While the future of the Chicago Cubs outfield for 2027 and beyond is uncertain, the blueprint is there for Jed Hoyer and the front office to make the correct decisions. While Pete Crow-Armstrong being your permanent, MVP-caliber center fielder certainly helps, the corner outfield spots will both need to be addressed. Both Seiya Suzuki and Ian Happ are free agents after this season, and difficult decisions will have to be made.
However, these decisions don't seem that difficult. Suzuki has consistently been an above-average hitter, and this year he's significantly improved in the field. As of Tuesday night, Suzuki hit the 20-home run mark for a 4th straight season. Chicago should do everything they can to bring back Suzuki in the offseason. Happ, on the other hand may not be sticking around in Chicago, and it's not necessarily due to his performance. Happ is 32 years old, and the next contract he receives is likely to be his last big one as a major leaguer. The money that Happ will be searching for will simply not be worth it for an organization who's #1 prospect is outfielder Josiah Hartshorn, who has all the makings of a future superstar.
The Cubs ideal outfield for 2027 and beyond is obvious
In this ideal scenario where the Cubs are able to retain Seiya Suzuki, this leaves Chicago with only one outfield spot to figure out, and the solution seems obvious. Josiah Hartshorn will inevitably make his way through the minor leagues and at some point, make his MLB debut in 2027 or 2028.
Until then, the Cubs have a pair of young guys who are both capable of starting in the outfield, those being Matt Shaw and Pedro Ramirez. There's a case to be made for both, and the most likely situation is Shaw playing left field while Ramirez DH's. Ramirez has shown in somewhat limited action that he deserves to be in the lineup every day, hitting .295 through his first 45 big league games. He won't be taking an infield spot anytime soon, so DH seems the most likely destination for him. Where Shaw has the edge on Ramirez is his play in the field. He's shown to be a very capable defensive outfielder, and while he may not possess the same gold glove defense as Happ, he's more than capable of locking down left field until Hartshorn makes his arrival.
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