The Chicago Cubs recently shook up the baseball world by acquiring starting pitcher Edward Cabrera via trade. This move helped add depth to a pitching staff that got hit hard with injuries a season ago. While many believe adding an impact bat, such as re-signing Kyle Tucker, reuniting with Cody Bellinger, or someone of that stature is the next move to come, what happens if the roster stands as is until Opening Day?
Will the Chicago Cubs truly enter 2026 with surprise players at DH and OF?
Oct 8, 2025; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Chicago Cubs left fielder Ian Happ (8), center fielder Pete Crow-Armstrong (4) and right fielder Seiya Suzuki (27) celebrate after defeating the Milwaukee Brewers in game three of the NLDS round for the 2025 MLB playoffs at Wrigley Field. Mandatory Credit: Matt Marton-Imagn Images
With Pete Crow Armstrong and Ian Happ locks at center field and left field, there remains a question mark at right field and potentially designated hitter. Last year, Seiya Suzuki occupied the DH spot, but as the roster stands he may potentially be the best option in the outfield. With Owen Cassie gone, Kevin Alcantara and newcomer Tyler Austin are the only other potential fits to occupy that spot.
If Suzuki were to move back into the field, it should give fans some pause given his track record—especially after posting his best offensive season as a DH in 2025. That shift would also create a need at designated hitter. Catcher Moisés Ballesteros is one possible option for that role, but he has only 66 MLB plate appearances to his name. Similarly, Austin has not appeared in the majors since 2019, and there is no guarantee that the success he experienced at the plate in Japan carries over.
Taken together, these uncertainties put the Cubs roster in a sub optimal position. Questions around Suzuki’s defensive role, the lack of a proven internal DH option should Suzuki revert back to the outfield, and the limited big-league track records of potential replacements all underscore how fragile the current construction is.
Without a clear, everyday solution already in place, the Cubs risk entering 2026 relying too heavily on projection rather than production. That reality only amplifies the need for an impact outfield addition, one capable of stabilizing both the lineup and the defensive alignment while reducing the cascading roster pressure elsewhere.
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