The Philadelphia Phillies have made it clear that improving their outfield is a top priority this offseason. In 2024, the team’s outfielders collectively posted a modest .251/.309/.399 slash line with 50 home runs and 218 RBIs over 1,890 plate appearances. To address this, fans and analysts have speculated about potential moves, including a trade for Chicago Cubs outfielder Seiya Suzuki.
Joel Sherman of the New York Post recently reported that the Cubs are determined to trade either Cody Bellinger or Suzuki to create payroll flexibility. While Bellinger’s trade candidacy has been evident since he opted into his $27.5 million player option, Suzuki’s availability has come as a surprise. With Ian Happ solidified in left field and Pete Crow-Armstrong emerging as a standout center fielder, the Cubs’ outfield is crowded, leaving Suzuki as a potential trade piece despite his role as a designated hitter.
For Phillies fans, Suzuki represents a promising addition. While the Cubs deal with a logjam in their outfield, Philadelphia faces its own challenges. Johan Rojas has established himself as a defensive standout in center field, while Brandon Marsh combines elite defense in left with above-average offensive production, reflected in his 117 OPS+ since joining the team. The issue lies in right field, where veteran Nick Castellanos has struggled to live up to his five-year, $100 million contract. Over the first three years of his deal, Castellanos has regressed offensively, posting a 105 OPS+ compared to the 116 OPS+ he averaged from 2013 to 2021.
Trading Castellanos could pave the way for Suzuki, though a one-for-one deal is unlikely given the financial and performance gaps between the two players. Suzuki is owed $19 million annually for the next two years, while Castellanos is set to make $20 million per year over the same period. However, if the Phillies find another avenue to offload Castellanos, Suzuki would be a natural fit.
Suzuki, who joined MLB in 2022 after a standout career in Japan’s NPB, has been a consistent performer for the Cubs. Over three seasons, he has posted a 128 OPS+, significantly outpacing Castellanos’s 105 during the same span. In 2024, Suzuki slashed .278/.354/.470 with 21 home runs and 193 RBIs. Though injuries have limited him to fewer than 140 games per season, he has played at least 130 games in each of the past two years. His offensive profile is bolstered by a disciplined approach at the plate; Suzuki swings at the first pitch just 13.1% of the time and chases only 20.6%, compared to Castellanos’s 42.2% first-pitch swing rate and 36.4% chase rate. These differences could have a profound impact on the Phillies’ ability to generate consistent offense.
Defensively, Suzuki has room for improvement, but his offensive potential outweighs these concerns. Additionally, his presence on the roster could help the Phillies break into the NPB international free-agent market, a long-term goal for the franchise. Having a former NPB star like Suzuki could be advantageous in pursuing top talent, such as young pitching phenom Roki Sasaki.
For the Phillies, trading Castellanos and acquiring Suzuki would significantly upgrade their offensive production while aligning with the team’s broader strategic goals. Fans are eager for the front office to make bold moves to bolster the roster, and securing Suzuki could be a step toward ensuring sustained contention in the seasons ahead.
