The Los Angeles Dodgers are expected to explore signing Chicago Cubs outfielder Seiya Suzuki in free agency if they trade left fielder Teoscar Hernandez to clear space for top prospect Josue De Paula.
FanSided’s John Perrotto named Suzuki as the free agent the Dodgers should pursue this offseason among suggestions for every 2026 playoff team. The idea stems from a desire for another veteran bat as the club aims for a third World Series title in four years.
“The consensus is that the Dodgers want to open a spot in the lineup for top prospect Josue De Paula and will do so by trading left fielder Teoscar Hernandez. However, there have also been rumblings that the Dodgers want to add a veteran hitter in their attempt to win a third World Series title in four years, and that Suzuki has piqued their interest. Could he be the Hernandez replacement in left field, with De Paula lying in wait as injury insurance?” Perrotto wrote.
Suzuki, 32, finished the 2026 season with a .270 average, 26 home runs and 86 RBIs in 143 games. He scored 96 runs, collected 147 hits and posted an .841 OPS while generating 5.1 WAR.
Those numbers marked his most productive major league season. Over five years with the Cubs, he has hit .269 with 113 home runs, 142 doubles and 382 RBIs while totaling 16.2 WAR.
Suzuki is completing a five-year, $85 million contract he signed after being posted from Japan’s Hiroshima Carp before the 2022 season. He will become a free agent for the first time in his MLB career this winter.
Contract projections vary. Spotrac estimates a four-year deal around $110 million, while other analysts have suggested five years and $120 million or a shorter three-year pact near $66 million.
The Dodgers signed Hernandez to a three-year, $66 million deal after the 2024 season that includes a club option for 2028. He hit .267 with 16 home runs and 64 RBIs in 2026 and is owed roughly $14.5 million next year, with a portion deferred.
De Paula, ranked among baseball’s top prospects, made his MLB debut in September 2026 after dominating Double-A with a .303 average, 27 home runs and 104 RBIs. He hit .323 in a brief big-league sample and is viewed as ready for a larger role.
The Cubs face multiple free agents, including Ian Happ, and are not expected to retain both corner outfielders at full market value. Pitching needs could further limit their ability to match outside offers for Suzuki.
Toronto and other clubs have been linked to the right-handed hitting outfielder as well. The Cubs are likely to extend a qualifying offer, which would yield a compensatory draft pick if he signs elsewhere.
Suzuki’s improved defensive metrics in right field this season, along with consistent power production, strengthen his appeal. At 32, he offers a proven bat without the multi-year commitment required for younger free agents.
The Dodgers’ outfield depth and payroll flexibility give them an advantage in free agency. Whether they move Hernandez remains uncertain, but the combination of De Paula’s readiness and Suzuki’s availability has generated interest.
Los Angeles finished the regular season as a strong contender before falling in the National League Championship Series. Adding a middle-of-the-order hitter could address any lingering offensive questions heading into 2027.
Suzuki’s track record of on-base skills and extra-base production fits the profile of players the Dodgers have targeted in recent offseasons. His Japanese background also aligns with the organization’s existing contingent of players from that country.
The free-agent market for position players is relatively thin, elevating Suzuki’s status among available outfielders. Teams with postseason ambitions are expected to pursue him aggressively once the market opens.
