With negotiations stalled in their pursuit of free-agent outfielder Teoscar Hernández, the World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers are exploring other potential right-handed hitting options. One such option is Seiya Suzuki, an outfielder for the Chicago Cubs.
Suzuki, 30, had a strong 2024 season, posting a slash line of .283/.366/.482 with 21 home runs, 73 RBIs, and an OPS of .848. He is under contract for the next two seasons, set to earn $36 million, and holds a full no-trade clause. However, despite his solid performance, the Cubs may be open to trading Suzuki, even though it’s likely that he has lost his regular outfield spot due to the Cubs acquiring Kyle Tucker. According to Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic, Suzuki is expected to be shifted to a designated hitter role, with Tucker in right field, Pete Crow-Armstrong in center, and Ian Happ in left. While Suzuki performed slightly better as a DH than as an outfielder in 2024, the Cubs acknowledge that he might not be thrilled with a full-time DH role, which could make him more inclined to approve a trade to a team like the Dodgers.
The Cubs have already begun considering the possibility of trading Suzuki. In an unexpected development at the Winter Meetings, Cubs president of baseball operations, Jed Hoyer, reached out to Suzuki and his representatives to discuss the interest from other teams in acquiring him. Hoyer indicated that while he doesn’t want to trade Suzuki, he may be open to a deal if the right opportunity arises. According to Suzuki’s representative, Seiya has always been a strong defender, and being relegated to DH is not ideal for him.
While the Cubs are not actively seeking to trade Suzuki, there is always the chance that they could make a surprising move, similar to how they dealt Cody Bellinger earlier in the offseason. Cubs general manager Carter Hawkins commented that the team’s bar for trading any valuable player, like Suzuki, is very high. He emphasized that while the Cubs are not looking to trade Suzuki, they are willing to listen to offers if other teams show serious interest.
As the Dodgers continue to evaluate their options, they are waiting for Hernández’s decision, after which they will finalize their next steps. The process is taking longer than they initially expected, but once it is resolved, the pieces of their roster will begin to fall into place.
