Whereas the overwhelming majority of the give attention to the Cubs’ outfield combine this winter has been on the commerce candidacy of Cody Bellinger, teammate Seiya Suzuki has emerged as an intriguing commerce candidate in his personal proper in current weeks. Earlier reporting has described the membership as “decided” to maneuver one of many two outfielders, and as we speak Suzuki’s agent Joel Wolfe provided notable perception on the opportunity of his shopper getting dealt, as relayed by ESPN’s Jesse Rogers.
Wolfe informed reporters (together with Rogers) this afternoon that Cubs president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer approached him final evening about which groups are enthusiastic about Suzuki’s providers. Notably, Suzuki has a full no-trade clause, which means that he and Wolfe are free to reject any commerce proposal involving the outfielder. Wolfe instructed that whereas Suzuki is theoretically open to a commerce, he added that “it’s a reasonably small universe” when it comes to groups he could be keen to entertain being moved to.
Along with confirming that there are groups at the least inquiring on Suzuki’s availability, Wolfe’s feedback additionally revealed one potential motivation for Suzuki to entertain commerce affords: his want to play the outfield regularly. Following the emergence of prime prospect Pete Crow-Armstrong because the membership’s on a regular basis middle fielder final summer season, Suzuki discovered himself parked at DH regularly as soon as the membership’s outfield combine was totally well being and Bellinger cemented himself because the membership’s common proper fielder. That’s a state of affairs he was evidently displeased with, as Wolfe instructed that Suzuki doubtless “wouldn’t have signed with a group” who pitched being their on a regular basis DH to him in free company.
That potential supply of discord between participant and group shines a brand new gentle on the Cubs’ efforts to commerce both Suzuki or Bellinger this winter. With Ian Happ locked in because the membership’s left fielder and Crow-Armstrong having cemented himself in middle, it’s simple that the membership’s finest defensive alignment with their present group of gamers entails Bellinger in proper discipline with Suzuki at DH. Suzuki was well-regarded defensively for his work within the outfield throughout his NPB days however has oscillated between common and beneath common all through his three seasons within the huge leagues in line with defensive metrics. His -3 Outs Above Common final 12 months ranked thirty third amongst 42 certified proper fielders. Whereas Bellinger didn’t get sufficient reps to qualify, he’s earned +2 Outs Above Common for his work throughout all three outfield spots in two seasons with the Cubs and is mostly considered a plus defender in an outfield nook.
In fact, that’s to not say the Cubs would essentially desire to commerce Suzuki. Certainly, the membership’s obvious aggressiveness in procuring Bellinger suggests simply the alternative, and it’s not exhausting to see why. For one issues, Bellinger’s $27.5MM wage in 2025 eclipses the $19MM Suzuki is owed this 12 months, and Bellinger’s participant choice for 2026 affords Chicago much less certainty transferring ahead than Suzuki’s assured contract. What’s extra, Suzuki is a greater hitter and maybe even the most effective hitter on the group. The 29-year-old’s .283/.366/.482 (138 wRC+) slash line this 12 months dwarfs Bellinger’s personal line of .266/.325/.426 (109 wRC+), and Suzuki has lengthy been a statcast darling who hits the ball exhausting and takes his walks in comparison with Bellinger’s low exit velocities and contact-oriented method.
To that finish, Cubs GM Carter Hawkins spoke to reporters (together with Meghan Montemurro of the Chicago Tribune) this afternoon and downplayed the probability of a commerce.
“We don’t need to commerce Seiya,” Hawkins mentioned, as relayed by Montemurro. “however, look, as [Wolfe] talked about there’s individuals enthusiastic about nice gamers and so if groups come asking these are at the least conversations that we’re keen to have, however I actually don’t suppose a lot goes to come back of it.“
Hawkins’s feedback lend additional credence to earlier reporting relating to Suzuki’s availability that instructed whereas the Cubs had been keen to entertain affords for the slugger, a deal was solely prone to come collectively if Chicago was unable to commerce Bellinger. So far, Bellinger has obtained reported curiosity from the Yankees, Mariners, Astros, and Diamondbacks on the very least, suggesting {that a} Bellinger commerce stays the extra doubtless final result except the marketplace for his providers falls aside within the coming days and weeks.