Seiya Suzuki’s qualifying offer puts the Cubs in a familiar offseason spot: they can either bank a future draft pick if he walks, or pay a real price if they chase other free agents tied to the same system.
Suzuki was the lone Cubs player to receive the offer, which gives him a one-year deal worth $23.15 million if he chooses to accept it. That outcome, though, is widely expected to be a non-starter. Suzuki is projected to turn it down in search of a multi-year contract that could land in the $100 million-plus range.
If he declines and signs elsewhere, Chicago would not leave empty-handed. The Cubs would get a compensatory pick in the 2027 MLB Draft, though because they went over the CBT in 2026, that selection would come after the fourth round.
There’s another side to the qualifying-offer equation, and it matters for a Cubs team that needs pitching help heading into 2027. If Chicago signs one of the other players attached to a qualifying offer, it would also forfeit its second- and fifth-round picks in the 2027 MLB Draft, along with $1 million in international bonus pool money.
The full list of players who received qualifying offers this offseason includes:
Seiya Suzuki - Chicago Cubs (OF)
Randy Arozarena - Seattle Mariners (OF)
Jake Bauers - Milwaukee Brewers (1B/OF)
David Bednar - New York Yankees (RHP)
Ryan Jeffers - Minnesota Twins (C/DH)
Brandon Lowe - Pittsburgh Pirates (2B)
Adrian Morejon - San Diego Padres (LHP)
Trevor Rogers - Baltimore Orioles (LHP)
Suzuki, Arozarena, Brandon Lowe, Trevor Rogers, and Adrian Morejon are expected to decline the offer.
For the Cubs, that keeps Rogers and Morejon in play as possible pitching targets, while Arozarena could also surface depending on how his market develops. Suzuki and the rest of the group have until Nov. 17 to accept or decline.
In Other News...
Alex Bregman Just Gave Cubs Fans Real Reason To Believe
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What matters most for the Cubs is how he closed the season, because the late surge did more than clean up the numbers. It gave the lineup a more reliable tone heading into 2027 and offered a reminder that the signing was about more than name value, with Bregman looking like a player who can anchor the offense when it matters most. [Read more 🡒]
Cubs Suddenly Have More Pressure To Chase This Pitching Target
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The timing adds another layer of pressure. Because the NPB and MLB agreed to a modified posting window this offseason due to a pending lockout, teams have only 30 days to get a deal done, which compresses the process and rewards clubs ready to move quickly. The Cubs are viewed as a potential suitor, and if they want to stay in the conversation, they may need to act before the market tightens and the competition gets even more serious. [Read more 🡒]
Cubs May Finally Have A Real Shot At Freddy Peralta
Freddy Peraltas market is already drawing attention as the right-hander heads toward free agency, and the Cubs make a lot of sense as a team to watch. Chicago has been looking for more dependable starting pitching, and Peralta fits the kind of arm that can change the shape of a rotation if the price and term line up.
What makes him especially intriguing is the way his game has evolved, with his recent success giving clubs reason to believe there is still another level to tap into. The fit is obvious enough that speculation has already started to build around where he could land, but the real question for the Cubs is whether they are willing to move quickly enough to turn interest into a serious pursuit. [Read more 🡒]