Cubs Rumors: Robert Suarez the likeliest member of the Padres to be dealt?

The Chicago Cubs have been loosely connected to the San Diego Padres on multiple fronts in recent weeks, with names like Michael King, Dylan Cease and Robert Suarez all linked to Chicago at different points. But, according to a new report out of San Diego, it's Suarez that's likeliest to move between now and Opening Day.

Suarez, 33, is under control through 2025 for $10 million - although he also holds a pair of player options for 2026 and 2027. The right-hander is coming off the first All-Star selection of his career, in a year when he made 65 appearances and pitched to a 2.77 ERA, 3.49 FIP and 1.046 WHIP for the Friars.

Here's what the report from Padres beat writer Kevin Acee had to say on the matter:

It would be a stretch to say the Padres are intent on trading their closer. But that is the move that appears most probable, according to two people familiar with the tenor of the team’s discussions. The Padres like their bullpen depth at the back end with Adam, Jeremiah Estrada, Stephen Kolek, Sean Reynolds and left-hander Adrián Morejón and are finding it more likely Suarez fetches them a return they need while taking $10 million off the books for this season.

San Diego is sitting around $244 million in projected luxury tax payroll heading into spring training - a jump of roughly $30 million over last season. With their ownership situation clarified in recent days, the hope is there's a more concrete direction from the franchise soon - although it feels like it's coming too late in the offseason to make much of a difference after the team sat out much of the winter, apart from the Roki Sasaki sweepstakes - which they lost out on to the rival Dodgers.

The Cubs could still add Suarez, but after trading for former Astros closer Ryan Pressly, the back-end need isn't as dire as it was earlier in the year. The idea of Pressly and Suarez teaming up with Porter Hodge to lock down the late innings is enticing, but Chicago has a crowded bullpen picture already (again, that's not to say Jed Hoyer shouldn't consider it because you can't ever have too much relief depth).

The unresolved Alex Bregman saga continues to hang over the closing days of the offseason - and the Padres rumors are no exception. The Cubs seem focused on Bregman above all else, but we could see a lot of movement around the league yet this offseason, even with pitchers and catchers reporting to Florida and Arizona this week.