At the yesterday’s Cubs Convention in Chicago, manager Craig Counsell spoke to the crowd (video link) about the club’s outfield mix and clarified the Cubs’ outfield plans for the year. As Counsell lays things out, Ian Happ and Pete Crow-Armstrong will remain entrenched as the club’s regulars in left field and center field respectively, while offseason acquisition Kyle Tucker will take over as the regular right fielder.
That’s generally agreed to be the Cubs’ best defensive alignment as things stand and has seemed to be the most likely outcome ever since the Cubs acquired Tucker last month. With that being said, one side effect of making Tucker the club’s regular right fielder is that incumbent right fielder Seiya Suzuki will be pushed to DH on a regular basis this year. That’s a reality Counsell acknowledged, noting that Suzuki will DH “a lot” this season.
“We talked to Seiya this week about that, and he understands that, and he’s on board with that,” Counsell said, and he went on to note that they view Suzuki as an “extra outfielder” who can fill in for Happ and Tucker in the event of an injury.
Even so, it’s notable that the Cubs appear committed to Suzuki as a primary DH in 2025. Suzuki’s agent, Joel Wolfe of Wasserman, spoke to reporters during the Winter Meetings last month about Suzuki and made clear that his client wanted to play the field. Wolfe even suggested that Suzuki likely “would not have signed with a team” who pitched being their everyday DH to him in free agency. Those comments helped to stoke trade rumors surrounding Suzuki throughout December, and while they started to die down after the club traded Cody Bellinger to the Yankees his name has continued to come up on occasion in the rumor mill.
Counsell’s comments yesterday seemingly put that conversation to bed, indicating that the club and Suzuki have resolved whatever discord may have existed between the sides over the issue. Given that Tucker is Gold Glove award winner who trails only Mookie Betts and Aaron Judge in Defensive Runs Saved as a right fielder since he made his MLB debut in 2018, perhaps Suzuki is more willing to move off of his natural position in deference to him than he was for Bellinger, who was an average defender in right field (+0 Fielding Run Value, +1 DRS) last year.
Even with Suzuki, Tucker, Crow-Armstrong, and Happ set to be regulars for the club in 2025, there appears to be a need for at least one more outfield-capable player on the roster. While Suzuki can seamlessly shift to a corner in the event that Happ or Tucker either needs a day off or heads to the injured list, there’s no clear backup to Crow-Armstrong on the club’s roster after the Cubs non-tendered Mike Tauchman back in November. Happ has the most center field experience of the club’s other regulars, but he hasn’t played a single inning there in the past two years and was last a regular fixture at the position back in 2020.
Alexander Canario and Kevin Alcántara are both on the club’s 40-man roster and capable of playing center field, although Canario has almost exclusively been used in the corners to this point in his big league career and the Cubs may prefer to avoid using a top prospect like Alcántara in a bench role. Should the club look for an external option capable of playing center field amid their reported search for additional bench depth, Michael A. Taylor and Kevin Pillar are among the bench center fielders still available in free agency.
Maybe he should learn to play the violin?
Almost an identical situation to Yoshida, except Suzuki has managed to avoid health issues better.
Suzuki is being pushed out because the Cubs have GG-caliber players with Tucker now in the OF. He’s also a better hitter than Yoshi.
wilyer, rafaela duran is a half decent (and overall younger, faster) outfield
@pooley
Half decent? Thats the best defensive outfield in baseball.
yeah so what’s this guys point
Yeah man, Happy/PCA/Tuck ain’t nothing to shake a stick at. Might be the best outfield d in the game
YBC – Same situation. Duran and Abreu both finished Top 3 for all MLB outfielders, the only reason Duran didn’t win a GG is because Varsho was just a little better. And O’Neill was expected to return to GG form.
Yoshida is the better hitter when healthy.
No he’s not. Sorry but that’s ridiculous.
No, Yoshida is not.
Mike – Based on what? Okay let’s debate, each of us provide evidence and logic for our stance. May the best uncle win ;O)
I’ll go first ….
For the 3 1/2 months he was healthy in 2023 Yoshida put up a .894 OPS, despite it being his first year in MLB and playing in the tough AL East.
Suzuki has never put up better than .848 OPS and has always played in the weak NL Central.
Going back to Japan stats:
9 seasons with Hiroshima – Suzuki had a .943 OPS
7 seasons with Orix – Yoshida had a .957 OPS
If you want to say Suzuki is a little better fielder, I totally agree. But he ain’t a better hitter than Yoshida …. and again, I’m referring to a HEALTHY Yoshida which we have seen for only a half season total over his 2-year MLB career.
@Fever
Admittedly I’m not up on Yoshida’s injury history, but Suzuki has been on the DL seven times in three years. Not all major, but still.
Rick – I understand, but Cora and Red Sox brass have confirmed Yoshida suffered from severe fatigue during the last 3rd of his first MLB season. And they’ve confirmed he played injured all last year, with a serious wrist injury for half the season and a labrum injury in his shoulder for nearly the entire season that required surgery after the season.
