3 Seiya Suzuki trade packages that signal success for Cubs' deflating trade deadline approach

When the best thing that can be said about the Chicago Cubs' recent performance is that they avoided getting swept by the lowly Rockies, you know the team is in dire straits. Things have taken a dark turn on the north side of Chicago, where the Cubs are starting to look like they might belong on the south side. The possibility of the Cubs selling this summer rather than buying must be considered at this point.

If the Cubs wind up selling, Jed Hoyer and his front office would be hard pressed to find a juicier trade chip on the roster than Seiya Suzuki. While the 31-year-old has been hitting below his usual level so far this year, there's been some signs of him heating up in recent days and he's been one of the most consistent hitters in baseball over the past few seasons. What should the Cubs be looking to get for him? Here's a look at three teams that could use him, and returns Hoyer should pursue:

Seiya Suzuki could help the Rays fend off the Yankees in the AL East

The Rays have shocked baseball by taking their division by storm this year, and with a recent injury to Aaron Judge they appear better positioned than ever to hold onto the AL East title all year long. Their biggest flaw is in the outfield, however, and that's where Suzuki could come in. He'd be a major upgrade for the Rays over the likes of Victor Mesa Jr. and Chandler Simpson in the lineup.

In exchange for Suzuki's services, the Cubs should pursue a pitching-focused trade package from the Rays' stable of talented arms. Anderson Brito and Michael Forret are sixth- and eight-ranked prospects in the team's system according to MLB Pipeline's Top 30 Rays prospects list. Brito is currently on the injured list, but both are described as possible mid-rotation starters, with Forret in particular not too far from the big leagues at this point.

The Cubs have several young position players who will help keep the future bright in Chicago, including Pete Crow-Armstrong, Moises Ballesteros, and Matt Shaw (not to mention up-and-coming prospects like Ethan Conrad and Kane Kepley). The pitching side is thin, however, and only gets thinner with injuries clouding the futures of Cade Horton and Jaxon Wiggins. Players like Brito and Forret would help give the Cubs a huge boost to their internal pitching depth for 2027 and beyond.

The Cubs could take advantage of AJ Preller's aggressiveness and trade with the Padres

The Rays aren't the only team that could use Suzuki and offer the Cubs exciting pitching prospects, however. Padres president of baseball operations is renowned as one of the most aggressive front office bosses in the game, and he'll be looking for an outfielder this summer with Ramon Laureano facing a season-ending hip injury. Suzuki could step right into Laureano's shoes as a right-handed outfield bat.

If (or, perhaps, when) Preller comes calling, Hoyer should hold the line at a high price. The Cubs would do well to pursue two of a barren Padres farm's best prospects. While Ethan Salas and Kruz Schoolcraft are likely to be off the table, perhaps the next tier down could be available. Righty Miguel Mendez and lefty Kash Mayfield are numbers three and four in MLB Pipeline's Top 30 Padres prospects list, and each would be an exciting addition to the farm.

Pipeline described Mendez as a prospect with big time stuff despite questionable control. While there's questions about his ability to throw enough strikes to be a starter, his ceiling is incredibly high and his floor is that of a dominant high leverage relief arm. As for Mayfield, he had a 3.15 ERA and 30.7% strikeout rate through ten starts this year at High-A. The most exciting thing about the southpaw, however, is MLB.com's reporting that Mayfield is showing improved velocity this year.

If the Cubs are looking for outfield help to replace Seiya Suzuki, the Phillies would be a strong trade partner.

While the Cubs farm system is short on pitching talent, it's worth remembering that the team stands to lose not only Suzuki but also Ian Happ from its outfield mix by the end of the year. Perhaps an extension could change that, but failing that the Cubs will need help in the lineup next year as well. If that's the approach Hoyer's front office takes this summer, the Phillies could be a strong trade partner fit given the club's struggles to fill right field in recent years.

A look at MLB Pipeline's Top 30 Phillies prospects list reveals that it's littered with intriguing future outfield talents. Two that jump out as an especially intriguing package for the Cubs would be #6 prospect Gabriel Rincones Jr. and #3 prospect Francisco Renteria. Of the two, Rincones is much closer to the majors. He's already made his Triple-A debut, though he's spent most of this season injured. Renteria, meanwhile, only made his big league debut this year and is just 17 years old.

Between the two of them, the Cubs would have the short-term and long-term of their outfield plans sorted out. Rincones could be ready for the big leagues as soon as later this year and boasts big time power from the left side. Pipeline suggests his contact ability and work against fellow lefties are causes for concern, but he'd at least be a viable platoon partner for Shaw or Kevin Alcantara.

Renteria, meanwhile, has virtually no track record as a professional but received a big time bonus as an amateur out of Venezuela. He has ten hits and three triples already in his first eight professional games, and with legitimate five-tool upside he could be the sort of future star the team's farm system could really use on the positional side.

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