This tired storyline can't be the reason the Cubs don't add an impact bat this winter

For whatever reason, Seiya Suzuki needs a little time to get things going each year. He's like an old steam engine - once he gets up to speed, he's full-bore. But it takes a bit to get the wheels rolling and start moving down the track.

In his career, Suzuki has a .788 first-half OPS, compared to an .862 mark in the second half. The final month of the season has always brought the best results, with the Japanese outfielder slashing .333/.422/.564 in 306 September/October plate appearances. He finished the 2024 campaign in a typical fashion, posting a .928 OPS over the final month, once again forcing some folks to believe he could be the offensive centerpiece this team so desperately needs.

Here's the problem with buying into that: we had this same conversation last winter. Seriously. After showing up to camp hulked out in 2023, Suzuki went on the IL and then struggled for much of the first half. Then, late in the year, he turned it on and had us all dreaming of an MVP-caliber campaign in 2024.

The 30-year-old turned in, arguably, the best offensive year of his career. Playing in 132 games, he set career-highs in home runs and OPS and his 138 wRC+ ranked third among NL outfielders, only narrowly trailing the likes of Mookie Betts (141) and Jurickson Profar (139). We know Suzuki will be a big part of the team's plans for at least the next two years given he's under contract and has no-trade protection, and adding a big bat to slot in alongside him could make the most of those two years.

I'm not saying Suzuki isn't capable of sustaining it for an entire season. But until I see him even come close to doing it, there's no chance I'm betting the success of the 2025 Chicago Cubs on it. He's been a slow starter his entire MLB career and Jed Hoyer can't assume that will change next season. Add in some offensive protection, either via trade or free agency, lengthen this lineup and let him eat.