The Chicago Cubs have gone on record as stating that starting pitching was their primary focus this offseason.
In reality, though, the Cubs starting pitching was better than fine last season, posting a 3.77 ERA, which made it the sixth best in the league. The additions of Matthew Boyd and Colin Rea should provide added depth and flexibility to a rotation set at Justin Steele, Shota Imanaga, Jameson Taillon, Boyd, and Javier Assad (with Rea, Jordan Wicks, Ben Brown, and Cade Horton looking on).
The Chicago Cubs Need A Closer
The team’s real pitching need, arguably, is in the bullpen. Specifically, the Cubs need a quality veteran closer.
Although 23-year-old Porter Hodge performed well in that capacity late in the 2024 campaign, he’s still a young player and, as such, suspect to potential inconsistency. For a team with post-season aspirations, there needs to be a shutdown closer available to close out games.
While there are still some quality closers available on the free agent market, the San Diego Padres may have exactly what the Cubs need for 2025 in the person of Robert Suarez.
The Padres’ Robert Suarez, A Perfect Fit?
It’s common knowledge at this point that the Padres face some uncertain financial times and are looking to, perhaps, shed some salary. The 34-year-old Suarez, who will become a free agent at the end of this season, has, reportedly, been one of the names mentioned in that regard.
Suarez has an unusual back story in that, despite his age, he’s only pitched three seasons in the major leagues. Initially a product of the Venezuelan league, he later signed on to play in Mexico and then Japan before being signed by the Padres in 2022.
With a career ERA of 2.89 in 136 major league games, Suarez struggled in the second half of 2024 (despite registering 36 saves) before rebounding with three quality performances in the playoffs, saving two of those games and allowing just one baserunner in 3.1 innings.
The Trade
Josh Timmers of Bleed Cubbie Blue believes that, while Suarez (and his $10 million salary) is not the prime target in a Padres’ salary purge, the team would field offers for the closer they’ll probably lose to free agency next year anyway.
Per Timmers:
“It doesn’t sound like the Padres are too motivated to deal Suarez, so they’d have to get a deal they liked. Cubs top prospect Matt Shaw is untouchable and so probably is Cade Horton, but other players among the Cubs top then prospects would be in play for Suarez. I’d bet the Padres would like Owen Caissie back, although that might be too much for the Cubs. Maybe if the Padres plan to deal Arraez or Cronenworth, they’d be interested in someone like James Triantos. It’s also possible they’d want a package of major league pitchers instead that would include Javier Assad, Jordan Wicks, Porter Hodge or Ben Brown. (Not all of them. Some of them.)”
This wouldn’t be the first time the free agency-averse Cubs would be tied to a Padres team looking to deal away money players.
For the Cubs, obviously, pulling the trigger on a deal for Suarez would depend greatly on the Padres’ asking price. This would be a one-year rental, of course, so parting with an elite-level prospect would probably be too much.
The recently DFA’d Michael Arias, no. 18 in the Cubs organization (per MLB.com) and another prospect in that 13 to 20 range would’ve been reasonable. Dealing away anyone in the top 10 for one year of Robert Suarez, who can be a bit streaky, should be unthinkable.
A trade like this is certainly worth exploring, though, if the Cubs are dead set against dipping into the free agent market for a closer.
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