Shushkewich: Canucks who could move at deadline? Caissie? Smith? Shaw?
Chicago Cubs top outfield prospect Owen Caissie (Burlington, Ont.), a Fieldhouse Pirates and Junior National Team, will be highly sought-after by other teams if the Cubs decide to swing a major deal prior to the trade deadline.
July 28, 2025
By Tyson Shushkewich
Canadian Baseball Network
The 2025 trade deadline is this Thursday at 6 p.m. E.T., and teams across the majors are starting to determine their course of action for the remainder of the campaign.
The New York Yankees are in buy mode, with the club acquiring Ryan McMahon and Amed Rosario from the Colorado Rockies and Washington Nationals respectively. Orioles’ reliever Gregory Soto has found a new home with the New York Mets. Even a Canadian has already been on the move, with Diamondbacks first baseman Josh Naylor (Mississauga, Ont.) being sent to the Seattle Mariners for a pair of prospects.
While the trade flurry will likely pick up this week before the Thursday deadline, the reality is that Naylor might not be the only Canuck to have a new home before July 31.
Most Likely: Owen Caissie – OF
Chicago Cubs
The Chicago Cubs are one of the best teams in baseball, owning a 62-43 record that has them tied with the Milwaukee Brewers for first in the NL Central. The Cubs are looking to add starting pitching at the deadline, and the rumour mill has a top-ranked Canuck prospect tied to a potential trade package.
Owen Caissie (Burlington, Ont.), the organization’s top prospect and the No. 1 Canuck prospect in the big leagues, has seen his name in the headlines as of late. The 23-year-old entered the year looking for a spot on the Opening Day roster, but a groin injury during spring training had him on the shelf early, and he’s spent the entire season in triple-A.
Through 81 games, he owns a .278/.377/.563 slash line with 24 doubles, 20 home runs, and 46 RBIs with a stellar .940 OPS. Caissie has also amassed a 138 wRC+ and a .359 BABIP through 358 plate appearances with the Iowa Cubs. His strikeout rate is a tad high (29.3%), but if Caissie were in a different organization’s pipeline, the likelihood of him being in the big leagues increases dramatically.
The reason he’s still in triple-A is that the Cubs’ outfield is stacked right now, boasting Pete Crow-Armstrong, Ian Happ, Kyle Tucker and Seiya Suzuki. While Tucker will become a free agent this winter, the remaining group is around for a couple more years at a minimum, and Caissie may be an expendable trade chip for a team looking to build an outfield core around the young power hitter. Reports are that the Cubs are interested in Pirates hurler Mitch Keller, and given his contract control, Caissie’s name has been brought up in the potential trade package.
This trade idea might not be a bad idea for both parties – the Cubs get a starting pitcher they need, and Caissie joins an organization that can use him in the outfield tomorrow.
Mid-tier likely: Cade Smith – RHP
Cleveland Guardians
Cade Smith has been one of the best relievers in the game since debuting for the Cleveland Guardians in 2024. Dating back to last season, Smith (Abbotsford, B.C.) owns the top fWAR amongst big league relievers (2.7) and the top FIP (1.64), with the right-hander amassing an incredible 12.6 K/9 mark through 120 big league innings. While Emmanuel Clase has solidified the closer’s role in Cleveland, Smith has been the next best option for the AL Central squad, and owns a 2.33 ERA and four saves through his two seasons.
It was reported last week that the Guardians were willing to listen to offers on Smith and Clase. Bob Nightengale reported that the Guardians have seemingly decided that Smith is staying put this summer, but as many of us know, the trade deadline can change things in a hurry and “immovable” players are all of a sudden with a new organization.
Smith is an interesting trade target, as his numbers and ability to rack up the strikeouts could likely have him in the closer’s spot for multiple different teams, but he also has years of contract control to work with. He still has another year of pre-arbitration before three years of arbitration, so he’s under contract control for a long time while still being on the right side of 30. The Guardians can ask for an absolute haul for the reliever, and likely will find a buyer who needs bullpen help in the worst way. Considering they still have Clase on the books, it’s a move the club can make without regretting it down the line.
The Guardians are sitting second in the AL Central with a 52-53 record and are just three-and-a-half games out of a Wild Card spot, so they are still in the hunt for postseason baseball. They don’t need to move Smith if they don’t want to – he’s not a rental player nor commanding a huge salary next year – but small market teams can do some interesting things at the deadline, so Smith being traded can’t be taken off the table just yet.
Low likelihood: Sam Shaw – OF
Toronto Blue Jays
The Toronto Blue Jays have been the hottest team in baseball since the All-Star break and find themselves sitting atop the AL East standings. The club should be one of the more active teams at the trade deadline this week, as the Jays need to address the bullpen, a power bat, and potentially another starter.
With these potential deals, the Jays will need to dip into their prospect pool, and one player who could find themselves as part of a trade package this week is Victoria’s Sam Shaw.
Selected in the ninth round of the 2023 MLB Draft, Shaw spent the 2023 and 2024 seasons in Rookie Ball and has now made the jump to high-A Vancouver after finding his power with the single-A Jays squad to start the year. Through 62 games in Dunedin, Shaw posted a .253/.383/.418 slash line with 10 doubles, three triples and seven homers. His Canadians tenure has gotten off to a bit of a rough start since being promoted early last week, collecting just three hits through his first six games at the next level.
What makes Shaw an attractive trade chip is his age, playing high-A at just 20 years old, and his elite eye at the plate. Last season, he had 35 walks compared to 21 strikeouts, and to start the 2025 season, he accumulated 45 walks compared to 54 punchouts with the single-A Jays. That type of patience and discipline is not a teachable skill. Shaw just finds ways to get on base. He continuously puts up walk rates above the 15% mark, which is incredible for a younger player facing more experienced arms.
The development is still needed as he works his way up the minor league ladder, but there are a few different scenarios out there where Shaw may be included in a trade package at the deadline.