If Owen Caissie is ultimately traded before the July 31 deadline — perhaps in a deal like the one suggested by MLB insider Jon Heyman — it wouldn’t be entirely fair to place the blame on him.
Granted, that might sound overly harsh. If the Chicago Cubs decide to move their Triple-A outfielder to strengthen their big-league roster ahead of the deadline, the decision will hinge on several factors that are largely beyond Caissie’s control.
And based on his recent comments, Caissie doesn’t sound eager to be part of any trade talks.
In his Sunday column for USA Today, Bob Nightengale mentioned that Caissie — the Cubs’ top prospect and the No. 42 overall prospect in MLB — and Mariners catching prospect Harry Ford (No. 55 overall) are among the most prominent young players expected to be traded by contenders this month. It’s not news that Caissie welcomed.
“I just show up at the ballpark every day with a smile and try to be the best version of myself,” Caissie said.
“I’m not on Twitter, so I don’t see any of that stuff. I’ve never paid much attention to the rumors, and I’m not going to start now. Pretending to be the GM isn’t a great idea — you just never know what’s going to happen.”
Owen Caissie’s Recent Surge Makes Him a Trade Target
Caissie wouldn’t be in the center of trade rumors if he hadn’t been performing at such a high level lately. But that’s often the reality for a talented offensive outfielder in Triple-A — especially when the big-league club already has depth in that area and postseason ambitions.
Through 73 games with Triple-A Iowa, the 23-year-old Caissie (a 2020 second-round pick) has slashed .278/.386/.575 with a .961 OPS, hitting 20 doubles, 19 home runs, and driving in 42 runs.
Just before the All-Star break, he was on fire — going 13-for-29 with seven homers, nine RBIs, and 14 runs scored over a seven-game stretch. He also earned a start in the outfield and hit third for the National League in the MLB All-Star Futures Game, notching an RBI double and drawing two walks in a 4–2 win.
That kind of performance makes Caissie a highly attractive piece for any team looking to deal with the Cubs.