The Chicago Cubs are closing in on clinching one of many three wild card spots within the Nationwide League after lacking out on successful their first NL Central title since 2020. The Cubs are 87-70 this 12 months and are in a three-way tie for the highest spot with the San Diego Padres and Philadelphia Phillies.
One in all their greatest affect gamers has been outfielder Seiya Suzuki, who’s having maybe the very best season of his big-league profession. The Cubs offense has been a power this 12 months largely due to his contributions, however he’s a free agent on the finish of the season and is probably not again.
Zach Buckley of Bleacher Report predicted the place a few of the prime free agent hitters will land this offseason, and had Suzuki leaving the North Siders for the Seattle Mariners.
“Since arriving stateside in 2022, Suzuki has performed a key function in anchoring Chicago’s lineup. Utilized as each an outfielder and DH, he has delivered not less than 20 house runs and 73 RBI in every of the final 4 seasons,” Buckley wrote.
“Quite a lot of groups can use what he brings, together with the Cubs. However along with his contract worth maybe reaching 9 figures, Chicago may select to speculate these funds elsewhere.
Offense-needy suitors will certainly hope that’s the case. With Seattle shedding Arozarena in our projections, the Mariners may make Suzuki a precedence and maintain one other energy bat of their outfield.”
Chicago Cubs Projected to Lose Seiya Suzuki to AL West Contender
The potential lack of Suzuki would harm the Cubs fairly a bit offensively. He hit 32 house runs final season and drove in 103 runs whereas posting an .804 OPS. This 12 months, the 32-year-old outfielder is slashing .267/.365/.471 with 25 house runs, 85 RBI, a 4.9 WAR and an .835 OPS.
He’s a robust right-handed presence with energy, and with out that within the lineup, the Cubs might want to go searching for some further assist. The North Siders signed him to a five-year contract previous to the 2022 season, and Buckley predicts that it’s going to take a four-year deal for the Mariners to signal him.
But when the Cubs wish to maintain their streak of reaching the postseason alive, they’ll wish to make it possible for they attempt to maintain Suzuki or not less than discover a right-handed bat that would replicate his manufacturing.
The free agent market isn’t precisely going to be stacked with star gamers this offseason, particularly on the place aspect, so will probably be fascinating to see what the Cubs do.
How Seiya Suzuki Might Assist Seattle Mariners
The Mariners misplaced Jorge Polanco and Eugenio Suarez final offseason, so the offense actually took a success, and is a giant motive why they’ve struggled in 2026 and are more likely to miss the playoffs.
However with Suzuki within the lineup, they may make up for a few of that and have someone that may hit for energy from the suitable aspect of the plate that additionally has All-Star potential. Seattle hasn’t spent an excessive amount of lately, however Suzuki may be the suitable participant to spend on.
Seattle wants extra energy in its lineup if it needs to succeed in the postseason in 2027.
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