Cubs eye Pirates ace Mitch Keller in a blockbuster trade possibly involving Owen Caissie. Amidst the rumors, the Cubs beat the White Sox 5-4 on July 27.
StatPro MLB Beat Reporter
Forget the fireworks on the South Side for a moment. The real explosions are happening behind the scenes. With the trade deadline just days away, the Cubs are making serious noise, reportedly escalating their pursuit of Pittsburgh Pirates ace Mitch Keller. The price? Potentially one of the crown jewels of the farm system: top outfield prospect Owen Caissie.
The Cubs still have seven players on MLB’s Top 100 Prospects list, tied for the most in baseball.
The rumor mill is churning, and the name at the top is Mitch Keller. The 29-year-old righty is having a career year for the rival Pirates, posting a 3.53 ERA across 21 starts. More importantly, he's not a rental. Keller is under team control through 2028, making him exactly the kind of long-term piece President Jed Hoyer covets. The willingness to include Owen Caissie, a slugging outfielder with massive potential, signals just how serious the Cubs are about adding a top-tier arm to slot between Shota Imanaga and Matthew Boyd for years to come. This isn't a minor tweak; it's a potential franchise-altering move.
While the front office plays high-stakes poker, the players on the field took care of business, gutting out a 5-4 victory over the White Sox. Ben Brown was solid, delivering five innings of one-run ball to keep the Cubs in control. The offense struck early, with Pete Crow-Armstrong lacing a two-run double in the first. Key hits from Nico Hoerner and Matt Shaw in the sixth provided crucial insurance runs. Even after Andrew Benintendi's late three-run homer tightened things up, the Cubs' bullpen held on to secure the win, proving this team has the grit to win tough games while management looks to make them even better.
So, how can the Cubs even consider trading a prospect like Caissie? The answer lies in their incredible farm system depth. As confirmed by farm director Jason Kanzler, even after dealing Cam Smith for Kyle Tucker, the organization boasts a league-best seven Top 100 prospects. This embarrassment of riches, particularly at Double-A and Triple-A, gives Jed Hoyer the flexibility to make a major splash for Keller while also exploring smaller moves, like adding a veteran bat like Eugenio Suárez to bolster the bench. Prospects like Jaxon Wiggins, Bayister, and Alcantara could also be in play. The Cubs have the assets to address multiple needs without completely selling the farm.
The clock is ticking. With a winning team on the field and arguably the best collection of trade chips in the league, the Cubs are in the driver's seat. The next few days will be a fascinating test of Jed Hoyer's strategy. Will he cash in the assets for a proven ace like Keller? Will he make smaller moves to fortify the bench? One thing is certain: this is shaping up to be one of the most pivotal trade deadlines in recent Cubs history.
