I’m 67% sure that the Kinks weren’t writing about me and my desire for the Cubs to make something happen, but it sure seems that way. While everyone in Chicago was talking about the Bears and Packers yesterday, the Cubs sneaked in a big trade.

To hear the experts, this move should get the ball rolling in the overall ML free agent chase. At the very least, the cost of starting pitching has been set. The budget conscious Cubs finally acquired a starting pitcher, costing them only unproven talent. The primary prospect the Cubs gave up for righty, Edward Cabrera is outfielder, Owen Caissie. The 23-year-old top prospect flew through the minors since he was acquired in the Yu Darvish salary dump. While the peanut gallery was clamoring for Caissie to get his chance at Wrigley, a crowded and successful outfield limited him to only28 at-bats in 2025. And no matter how the wonks want to spin it, it wasn’t a convincing success-.192/.222/.346. Rather, it’s a case of promise and hope. and Zyhir Hope is a top prospect with the Dodgers. With the departure of Kyle Tucker, the front office had to decide whether they could slot in Caissie and Moises Ballesteros to eat up Tucker’s at-bats or trade one of them for different assets.

Goofs like me can now debate whether the Cubs got enough in Cabrera and what they can and should do to replace the missing offense. Organizations develop young prospects in the hope they will succeed at the ML level (sooner than later), but most end up moving them in mutually profitable exchanges. The Cubs also traded infielders, Cristian Hernandez and Edgardo De Leon. I’ve seen Hernandez play in South Bend and liked what I saw, but don’t fear his departure. Of course, he and Caissie could prove to be the next Lou Brock or Carmelo Martinez.

Caissie was always the prize behind door #2, but I think some of his popularity was more basic. For some, the trade will be heart wrenching but only because we’ve heard so much about him, but others will move on and forget about his amazing 2025. I’m rooting for more action from the front office and not mere window dressing like their previous acquisitions. Can you say Scott Kingery and Tyler Austin.