By Andrew Wright
Contributing Sports Writer
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Chicago Cubs team president Jed Hoyer made it known that no prospect is untouchable in any potential deal that he decides to make prior to the trade deadline.
A recent surge from the top prospect in Chicago's organization may have altered Hoyer's plans just a bit.
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Outfielder Owen Caissie was promoted to the top prospect in the Cubs organization after the graduation of third baseman Matt Shaw from the prospect list.
Caissie was a second-round selection by the San Diego Padres in the 2020 MLB Draft.
He was part of the return package to Chicago that helped San Diego acquire right-hander Yu Darvish prior to the 2021 season. He has since been an extremely solid minor league player, but this year might be the best of Caissie's young career.
Caissie has a .278 average with 20 home runs, 23 doubles, 46 RBIs and a .948 OPS in 79 games played this season. He is rightfully the top prospect in the Cubs system and may very well be playing his way into "untouchable" status.
Not only should Caissie's performance this season make him untouchable, but Chicago's outfield situation should play a key role in the decision.
The Cubs currently have just one outfielder under contract through the end of next season and that is centerfielder Pete Crow-Armstrong.
Right fielder Kyle Tucker is set to be a free agent after this season and both Ian Happ and Seiya Suzuki are scheduled to hit free agency at the end of next season.
The chances of re-signing Tucker feel slim, meaning Chicago will have to retain both Happ and Suzuki or pick between the two and allow the other to walk in free agency.
Those scenarios alone are enough for the front office to hang onto Caissie and give him an easy path to make his MLB debut at some point next season.
Another interesting note regarding Caissie's status is this recent update on the Cubs' deadline plans from MLB insider Mike Rodriguez.
He mentions that Chicago is willing to trade any of its top prospects, but Caissie is nowhere to be found on the list, making it likely that he will be retained and part of the future plans for the organization.
More MLB: Cubs Third Baseman Making Trade Deadline Decisions Difficult
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