The Chicago Cubs could be facing some difficult roster decisions ahead of the August 3 MLB Trade Deadline. Chicago entered the season with expectations not only of winning the NL Central, but also of making a serious World Series push. The front office even added Alex Bregman to strengthen the lineup, but the early results have fallen short, largely due to injuries in the starting rotation.
The Cubs dropped the first two games of their road series against the Colorado Rockies, slipping to 34–34 and falling to fourth place in the NL Central. With the season trending in the wrong direction, Chicago could pivot into a seller role as the deadline approaches. If that happens, one of the most attractive trade chips would be outfielder Seiya Suzuki.
The 31-year-old Japanese slugger is in the final year of his five-year, $85 million contract, which makes him a logical candidate to move if the Cubs decide to retool. Several postseason contenders would likely show interest, as Suzuki offers a proven middle-of-the-order bat with legitimate power. He also provides adequate defense in corner outfield positions.
This season, Suzuki is hitting .247 with nine home runs and 22 RBIs. Last year, he delivered a much stronger campaign, finishing with 32 home runs and 103 RBIs, a reminder of the impact he can bring when fully locked in.
While Chicago originally viewed Suzuki as an important piece of their competitive core, continued struggles through June and July could force a shift in strategy. Holding onto him without a turnaround could risk losing him for minimal return in free agency. Still, the Cubs remain just 1.5 games out of a Wild Card spot, though they would need to climb past four teams to reach a playoff position.
Cubs Could Be Surprise Sellers At Trade Deadline
Trade speculation around Suzuki is not new. MLB insider Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic noted on June 11 that Suzuki’s name surfaced in rumors last offseason as well, and he expects him to again be one of the most desirable right-handed bats available this summer.
“Quality right-handed bats will have immense value at the trade deadline,” Rosenthal wrote. “And the Chicago Cubs, a team arguably in need of a shakeup, feature a righty hitter other teams might covet: Right fielder Seiya Suzuki. The Cubs drew trade interest in Suzuki last offseason, in part, because so few right-handed hitters were available.”
Rosenthal also suggested the Cubs could use Suzuki as a way to address pitching needs.
“Perhaps Suzuki could bring back a starting pitcher who also is a potential free agent, helping the club fill a more dire need,” Rosenthal added. “If the Cubs keep Suzuki and he departs as a free agent, they would receive only a draft pick as compensation, assuming they made him a qualifying offer. A trade could yield considerably more value, particularly if the Cubs included cash to pay down part of Suzuki’s remaining salary, which at the deadline will be less than $6 million.”
For now, though, Suzuki remains with Chicago, still positioned as a key piece in their push to stabilize the season and climb back into the playoff picture.