Short of the procedural deadlines that take place in November, most of the month is spent by MLB insiders guessing what the offseason could look like. After the GM Meetings, it seems clear that the Chicago Cubs will be active in the pitching market, but questions remain about how serious their efforts will be. Despite losing Kyle Tucker, the Cubs seem confident they already have a starting lineup capable of reaching the playoffs again, and that is why one trade prediction feels completely tone deaf.
Running through the most likely trade candidate from each team, Bleacher Report's Kerry Miller points to Seiya Suzuki as the candidate for the Cubs. The impression is that the Cubs, despite reaching the playoffs in 2025, could be ready for a reset, and moving Suzuki and the $19MM owed to him next season could be where they start.
Now, if the defense was that the Cubs could move Suzuki and then use the money saved as part of a long-term deal for Tucker or in a potential pursuit of Kyle Schwarber, sure, they should be all game for that. While Suzuki has flashed superstar potential throughout his four seasons with the Cubs, there have been far too many inconsistencies with his approach.
There is a level of expectation with Tucker and Schwarber that Suzuki may never reach. That is also the problem with the Cubs believing they don't have to replace Tucker's impact this offseason. When Tucker wasn't healthy last season, Suzuki reverted back to being the frustrating hitter Cubs fans became all too familiar with. Short of Michael Busch, the Cubs may not have the hitter to protect Suzuki the way that Tucker did.
All that being said, for a Cubs team that will be contending next season, Suzuki needs to be at the center of the team's offensive success. Especially if, on the surface, the Cubs won't be involved in the bidding for Tucker or Schwarber.
Trading Suzuki a year ahead of his free agency as a way to begin the reset would be the type of move that should get Jed Hoyer fired on the spot. Not to mention, Suzuki has a limited no-trade clause, which would complicate any potential deal.
In a world where things take a turn for the worse in 2026, and the Cubs are sellers at the trade deadline, Suzuki becomes a clear trade candidate. But with a significant portion of the Cubs' roster hitting free agency next offseason, there is no reason to force a reset this winter.