The Chicago Cubs are building what they hope to be, at the very least, a division-winning team.
They’ve added some names in that effort, notably Houston Astros outfielder Kyle Tucker (via trade) and Cleveland Guardians pitcher Matthew Boyd (via free agency).
Puzzlingly, they’ve also subtracted some names from their roster.
Most notably, the Cody Bellinger trade to the New York Yankees may have made sense economically, but it didn’t make a whole lot of sense as a move made by a team serious about winning.
Seiya Suzuki to the Red Sox? Does It Make Sense?
Along the same line of thought, it seemed oddly self-defeating when, a little while back, rumors emerged regarding trading Japanese star Seiya Suzuki to the San Padres and then to the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Why add an offensive powerhouse like Tucker if your just going to remove the team’s other best hitters after doing so?
Last season, the right-handed hitting Suzuki was the team’s best offensive player, hitting 21 home runs and batting .283 in 585 plate appearances. It would be a little perplexing if the Cubs dealt the 30-year-old, unless his stated unhappiness over being the designated hitter indefinitely was really so great that it would affect his field efforts.
Jackson Roberts of SI.com feels, however, that a deal for Suzuki, resulting in him playing in Boston is entirely feasible.
The Proposal
In his trade proposal, Roberts has the Red Sox acquiring Suzuki in return for two top prospects within the Red Sox organization– 19-year-old middle infielder Yoeilin Cespedes (no. 5 on the MLB.com list of top Red Sox prospects) and 25-year-old pitcher Hunter Dobbins (no. 16 on the MLB.com list of top Red Sox prospects).
Per Roberts:
“Suzuki’s swing would play well at Fenway Park and he’d be able to handle left-field duties on top of getting the lion’s share of the designated hitter at-bats once top prospects Roman Anthony and Kristian Campbell arrive in Boston. He could be a 30-homer bat to replace Tyler O’Neill, but with fewer strikeouts.”
Cespedes is an athletic 19 year-old middle infielder shortstop with an average glove, quick hands, and above-average arm strength. At the plate, the right-hander shows promising bat speed and gap-to-gap power potential. Though still raw offensively, his strong work ethic and tools suggest a high ceiling as he matures.
Dobbins, meanwhile, is a 25-year-old right-handed pitcher who may be major league-ready immediately. His pitch arsenal features a mid-90s fastball with late life, complemented by a sharp slider and a developing changeup. His command and mound presence are strengths, making him a potential back-of-rotation starter.
Along with Suzuki comes two remaining years on his contract and a total of $38 million still owed. He also has a firm “no trade” clause in his contract which means he’ll only go somewhere else if he feels like going somewhere else.
Final Thoughts
In some aspects, the Suzuki to the Red Sox trade makes sense for the Cubs. They’d be able to dump more salary while adding to the pitching depth they’ve talked about since the end of last season by adding a potential rotation piece in 2025 with Dobbins.
In other ways, though, it just doesn’t make sense. Why would the Cubs deal away a top offensive asset when they need offense and are supposed to be “all in” when it comes to winning this year?
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