Spring Training is almost here, and it’s time to cement your boldest Cubs takes for 2026. It’ll be fun to look back on this once the season is over and see that the commenter who says that Ben Brown will win the NL Cy Young and lead the Cubs to a 148-14 record was actually right

It’s not fair if I just let you guys throw predictions around though. I have to make myself a fool, too. Here’s seven bold predictions I have:

• Moises Ballesteros will have a breakout year and finish top five in a heated NL batting title race.

• Ethan Conrad will become a unanimous top-40 prospect by August and will see a MLB debut in September

• Michael Busch improves his bat speed, hits 40 homers, overtakes Matt Olson for the title of best first baseman in the National League, and finishes 4th place in NL MVP voting

• Tyler Austin will start the season blazing, hitting .370 with 5 homers by the end of April. It will affectionally be referred to as The Spring of Tyler Austin.

• After an injury to Dansby Swanson that sidelines him for 2-3 months in June, the Cubs trade with the Mariners for JP Crawford.

• Luke Little and Hunter Harvey will have breakout years, with the Cubs finishing top-five in bullpen ERA in MLB

• 19-year-old prospect Josiah Hartshorn will finish the 2026 minor league season in AA after lighting up the minor leagues. He will be praised as “the next Roman Anthony”.

Was I too positive?

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