The fact Yoshida played numerous games with the wrist injury, shoulder injury, and fatigue all understandably dragged down his production …. much like Devers playing for months with HIS injuries.
All I’m saying, let’s see how they do when both of them are 100% healthy. I think they BOTH are fully capable of putting up a .900 OPS over a full season.
Brujan can play CF if needed
No thanks. He shouldn’t start unless Hoerner, Samsonite and Shaw are all out with an injury. He absolutely should never play cf. That’s PCA’s spot.
Realistically, PCA will not play CF more than 140 out of 162 games, we are just talking about who plays CF in the games PCA rests.
Talking backup discussions only
Better to have Canario or Alcantara as a backup CF and fifth outfielder and use the salary for pitching, preferably bullpen back end.
Owen Caissie will definitely be in the mix. I can see them trading Kevin Alcantara.
I like Caissie’s bat much better than Alcantara but Owen can’t play CF.
He can play RF and LF and he’s been learning 1B. Despite Ron Washington saying it’s incredibly difficult to learn. Plus be could be the raw lefty power bat that replaces Tucker.
Only difficulty for Star Lord.
with scott off the market they could probably add both a reliever and outfielder at this point
Maybe Yates two years at $30 million or Estevez three years at $30 million?
Andrew Chafin, David Robertson, and Kirby Yates, could all be had a decent price, we know Jed has the flexibility to do so, and still have money for any trade deadline acquisition. But he keeps dumpster diving…
Yeah sign 37 year old bums that will be on the IL by the time ST ends and will make their debut in July when it doesn’t matter anymore. Good plan. There’s an old saying maybe you’ve heard of- You get what you pay for. Cheap gets you cheap.
sign nobody. better plan. cheap is all that’s left when you don’t sign the actual good players
I know management doesn’t like young guys riding the bench at the big league level, but I think Alcantara as the back up CF makes sense. Can also pinch run and steal bases.
@daddyjmac. Tucker is one of the best defensive outfielders in the mlb he can cover center if a injury happened during a game. Can always recall someone the next day.
Oh no! How long will it be, before Joelp, aka blackpink, err aka BITA – – comes here, to complain about this article?
Shouldnt you be at the Cubs fan fest getting your Shaun Dunston rookie card autographed?
BITA
Don’t be a “Dunce-town,” it is spelled “Shaw-on” like Matt “Shaw”.
Yeah I should have known that…….
I don’t know, and I don’t care. I finally muted him. Again. And he’s the only person I have muted, so the six hidden comments (of the 15 total so far) must all be his.
3, 2, 1…
I like the Tucker trade from a value perspective for both the Astros and Cubs but it just never made a lot of sense. The Astros are supposed to be trying to win. And the Cubs were supposed to be trading an outfielder not acquiring one.
I doubt many Cub fans really care what you think. Haven’t you figured that out yet?
Yeah I figured that out when you spoke my name unprovoked in this very post. Thats when I figured it out dipstick.
I got a game used Kosuke Fukudome jockstrap. You interested?
I heard you, use it as a CPAP.
@Bita
You worship it, don’t you? Probably bought one of those fancy display cases to display it in too.
He paid extra for the scratch and sniff feature.
TMI
Trade him to the Dodger$! They need more and more and MORE!
If it helps Suzuki stay healthy and play more games this upcoming season, then yes. Also, Tucker is a great fielder so the team’s defense goes up as well. Win-win.
Unfortunately, I seem to remember Suzuki injuring an oblique or something while swinging or running to first base, so no I don’t think him as a DH will lower his injury risk. Honestly, I would’ve preferred they trade Suzuki, and kept Bellinger as the DH who can also back up CF, RF, and 1b. Bellinger at least seemed to injure himself because he plays the game hard. And I think he’d be rested and stay healthy and probably have a great season as a DH. And Suzuki would’ve brought back more in a trade.
Nico
For 2024, Seiya’s 0.848 OPS over Cody’s 0.751 OPS, only reason to keep Cody is if you think PCA will lose starting gig.
Hoping for a healthy Nico, glad they kept Nico over Paredes.
They can’t trade Seiya without his approval. He’s now their 2nd best hitter. Putting him behind Tucker makes him more dangerous.
Seiya doesn’t want to be a DH. This seems like a great opportunity for Preller to shop Cease. cubs would really benefit from having another top of the rotation starter.
I don’t see Preller trading to add additional salary. He’s going to want near MLB-ready prospects for Cease and the Cubs need all of them after the Tucker trade.
That’s fair point YBC. i just feel that Preller still feels he can win in 2025 and Seiya would be really valuable to that lineup.
But, you could be right. Question for you: any chance that Preller could package Bogaerts with prospects or Cease in a deal with Yankees to get young controllable talent that would help in 2025?
my sense is that Bogaerts’ contract is so bad, he’s not tradable.
Yes, the Pads can use Suzuki.
