Does it make any sense for the Chicago Cubs to be exploring a deal that would send Seiya Suzuki– their most consistent bat last season– to another team?
If the Cubs are indeed “all in” on winning now, as their front office says, how could the addition of legitimate star Kyle Tucker be followed up by trading away Cody Bellinger and then Suzuki?
Well, apparently, Chicago may actually be considering dealing their Japanese import, at least if media reports are to be believed.
Seiya Suzki To Be Traded?
There’s buzz all over the place regarding a Suzuki to the Los Angeles Dodgers deal from various sources.
Per Jon Heyman, from the New York Post:
“The Dodgers seek one more big bat, and most likely in the outfield since the plan is for Mookie Betts to return to his preferred shortstop. In addition to Teoscar Hernandez, Anthony Santander and a trade for Seiya Suzuki are on the table.”
How much of the buzz is legitimate and how much is manufactured buzz from the Dodgers to nudge free agent Teoscar Hernandez into signing a deal remains to be seen. Some feel that there has to be some fire behind the smoke and some sort of talks going on.
Talks Are Real
Per Brett Taylor of Bleacher Nation:
“One thing we’ve been told is that Jed Hoyer has spoken with Suzuki’s agent to find out which teams to which he might be willing to accept a trade, as Suzuki has full no-trade rights. So the Cubs know already whether the Dodgers are on that list. I’m guessing that, if there were actually talks taking place, then it won’t necessarily be completely fruitless, in terms of the sides talking only for Suzuki to squash a possible deal.”
Unhappy Suzuki?
One thing appears to be certain, however. Suzuki is not entirely pleased with how things have developed for him in Chicago. Specifically, he’s not at all pleased with being transitioned into a full-time designated hitter after some struggles in right field.
“Jed [Hoyer] has been very communicative about it,” commented Joel Wolfe, Suzuki’s agent. “I talked to him about it last night. He told me what teams they’ve been talking to. I don’t think he wants to trade Seiya, but there may be a scenario where he feels like he has a deal that he can’t say no to.
“Seiya was a great defender in Japan, so it’s not a compliment to him being a DH…I think that if he was being posted in Japan, and teams were presenting to him their opportunities, and they said, ‘You could come here and be our full-time DH,’ I don’t think he would have signed with that team.”
Seiya Suzuki’s unhappiness may very well lead to being dealt away from Chicago, eventually, like at the trade deadline next season if the Cubs are out of contention. One has to believe, though, that a trade in the here and now would be unlikely, unless the Cubs were to get a monster offer for him.
Included in that monster offer would have to be a major league-ready player or two who could step in and help the team immediately.
He also has to agree to the trade, per his no-trade clause, but it’s believed that the Dodgers would be a team to his liking.
The Dodgers have a deep minor league system and some legitimately good players, somewhat displaced by an over abundance of talent in the majors, who might interest the Cubs. As of right now, no trade bait names have surfaced. Media speculation has mostly centered around young pitching talent in exchange for Suzuki.
The 30-year-old Japanese left-handed bat is still under team control for two more seasons at $19 million a year.
Follow me on Twitter at @boxing_tribune, and follow us @ChiCitySports23. You can also reach out to Paul Magno via email at paulmagno@theboxingtribune.com.
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