Infield Prospect James Triantos Could Play A Significant Role For 2025 Cubs

[RandallPnkFloyd]

Regardless of what the big picture looks like for the Chicago Cubs and their 2024-25 offseason, the objectively positive development to emerge has been a focus on the big club. Rather than pining for prospects on the fringe of a breakthrough, there’s been earnest discussion on roster construction as it relates to what the 2025 roster will actually look like. That’s not to say that there hasn’t been an eye on the system, of course. It just hasn’t been the emphasis as it relates to the progression of winter. That is, at worst, an indication that a certain level of expectation exists for this group.

Image courtesy of © Cody Scanlan/The Register / USA TODAY NETWORK

An interesting byproduct of that, however, is that whatever prospect-centric narratives still exist in the mainstream have seen their volume condensed. Given his proximity to the third base job, we've heard plenty about Matt Shaw. We've also heard lots about Owen Caissie and Kevin Alcántara, whether as trade chips or in their varying standing within various top prospect lists. Even Ben Cowles and Jonathon Long have had a moment courtesy of their Arizona Fall League appearances. 

With that, the name James Triantos has seemingly faded from our collective consciousness. Even as, arguably, a top-five Cubs prospect, Triantos appears to exist in a sort of no man’s land in terms of relevance. He’s not Matt Shaw. Nor has he been as prominently mentioned as part of a trade package for a starting pitcher. He wasn’t a part of this year’s AFL contingent. 

Yet, Triantos stands to play a very important part for the Cubs in 2025. In one way or another. 

In a personnel sense, it isn’t entirely unreasonable to expect to see Triantos at the keystone at some point in 2025. A strong spring could put him in line to handle reps while Nico Hoerner recovers from offseason surgery. His skill set as a hitter would help the team to replicate what they could be missing in the latter’s absence. This is particularly true in Triantos’ ability to make contact. 

Triantos may not only be the best bat-to-ball-skills guy in the system but maybe in the organization. He carries a K% of just 14.5 throughout his time as a prospect, including a mark of just 11.1 between Double-A & Triple-A last year. It is important to note that there was a jump from under 10 percent in Tennessee before it jumped up upon his promotion to Iowa. But while the rate itself leaked just over 17 percent in Iowa, he’s shown a clear ability to adjust each time. 

Upon being drafted in ’21, Triantos posted K% rates over 16 percent in each of the Arizona Complex League & Low-A (in 2022). That gave him the time to adjust to pro ball. At the beginning of the following year, he cut it to around 10. In 2023, Triantos made the transition from High-A to Double-A. His strikeout rate rose by five percent between the two. But starting the year back in Tennessee for 2024, the rate fell back to under 10. 

Diving just a bit deeper, the contact trends bode even better for Triantos as a hitter. With the exception of his 109 PAs in the complex league back in ’21, Triantos has never posted a Contact% below 80. He was at 88.0 percent with Double-A last season and maintained at 84.1 upon his promotion. For comparison’s sake, there were 11 Cub hitters with at least 200 plate appearances last season. Only Hoerner, Isaac Paredes, and Mike Tauchman posted figures over 80. Even more notable is that 10 of those 11 hitters chased fewer pitches than Triantos, who expanded the zone to the tune of a 34.1 O-Swing% while in Iowa. 

That speaks to two things. One is the pure contact ability. The other is the refinement still needed in the approach. One has the ability to compensate for the other, though, and that Triantos has maintained high contact – and subsequent strong counting stats – speaks to such compensation. Given his outcomes, even if he needs to refine the approach, he may not have to tamp down the aggressiveness all that much. 

The one hitch in Triantos relieving Hoerner for even a short stretch is the matter of his defense. “Hitch” being a relevant term here, though, in that he has seen an uptick in quality since his transition over to second base. At worst, he’s fine at the spot. But when you’re talking about replacing a part of an elite middle infield tandem for even a small amount of time, one wonders what type of impact that gap could have. Ultimately, though, the strides he’s made on that side of the ball wouldn’t appear to have him as any sort of detriment if he were running out there in Hoerner’s absence. 

There is, however, another manner in which James Triantos could be an impactful part of the Cubs’ 2025 operation: the trade market. With the Cubs still being noted in connection with any number of available arms, his standing within the organization’s top prospects could leave him as a centerpiece of such a deal. Especially given his proximity to the top level. In today’s mode of organizational practices, many teams are moving players in the interest of finances. Meaning there’s an increased desire for upper-level prospects that could contribute in the short-term, rather than younger guys with an eye on projection. Triantos fits exactly the type of bill that that handful of teams desire. 

Which really means that in one way or another, it’s hard not to see the infielder being an important part of the equation for the 2025 Chicago Cubs. It’d sure be neat to see at Wrigley. The Cubs were 15^th in Contact% as a group last season (76.9), and Triantos’ ability to contribute in exactly that facet could be valuable if Hoerner’s health status makes him a necessity. But we also know the Cubs have flirted with the idea of acquiring a starting pitcher that fits more of a “frontline” label than their other offseason additions. 

Either way, we can’t overlook James Triantos as part of this year’s equation. 

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[Stratos]

He could get a call-up this season.  I'm very lukewarm on him as a prospect.  The only plus tools he has are the bat-to-ball skills and the arm, and seems to have below average power.  He could end up being an average MLB player or Albert Almora without the glove, who knows.  The SB's he's had are interesting though.

 

[Hot Sauce]

Anyone else think this kid bears a striking resemblance to Canelo Alvarez? 

[CubinNY]

8 hours ago, Stratos said:

He could get a call-up this season.  I'm very lukewarm on him as a prospect.  The only plus tools he has are the bat-to-ball skills and the arm, and seems to have below average power.  He could end up being an average MLB player or Albert Almora without the glove, who knows.  The SB's he's had are interesting though.

 

A very poor man's Nico/Happ.

[We Got The Whole 9]

2 hours ago, CubinNY said:

A very poor man's Nico/Happ.

You can;t slash Nico and Happ like that

[CubinNY]

54 minutes ago, We Got The Whole 9 said:

You can;t slash Nico and Happ like that

Not a great comp agreed, but he's sort of like Happ who came up as an infielder, and sort of like Nico in that he has bat-to-ball but not much in the way of power. 

[Stratos]

19 minutes ago, CubinNY said:

Not a great comp agreed, but he's sort of like Happ who came up as an infielder, and sort of like Nico in that he has bat-to-ball but not much in the way of power. 

If Triantos can hit like Nico with a little more power I guess there's a chance for him to be something like a 110 wRC+ guy.  If even half of his SBs translate to the MLB, say 15-20 per year then he adds some value as well.

Jury still out on the glove is guess.  Maybe he can be a 2.5 WAR guy if things go well?