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The Chicago Cubs don't have the best prospect capital to utilize at the 2026 MLB trade deadline.
With major needs in the rotation and bullpen, the Cubs really need to find a way to upgrade the roster this summer.
While they could trade from their big-league roster, with Matt Shaw or Kevin Alcantara as trade chips, there's a different slugger who could be utilized as a trade chip.
Bleacher Report's Joel Reuter is predicting that the Cubs will turn to 22-year-old slugger Moises Ballesteros as a trade chip thanks to the breakout season from 1.068 OPS prospect Owen Ayers.
Cubs predicted to use Moises Ballesteros as trade chip for Owen Ayers' reason "Chicago Cubs: Owen Ayers turns Moises Ballesteros into a trade chip," Reuter predicts.
"Could Ayers' breakout make Ballesteros a trade chip? Reuter is making this prediction based on how Ballesteros has struggled this season, hitting .231 with 0.2 bWAR in 156 at-bats this season with a .687 OPS.
With how the Cubs are a contender this season, having someone who can help right now makes more sense.
Ballesteros might be a developmental piece, but the Cubs could look to pivot from him and go with Ayers in the same role.
The Cubs' top prospect is currently hitting .321 with a 1.068 OPS this season in 77 games between High-A, Double-A, and Triple-A.
While hitters typically get worse as they move up, Ballesteros has still been elite.
At Double-A, he had a 1.008 OPS in 65 games, and in one game in Triple-A, he had three hits, one walk, and one stolen base in four at-bats.
The only issue for Ayers is that he's already 25 years old.
Ballesteros is three years younger.
Even though Ayers has been great this season, the youth and upside of Ballesteros are something teams would likely prefer to acquire in a deal.
Reuter is predicting that instead of using Ayers as a trade chip amid a breakout year, the Cubs will turn to Ballesteros, the 22-year-old who's already made his MLB debut with a .736 OPS in 79 games and 213 at-bats.
This is a bold prediction, as it could easily backfire if Ayers' breakout is a one-year wonder, and Ballesteros, after being traded, finds his footing and turns into an elite hitter as he showed in 2025 with an .868 OPS in 57 at-bats.
But trading Ballesteros likely could bring back the better pitcher.
Even though Ayers might have trade value, it's not likely as strong as what Ballestero could bring back, even amid his struggles.
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