The Chicago Cubs have established themselves as early favorites in the NL Central with a strong start to the 2025 season. Their locked-in outfield of Kyle Tucker, Pete Crow-Armstrong, and Ian Happ limits playing time for top prospect Owen Caissie, who is excelling at Triple-A Iowa.

With Justin Steele sidelined for the season due to elbow surgery, the Cubs are likely to explore pitching options leading up to the trade deadline. Potential targets include Sandy Alcántara, Tyler Anderson, Chris Bassitt, Andrew Heaney, and Pablo López. However, moving Caissie could be necessary to acquire a young, controllable pitcher.