The Chicago Cubs face some tough financial decisions this offseason even as they push for a deep postseason run.
President of baseball operations Jed Hoyer bolstered the roster before the trade deadline by adding veteran starters Kevin Gausman and Clay Holmes. Those moves have helped stabilize the rotation and keep the North Siders firmly in the playoff picture.
Attention among many fans remains fixed on the current campaign. Front office leaders, however, already are looking ahead to a busy winter.
Several key players are set to become unrestricted free agents. The list includes Gausman, Holmes, Shota Imanaga, David Peterson, Ian Happ and Seiya Suzuki. Retaining every one of them appears unlikely given the competing demands on the payroll.
Sahadev Sharma of The Athletic reported that the organization is expected to direct most of its available resources toward pitching help. That approach could leave Suzuki on the outside looking in.
“The belief is that much of Chicago’s investments, either prospect capital or actual money, will go toward pitching,” Sharma wrote. “In a weak free-agent class for position players, Suzuki might quickly get priced out of the Cubs’ plans.”
Suzuki signed a five-year, $85 million contract with the Cubs ahead of the 2022 season. The deal has largely worked out well for both sides. This year the outfielder ranks second on the club in OPS, slugging percentage and RBIs, trailing only rising star Pete Crow-Armstrong.
Losing a consistent producer like Suzuki would create a noticeable hole in the middle of the lineup. His track record of solid contact and power has made him a reliable presence since arriving from Japan.
The free-agent market for outfielders this winter looks relatively thin. Names such as George Springer, Trent Grisham, Randy Arozarena, Taylor Ward and Happ top the available group. Suzuki’s current 3.6 WAR sits higher than those players and ties him for 24th across the majors.
Trade interest in Suzuki surfaced earlier this summer when the Cubs were struggling. The Seattle Mariners were among the clubs most frequently connected to the slugger in June. Chicago’s improved play after that point, combined with Suzuki’s full no-trade clause, kept him in place through the deadline.
Many supporters of the team hope the front office finds a way to keep the Japanese star. Writer Duane Pesice of Cubs Insider noted that the idea of re-signing him appears to “have public traction” among the fan base.
Hoyer would likely prefer to retain Suzuki if the numbers work. Without both Suzuki and Happ, the outfield picture grows murky. Prospects such as Matt Shaw and Kevin Alcantara could be asked to fill larger roles sooner than planned.
Money remains the central obstacle. Suzuki could receive more lucrative offers from other clubs ready to spend on proven right-handed hitting. That reality may force the Cubs to make a difficult choice between pitching depth and keeping one of their more productive bats.
The coming months will reveal whether Chicago can balance its immediate competitive window with longer-term roster construction.
For now, Suzuki continues to deliver at the plate while the team chases October baseball.