I think Bogaerts deal has a higher chance of happening than Cease which isn’t saying much. As you may already know, the Yankees are already above the 110% tax line. Taking Bogey means that they’ll also have to release DJL while paying Bogey plus a 110% tax.
The Yankees also already have five starters controllable for at least three seasons. And then there’s Marcus Stroman and his $18M owed.
how about we offer
Canario, Killian, Assad to SD for Cease, Arraez, Suarez and then Flip Suzuki to Det for Vierling
Yeah while the Cubs were figuring out the obvious that Suzuki will DH and Hoyer was driving Sammy Sosa around and slapping himself on the back the Dodgers were signing the best Closer left. Guess it’s just a matter of what’s important. That Kyle Tucker acquisition looks good now huh? Wonder what that convo was like? Hey Kyle welcome to the Cubs. We brought you here to win the World Series. Yeah I know it’s only one year. Dodgers? You can beat them by yourself right? No pressure though. Go have a drink.
Ha, unhinged today
Yep, 16….I’m guessing most of us were brought up to use Sunday as a day of rest.
Uncle’s keyboard remains on autopilot. His main direction and purpose in life….unchanged.
Good one Uncle. Question for you. And for all other cubs fans. What do you think of the red bill hats? Joe Obvious of Obvious T Shirts is starting a huge trend asking former players abo7t it. So far everyone one Glendon Rusch to Sammy Sosa and Ryno have all expressed their love for the hat.
And I would love to hear all baseball fans opinions on this too.
Wait he’s a japanese guy……
He’s not on the Dodgers yet?
@Norcalblue. Seiya is now fully on board being the DH
This just in:
The Dodgers have signed Goku, Godzilla and Hello Kitty to exclusive deals it will be for 75 Trillion Yen over 10 years however the deal will be deferred over the next 35 years.
Lmfao It’s next !
Only 75 trillion Yen? That translates to only $479,693,025,000 that’s what they’re gonna give Roki in 6 years when he’s a free agent. It’ll be deferred until 2100 and at his request payments will be paid to his kids, their kids and their kids’ kids’ nephews and nieces. If at any time any of his next to Kin play any professional sports or even become professional wrestlers (since that is probably the only profession more popular than baseball they’ll immediately get a 1 trillion dollar cash bonus
How does a player who is supposed to be a gold glove defender in Japan come here and can’t play defense up to that level and yet wonders why he is taken off the field..Dude has dropped more easy catches than anyone..Just trade the dude
Seiya’s a bigger fella than you might think. And IMO, he’s put on a few pounds (and years) since he’s got here.
Seiya’s RH bat is definitely needed in this lineup.
Along with Alonso’s RH bat. The lineup could be Happ, Suzuki, Tucker, Alonso, Busch, Swanson, Hoerner, PCA, and Amaya. Would look good to me.
Busch can’t play 3B. Alonso is one dimensonal, in decline and overpriced. I’ll take Shaw at 3B.
I could be wrong, but I think the Gold Glove award is kind of a misnomer in Asia because it goes to the best all around player rather than just defense.
I love arm chair GM’s.
Suzuki is not on board with that. He expressed his frustration with being DH to the media in interviews and there was talk of the Cubs trading him because of it. Does Counsell think fans are stupid?
Sox and Cubs have the same problematic contracts with international signings that didn’t Japan out.
This article implies bellinger is a sub par right fielder.
Seriously?
According to Stacia’s Outs above Avg, a Tucker was one of the best RFs in 2024, and Suzuki among the worst. What is Suzuki bitching about?
Statcast
Suzuki is “on board” as much as not trying to be a distraction to the team or be “that guy”. However, if a team approached the Cubs about him they probably would pull the trigger on a deal. Spring training sorts lots of things out. Today you’re the DH, tomorrow you’re back in the OF
He’s not that bad on defense. Talking heads claim he’s a defensive liability because of 2 bad misplayed balls. One in Atlanta in 2023 and one ar Wrigley last year. He made up for the latter with a game tying grand slam. Which AJ Pierzynski called on the Fox broadcast. And 96% of them time the natural broadcast absolutely glaze all opposing teams vs the cubs. No matter who they’re playing.
I thought that Suzuki had mental gaffes, like throwing to the wrong base or something. Maybe I am mistaken, I just thought I heard that on sportsball radio.
Is Suzuki that bad of an OFer? Or is it that the other three adoptions s are just significantly better? Would Suzuki be a definite starter OFer on another team?
I feel bad for Suzuki — first the GM ZPlies about the weather in Chicago being the same as the city he played in Japan and now he’s being forced out of playing defense.
Cub lineup in 25 going into 26: Seiya Suzuki and Seiya later.
Seya Suzuki for Nicholas Castellanos. Makes everyone happy that can be happy.
Could put Suzuki in left, play Happ at 2b while Nico Horner rehabs and then sign JD Martinez on a 1-year contract to DH. Maybe even Alanso, but that is big dreaming?