The Chicago Cubs have come out of the gates hot and are currently two games up on the St. Louis Cardinals for first place in the National League Central. Should this group continue to build on its encouraging start, the front office will have some positive but difficult decisions to make as the trade deadline nears.
The franchise is trying to break a four-year playoff drought and return to the success of the era that led to its first World Series title since 1908. As of now, the Cubs may have a contending roster, which means they will be buyers on the trade market.
The main area of need for this roster is the pitching staff, specifically the bullpen. To address this weakness, the front office will likely need to make some tough calls on its top farm system prospects. That is where 22-year-old Kevin Alcántara comes into play.
The Santo Domingo native is a massive talent in the outfield. Still, Bleacher Report’s Kerry Miller is projecting that the Cubs’ fifth overall prospect is the most likely player to be traded this season. Miller makes the following argument:
“Kevin Alcántara had a very brief, 1-for-10 cup of coffee in the majors at the end of last season, and has been scuffling a bit this year at Triple-A Iowa,” Miller says. “The 22-year-old outfielder is dripping with potential, though, tallying at least 13 home runs and 13 steals in each of the past three years.
They'd surely rather not part with him, with Kyle Tucker slated for free agency this winter while both Seiya Suzuki and Ian Happ are headed there after next season, too. But doing something major about this rotation is a borderline must.”
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As Miller states, the outfield for this season is locked in, but there is uncertainty about this group’s long-term future in Chicago. If the Cubs are confident they can keep all three for the long term, then there isn’t a spot for Alcántara to contribute to this team. In addition, should the franchise’s main weaknesses be addressed before the trade deadline this season, this group could have the upside of the teams from the late 2010s.
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