The Cubs didn’t exactly walk away from the 2026 trade deadline without a bruise. Moving Jefferson Rojas, who had been viewed as the organization’s top prospect, was the kind of deal that lands hard. Jed Hoyer shipped out the shortstop in order to land two Mets rentals, Clay Holmes and Tyrone Taylor, and that alone made the move feel expensive.
There’s no denying Chicago has gotten real production from the pair. Holmes has looked like the club’s ace over the last month, putting up a 1.55 ERA across his first five starts with the Cubs.
Taylor, meanwhile, has been locked in at the plate, carrying a 1.027 OPS and a 186 wRC+ through his first 52 plate appearances. That kind of impact helps soften the blow.
But prospect value is prospect value, and Rojas was the sort of name that sticks with you after a trade like that. The Cubs may now have a way to ease the sting a little: another young shortstop is pushing his way into the conversation.
Angel Cepeda, a Dominican-born international prospect, is starting to turn heads with the South Bend Cubs. He’s about six months younger than Rojas, and his path has followed a familiar development track. After his first two seasons in the Dominican Summer League in 2023 and the Complex League in 2024, Cepeda got his first extended look at full-season ball last year and made the most of it.
At 19 in Low-A, he hit .249/.339/.375 with a 116 wRC+, added eight homers, and stole 27 bases in 100 games. The finish was especially loud. Over his final 132 plate appearances in Myrtle Beach, he put together a 157 wRC+ and collected 12 extra-base hits.
That momentum has carried into 2026. In 65 games at High-A, Cepeda has tightened up his approach, walked more, struck out less, and shown more power than he did at the lower level. He hasn’t been running as much, but a 112 wRC+ from a 20-year-old middle infielder in the Midwest League still stands out.
And the late-season surge is back. Since August 1, Cepeda has hit eight of his 12 home runs and posted a .899 OPS. If he keeps that up through the finish, Double-A Knoxville is waiting in 2027.
That said, the Cubs aren’t treating Cepeda like a sure thing, and they shouldn’t. There are still other shortstops moving through the system, including Juan Tomas, Fernando Cruz, and Johan Geraldo.
In Other News...
Cardinals Suddenly Have A Real Third Base Answer To Watch
The Cardinals infield looks much more stable heading toward 2026 than it has in recent seasons, with JJ Wetherholt, Masyn Winn and Alec Burleson already giving the group a clearer shape. Third base is still the spot that hangs in the balance, though, and Nolan Gormans struggles have kept that door open for someone else to make a case.
Jess Bez is starting to look like the name worth watching. Acquired from the Mets, the 21-year-old has turned heads in Double-A with big power production, and the organization has to like that kind of upside at a position that has not yet found its answer. Bez is still young enough that there is plenty of development ahead, but he is also doing enough now to make a future major league roster spot feel very much in play. [Read more 🡒]
Cardinals Bullpen Reset Could Start With One Veteran Arm
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Staneks situation may be especially notable because of the contract wrinkle attached to him. ESPNs Jeff Passan reported that the club option for the 2027 season is unlikely to be picked up, a detail that adds another layer to what already figures to be a busy offseason for the Cardinals. Even with a solid strikeout-to-walk profile, his future is now tied to a bullpen reset that could leave St. Louis weighing veteran reliability against the need for a different look. [Read more 🡒]
Cardinals Suddenly Have A Risky Rotation Decision Fans Will Debate
The Cardinals focus has already shifted toward the next phase, even with the season still moving along at a disappointing pace. They are three games below .500 and look unlikely to make the playoffs, but the organization still has reasons to keep watching closely. With several promising young players and a strong farm system, St. Louis enters the winter needing more stability, especially in the bullpen and at the back of the rotation where a veteran starter would help steady things.
MLB.com recently added an intriguing name to the mix, reporting that the Braves may be willing to trade Spencer Strider. The right-hander has been sidelined by injury this season, but his track record before that made him one of the more dominant young arms in the game, which is exactly why a team like the Cardinals would have to weigh the upside against the risk. It is the kind of move that would fit the front offices broader needs, while also forcing a tough debate about how much uncertainty St. Louis is willing to absorb in pursuit of a higher ceiling. [Read more 🡒]