Cubs might want to reconsider Seiya Suzuki trade plans

1 hour ago 4

Seiya Suzuki is in the final year of his contract with the Chicago Cubs, for whom he's been a quality outfielder.

With the way this season is going, that would seem to make Suzuki a trade candidate.

In one scenario, he gets traded for future help, so as not to allow him to leave for nothing in free agency.

In another way of looking at it, Suzuki could be traded for pitching help that the Cubs so desperately need.

Despite that, ESPN's Jeff Passan and Kiley McDaniel list the odds of the Cubs trading Suzuki at just 15% in a new article out on Wednesday.

"Chicago wants to get creative to fill its pitching issues, and that means at least listening on Suzuki, who will be a free agent at the end of the season," the ESPN duo writes. "Considering the paucity of impact outfielders available, Chicago could try to take advantage of the market and lean into its depth with Michael Conforto and Kevin Alcantara."

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It's definitely a risk for the Cubs to downgrade their outfield, but pitching would be such a crucial addition to their cause for the rest of the season.

The reality is this may not come into full focus until very close to the trade deadline, once the Cubs have a full view of their chances.

"At the same time, Chicago's offensive woes make dealing a hitter of Suzuki's caliber potentially counterproductive," Passan and McDaniel write. "The Cubs want to win this season, but their May swoon hasn't entirely abated in June, and they might not have a clear sense of how they want to approach the deadline until it nears."

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If the Cubs do indeed reach the playoffs, they could end up regretting not moving Suzuki for a pitcher. They might not even get there if they don't make a trade.

Either way, losing Suzuki for nothing after the season seems like a bad strategy.