locked up for the rest of the decade. But there’s speculation that Washington could move Abrams to the outfield, which would open the door to more teams and make him easier to shop.
Even then, Chicago would be a long shot. The Nationals’ asking price would be massive after the year Abrams just had, and that helps explain why he stayed put at the deadline this summer. Still, if you’re trying to map out the kind of swing that would force teams to stop and look twice, this is it.
The problem for the Cubs is obvious: Washington wants pitching, and pitching is one of Chicago’s weak spots. A deal that would interest the Nationals could involve Wiggins, Caple and even someone like 2026 first-rounder Cade Townsend, and that kind of package would hit the organization’s pitching depth hard.
If the Cubs ever got there, Abrams would bring a dynamic jolt to the lineup. But the move would not come cheap, and it would only make sense if it came with an equally aggressive free-agent push for top-end pitching. That kind of plan would signal a team going all-in on a championship window, while also taking a real bite out of the long-term prospect base.
In Other News...
Cubs Fans Have A Real Reason To Watch Seattles Manager Search
Rocco Baldelli taking himself out of the running for Seattles managerial opening narrows the focus of a search that has already moved into its advanced stages. The Mariners are trying to replace Dan Wilson, who said he would not return for the 2027 season, and the front office has made clear it is looking for an experienced hand to guide the club forward.
For Cubs fans, the watch list is now much smaller, with Joe Espada and Jason Kanzler the only publicly known names still in the mix. However this shakes out, Seattles choice could have ripple effects beyond the Northwest, especially for a Cubs team always keeping an eye on the managerial market and the familiar names who tend to circulate through it. [Read more 🡒]
Seiya Suzuki Free Agency Just Put Cubs Fans On Notice
After a season in which Toronto followed a strong 2025 with a playoff miss, the Blue Jays are already being cast as one of the more aggressive teams to watch once free agency opens. For Cubs fans, the bigger subplot is Seiya Suzuki, who is nearing the market and has suddenly become the kind of bat other clubs could circle quickly if they decide their lineup needs a jolt.
Suzukis situation matters in Chicago because interest from a team like Toronto is exactly the sort of early free-agency attention that can change the conversation around a players future. The Blue Jays are expected to shop for offense after their struggles at the plate this past season, and Suzuki fits the profile of a hitter who could help right away, which is enough to put Cubs supporters on notice before the bidding even begins. [Read more 🡒]
Cubs Face A Risky Power Bat Question This Offseason
Eugenio Suarezs one-year return to Cincinnati gave the veteran slugger exactly the sort of platform he needed heading into another trip to free agency. He finished with a 104 OPS+, 26 home runs and 74 RBIs, a reminder that even late in his career, there is still real pull in his right-handed power. With a mutual option for 2027 expected to be declined, he looks set to reach the open market again.
For the Cubs, that makes Suarez a name to watch if their offseason takes a damaging turn in the power department. Chicago could be in the market for a designated hitter type who can lengthen the lineup, especially if it loses bats such as Seiya Suzuki. Suarez would not solve every problem, but he fits the profile of a short-term run producer a contender can justify pursuing if the market breaks right. [Read more 🡒]