The Chicago Cubs may have a bit of an outfield log jam headed into next season.
That will all depend on Kyle Tucker’s pending free agency and if Chicago is able to lock down Tucker, a trade in the outfield could potentially be on the horizon. Seiya Suzuki and Ian Happ are both scheduled to be free agents after next season, meaning they would be the two most likely candidates.
The more likely of the two would be moving off Happ to allow rookie outfielder Owen Caissie to slide into an everyday role next season.
As we noted above, Happ is slated to be a free agent at the conclusion of next season. He has shown a major decrease in production throughout this season, making him the most likely outfield trade target for the Cubs in the offseason.
Happ, a career .245 hitter, entered Monday with a below-average slash line of .226/.330/.380. His career production in almost all offensive categories is well below what he has produced during his time in the major leagues.
Combine Happ’s struggles with the production from the previously mentioned Caissie and there could very well be a trade explored in the offseason. Happ has been floated as a trade target once before, and it may very well be happening again.
Cubs leaders in wRC+ since July 18th:Matt Shaw – 181Ian Happ – 110″He’s actually kind of responding to Owen Caissie being on the roster right now.”Owen Caissie has made the case to play more, but how do the Cubs so with the crowded outfield they have? @blakecowellx and I… pic.twitter.com/tR9OYdPDNw
— Cody Delmendo (@cody__cubs) August 25, 2025
As we noted above, the free agency decision of Tucker will play a major role in the Cubs offseason plans. Tucker signing elsewhere would open the door for Chicago to run an outfield of Happ, Pete Crow-Armstrong and Caissie with Suzuki remaining in the designated hitter role.
If Chicago retains Tucker, though, it could be the move that opens the door for Happ to be sent to another team for the first time in his career.
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