Top Cubs prospect would make excellent trade bait to improve pitching

The Chicago Cubs’ No. 4 prospect (No. 65 in the MLB), Moises Ballesteros, who won the club’s Minor League Player of the Year award for the last two seasons, is on a historic pace in Triple-A this season. 

After Thursday’s action against Buffalo, Ballesteros is riding a 17-game hitting streak, just two games shy of tying the Iowa Cubs’ most recent record, Jim Adduci’s 19-game streak set in 2019.

The 21-year-old rising star is hitting .396/.451/.604 with four home runs in 101 at-bats this season. His .396 batting average is currently the highest in Triple-A. Given his remarkable bat-to-ball skills and his recent success, one would think Ballesteros would be on the fast track to getting his call. 

Unfortunately, it doesn’t appear that is close to happening.

Despite his scorching bat, his defensive drawbacks are too great of an obstacle. Ballesteros, who is primarily a catcher, has vastly underwhelmed as a backstop. He has taken reps at first base during his time in the minors, still, at 5-foot-8, he is a bit stretched at that position. His MLB pipeline scouting report definitively details his struggle on the diamond by saying:

“Ballesteros has well-below-average speed and quickness, giving him no value on the bases and leading to questions about his long-term viability as a catcher. In 72 games behind the plate last year, he committed seven errors and 13 passed balls while surrendering 87 steals in 99 attempts (88%) … First base is his only other realistic position, but no big leaguer 5-foot-8 or shorter has played 100 games in a season there since Joe Judge in 1930.”

With Seiya Suzuki blocking him from the DH slot and Michael Busch doing exceptionally well at first, it would seem Ballesteros has no clear path to a roster spot until 2027 after Suzuki’s contract expires. On Wednesday, Cubs manager Craig Counsell had this to say in an interview with Marquee Sports Network:

"We've got players playing well in Triple-A ... Frankly, there's not an opportunity for Moises Ballesteros right now."

Counsell also added that Ballesteros is “going to stay down there and keep improving as a catcher until there's a real need.” This would imply Ballesteros won’t get the call this year unless an injury occurs, but the Cubs might have a more pressing need that Ballesteros could help with.

With Justin Steele out for the season and Javier Assad down for the foreseeable future, the Cubs’ starting rotation has effectively fallen apart. 

After Thursday’s bout against the Pirates, the Cubs’ pitching staff cumulatively owns a 3.98 ERA, placing them 14^th in MLB. Unless the Cubs can extend Kyle Tucker, their time to win is now. Chicago currently maintains a 19-13 record giving it a two-game buffer as the first-place team in the NL Central.

For a team in a win-now situation, a prospect like Ballesteros might best serve as an enticing trade chip. If the Cubs can flip their top hitting prospect for a reliable starter, it might go a long way to helping them achieve their lofty aspirations this season.