Cubs' inevitable trade deadline dilemma with Seiya Suzuki just became more real

As long as the Chicago Cubs continue to string together losses, the conversation of Jed Hoyer potentially selling at the MLB trade deadline is going to get louder. Given how the Cubs have played since May 7, there's no justification for the Cubs to be a significant buyer. In times when Hoyer has been forced to decide between standing pat or selling, he's likely to choose the latter every time.

That's an important realization for what may happen next for the Cubs. The North Siders are in a position to be a notable seller if that is indeed the direction they are headed. The Cubs have a number of impending free agents on their roster, and there's reason to believe the front office has little interest in bringing back any of those veterans.

In particular, it feels like Seiya Suzuki is entering his final months in Chicago. A season removed from hitting 32 home runs with the Cubs, Suzuki has looked lost this season. Since May 7, Suzuki is slashing .202/.269/.303 with a wRC+ of 64 in 119 plate appearances. During that same stretch, he's striking out over 28% of the time, and has 3 home runs.

Cubs have an easy solution to Seiya Suzuki problem

Even if the excuse is that this is always been who Suzuki has been as a player, having stretches each season where he struggles offensively, it's coming at the worst possible time for the Cubs. A time when the Cubs need Suzuki's bat to be part of the solution. If it's not, it would seem that Suzuki, like Ian Happ, is going to be a trade candidate this summer.

Despite those struggles, The Athletic's Ken Rosenthal (subscription required) suggests that Suzuki can still be an attractive rental bat this summer. In fact, Rosenthal urges the Cubs to explore a trade of Suzuki, suggesting they can add an established starting pitcher as part of the return.

The way the Cubs have been playing, it's positioning the front office where the obvious play would be to trade Suzuki. He does have no-trade clause, but in the past, there's been an indication that he would approve a deal if approached. Trading Suzuki would allow the Cubs to start reconstructing a starting lineup that looks broken, and also provide early runway for Matt Shaw to audition for a starting outfield spot next season.

These are the conversation the Cubs will be having in the weeks ahead. It certainly does signal how disappointing the 2026 season has been, but that doesn't mean something can't be salvaged from this year.

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