With award season creeping into view, the Cubs have already got one name sitting near the top of the National League pile: Pete Crow-Armstrong. The center fielder looks like the NL MVP, and he also looks lined up to grab a Louisville Silver Slugger for his 2026 season.
Seiya Suzuki is another Cub who should be in the mix, at least as a finalist. Alex Bregman could draw some attention at third base, but Max Muncy is the one who feels most likely to come away with the National League honor at the hot corner.
Looking ahead, though, the tougher exercise is trying to map out which Cubs might be the next Silver Slugger at every position. Chicago has had one of baseball’s better offenses over the last two years, but projecting the next wave is anything but simple.
At catcher, Owen Ayers stands out. By the end of the 2027 season, there’s a strong chance he’s the Cubs’ primary option behind the plate. His bat has cooled some since moving up to Triple-A this season, but compared with Miguel Amaya, Ayers appears to have the better shot to win a Silver Slugger at the position over the next decade.
First base belongs to Michael Busch on this list. It’s been a strange season for him.
The production hasn’t fallen off a cliff, but the power drop is hard to miss. If Busch can get back to another season with more than 30 home runs, like he did in 2025, he’d look like a real Silver Slugger candidate again.
Nico Hoerner is the pick at second base, and for good reason. After the first month of the 2026 season, he looked like a lock for the award, with even early MVP chatter following him around.
A long slump in the middle of the year knocked that momentum off course, but he has been back on track since the All-Star break. If he strings together another full season without that kind of extended downturn, he’ll be right back in the Silver Slugger conversation.
Third base points to Alex Bregman. Had he not gone through that first-half slump in 2026, he would have had a much better chance to beat out Max Muncy.
Even so, the fact that Bregman is back in the discussion says plenty about how strong he’s been since the break. He isn’t going anywhere soon, and if a Cubs third baseman is going to win this award in the next few years, Bregman is the obvious bet.
Shortstop is trickier. The trade of Jefferson Rojas may have revealed a long-term issue for the Cubs: there isn’t a clear successor to Dansby Swanson.
Swanson likely won’t be a Silver Slugger candidate for Chicago moving forward, and if you had to guess who the next Cubs shortstop to win one might be, the answer may not even be in the organization. Still, for this exercise, Angel Cepeda gets the nod.
He’s still a few years away, but if the offensive breakout he’s showing at High-A this season is legitimate, it’s worth watching.
In left field, Ethan Conrad is the name to know. When he’s been healthy, he’s shown the kind of bat that can play in the Cubs’ outfield.
The problem is durability. He has rarely stayed on the field through his first two years in the system, and he finished the 2026 season on the IL again.
If the injuries finally fade into the background, he looks like a strong candidate once he reaches the majors.
Center field is simple: Pete Crow-Armstrong. As long as Pete Crow-Armstrong is breathing, he’s the answer here.
Right field goes to Josiah Hartshorn. He broke out in 2026, climbed to the top of the Cubs’ system, and became one of the best prospects in baseball. If that rise continues, he should be in the Silver Slugger conversation before long.
Designated hitter is another spot where the next winner may not currently be on the roster. But for this exercise, the guess is Seiya Suzuki, assuming he re-signs with the team during the offseason.
In Other News...
Cubs Could Finally Face The Front Office Shakeup Fans Want
Carter Hawkins has quietly become a name to watch beyond Wrigley Field, with the Cubs general manager reportedly drawing interest as a candidate for front office openings around Major League Baseball. The timing matters for Chicago, because the landscape around the league is shifting, and recent changes with clubs such as the Astros and Angels have created the kind of vacancies that can pull experienced executives into bigger opportunities.
For the Cubs, Hawkins leaving would be more than a routine personnel move. It could force a broader rethink of how the front office is structured and who holds the final say on baseball decisions, especially if Hawkins is looking for a job that gives him full control. In a sport where executive hierarchy shapes everything from roster construction to long-term planning, his next step could end up carrying real consequences for Chicago. [Read more 🡒]
Cubs May Have Found A Crucial Bullpen Answer For The Stretch Run
The Cubs got a late-season bullpen boost when they activated Edward Cabrera from the 15-day injured list and made it clear hell work out of relief for the rest of the year. His return comes at a useful time for a club trying to steady the back end of games, and it also gives Craig Counsell another option as the pennant race tightens up.
Trent Thornton landing on the injured list with left ankle soreness opened a spot, but Cabreras arrival is the bigger development for Chicagos immediate plans. Counsell sounded encouraged about what the right-hander can bring in this role, and the Cubs will spend the stretch run finding out whether this is the kind of bullpen answer that can matter when every game starts to feel a little more permanent. [Read more 🡒]
Cubs Face A Tough Spencer Strider Question This Offseason
The Cubs have been paying close attention to the pitching market under Jed Hoyer, and that means keeping an eye on every creative path other clubs explore to solve a rotation problem. Atlantas willingness to discuss Spencer Strider in a possible deal for Jacob deGrom did not go unnoticed in Chicago, especially for a team that has built a reputation for looking for unconventional ways to address pitching needs.
Striders appeal is obvious, but so are the questions around him, from his injury history to the uncertainty created by his recent performance. The Braves would also be asking for a significant return, and that is where the Cubs run into the real difficulty of matching the price. A trade involving Strider this offseason is not out of the question, but Chicago may have a hard time finding itself in the center of it. [Read more 🡒]