Since signing with the Chicago Cubs in 2022, Seiya Suzuki has been a consistent threat. Heading into the June 23rd series opener against the New York Mets, he has a .269 batting average, 10 home runs, and 31 RBI. Additionally, he has seen a significant improvement in defense, which helps address one of the biggest concerns over the past few years. However, it has not been enough to help the Cubs perform as well as hoped. As he heads into free agency this offseason, his name has popped up on ESPN as a popular trade candidate. Losing a player of his caliber is never easy, but there are plenty of reasons to consider it.
The Case for Trading Seiya Suzuki
Boosting the Rest of the Roster
Chicago has not had as good a year as many fans hoped. As of the morning of June 23rd, the Cubs are 40-37, which is third in the division. One of the biggest reasons for this is that the pitching has struggled. Both the starting rotation and bullpen have been inconsistent for the entire season. The bats are still quiet, but numerous players have been heating up. However, there is very little optimism in the pitching department. As a result, the Cubs have been linked to a few starters in the trade market.
If Chicago wants to boost either its rotation or bullpen, then including Suzuki could be a solid starting point. If a team decides that they want to take a chance on keeping him for more than the rest of the season, then he could be on the move. The fact that he is a rental means it may be hard to get back a difference maker, but they still could bring back some solid pieces. If they wish to win the division, they need to look for any way to boost their team. Sometimes that means taking a loss at a strong position to boost the weaker areas of the team.
Recovering Assets
As noted earlier, it may be hard to get back a difference maker because he is a rental. However, if they do not plan on re-signing him this offseason, then they could look at trading him to boost the team either this year or for future seasons. Additionally, the Cubs have a few options to replace him. Matt Shaw has recently seen more playing time in right field, and they still have the dilemma around Kevin Alcántara to decide on. Those guys still have a lot to prove, but they could provide quality play to keep Chicago in the playoffs this season.
The Risk
Losing His Powerful Bat
In his five seasons so far, Suzuki has 97 home runs and 327 RBI. He has also been able to get solid contact as he has a .269 batting average. It may not look crazy, but in stretches, he has shown his elite talent. There are very few Cubs on the roster who can match his power. Even if he is not having an elite season, it is still far better than what many others can do. Additionally, he has been heating up recently. If he can continue this success, then it would be hard to find anyone who can produce on his level.
Seiya Suzuki has looked much more like himself this month:
.326/.415/.609 — 1.024 OPS
3 HR | 4 2B
8 R | 10 RBI
185 wRC+ | 0.7 fWARHe’s making much better contact, with a 92.1 mph average exit velocity and a 12.9% barrel rate in June. pic.twitter.com/J2VFaV5cwV
— Carson Wolf (@TheWrigleyWire) June 19, 2026
Risk of Replacements
Shaw and Alcántara have both shown serious talent in their careers. Recently, Shaw has been providing quality play in right field, but it is also the first time he has seen extended playing time at the position. He has primarily been an infielder in his career, and he has not had much time to prove that he can be an everyday starter at the Major League level. Alcántara has only seen significant playing time in the minors, so little is known about whether he can play at a high enough level. Together, they could be solid, but it could also go poorly quickly.
Last Word on Seiya Suzuki’s Future
The coaching staff faces serious pressure to be competitive in 2026. With that in mind, they must be willing to consider doing anything to improve their team’s performance. The biggest decision will be around Suzuki, as his future with the team has become incredibly unclear. His caliber of talent, combined with the offensive struggles, makes it challenging to justify moving on from him. However, they do have some depth in the outfield, which provides a safety net to help them improve their pitching. Chicago will likely wait until closer to the trade deadline to decide, but it is an important storyline to follow for the rest of the season.
Main Photo Credit: Patrick Gorski-Imagn Images
