Shocking Cubs trade buzz could send one of their best players packing

Jed Hoyer hasn't shied away from the fact that the Chicago Cubs may need to get creative at the MLB trade deadline, and North Side Baseball floated a scenario that would be pure chaos for the Cubs. With rumors that the Cubs have checked in on Dylan Cease ahead of the deadline, Matthew Trueblood offered a look into what a potential deal may look like.

"However, sources who have played out the scenario say there's a narrow possibility of what would be a blockbuster series of moves by the Cubs. If Chicago could extract Eugenio Suárez from the Diamondbacks at a reasonable prospect cost, they might pivot and trade outfielder/DH Seiya Suzuki to San Diego for Cease and a prospect."

First and foremost, it needs to be stated that Trueblood characterized this scenario as a "longshot", and the only one that would lead to Cease returning to the organization that drafted him. In addition, the layer of the Cubs' having Eugenio Suarez in the fold needs to be emphasized as the Cubs won't be trading Suzuki without finding a legitimate replacement for his offense.

Latest Cubs rumor pairs Seiya Suzuki with a blockbuster trade twist

If anything, this scenario should only emphasize how unlikely it is that the Padres and Cubs will be trade partners at the deadline involving Cease. Of course, there's a non-zero percent chance that the move happens, but chances are the Cubs would rather give up Owen Caissie for a cost-controlled top-of-the-rotation starting pitcher under control beyond this season than give up Suzuki for a rental like Cease.

Suzuki, however, is an interesting case. In the middle of his best season since joining the Cubs prior to the 2022 season, 2026 is the final year of his contract. In a scenario where the Cubs managed to hold onto Owen Caissie beyond the deadline and Kyle Tucker is back on a long-term deal, it may not be crazy to think the Cubs move Suzuki as part of a trade this offseason to address a different area of their roster. The offseason allows for that type of thinking that otherwise is too complicated for a deadline move.

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