Seiya

Suzuki

Too bad this one doesn’t count for the regular season after Suzuki started out 0-for-8 in Japan. Both homers came off a rehabbing Austin Gomber. Suzuki projects as a top-30 fantasy outfielder this year, and he could come in a fair amount higher if Wrigley isn’t as nasty for hitters as it was last season.

Keito Mombetsu held the Cubs hitless for five innings before the bullpen took over. Former Phillies reliever Nick Nelson was also part of the shutout, throwing a scoreless sixth. The Cubs used a bullpen game in their first Japanese exhibition, with Julian Merryweather starting and no one throwing more than an inning. Michael Busch and Miguel Amaya had the other singles for the Cubs.

The Cubs are going to use Suzuki as their primary DH, but they actually put him in center field today. He hasn’t played there in a regular season game since arriving from Japan, but the Cubs want to have that option open, it seems. In light of the Justin Turner addition, they’re probably not going to have room to carry another true backup outfielder.

It previously sounded as if that wasn’t the case, which is why Suzuki has gotten talked up as a trade candidate. The Cubs are planning on using Ian Happ, Pete Crow-Armstrong and Kyle Tucker as their primary outfielders this season. Suzuki will still be an everyday guy, but his opportunities in the field figure to be limited.

Suzuki has recently been mentioned as a potential trade candidate by the Cubs, in part because of his desire to not be a designated hitter. Tucker heading to Chicago would open up right field for him. Meanwhile, Paredes would slide into third base if Alex Bregman was to leave the Astros. There would almost certainly be prospects headed Houston’s way, but this would be a way to move Tucker and not take a massive step backwards for 2025 and 2026. Interesting.

Sharma notes that the Cubs appear intent on trading one of Cody Bellinger or Seiya Suzuki, most likely to add starting pitching, and with there being legitimate interest in Cody Bellinger across the league, the Cubs seem likely to hold onto Suzuki. The 30-year-old has battled injuries since joining the Cubs, but he has been a strong producer and has a cheaper contract than Bellinger, which makes him the preferred option to remain in Chicago.

It’s been widely reported that the Cubs would prefer to trade Bellinger after he opted in to his contract for the 205 season, but Suzuki is a new one. The 30-year-old has dealt with injury issues, but he’s been a solid contributor on the field with a 278/.354/.470 in 2024. There would assuredly be a better return for Suzuki than Bellinger because of his production and cheaper contract, as well.

Suzuki was one of the bright spots in Saturday’s low-scoring affair against Cincinnati. He reached base in all four plate appearances, starting with a base hit in the first inning. He drew a walk in the third, then led off the sixth with a single. He was intentionally walked in the eighth and scored on a base hit by Pete Crow-Armstrong. The 30-year-old outfielder has put together a solid season, slashing .283/.366/.484 with 21 homers, 74 runs scored, 73 RBI, and 16 steals across 580 plate appearances.

Unfortunately, Suzuki also suffered a sprained ankle in the sixth inning while scoring on a Cody Bellinger base hit and was removed from the game. Given that the Cubs are eliminated from playoff contention and there are only five days left in the season, the injury could possibly end Suzuki’s 2024 season. If it does, it will have quietly been a productive season for the 30-year-old who has a .281/.361/.482 slash line with 21 home runs, 73 runs scored, 73 RBI, and 16 steals in 130 games.

Suzuki was in a lot of pain initially, and while he stayed in to run, we’re not entirely certain he would have been able to hit if his turn had come up again. He was a DH today, so he didn’t have to go play defense after the incident.