The Cubs have a long history of circling a player for years, only to land him when the shine has worn off and the price finally fits. That’s the lane Eugenio Suárez could fit into this winter.
Suárez, a three-time All-Star, was back with the Cincinnati Reds in 2026 on a one-year deal after seven seasons with the club. His year started badly when an oblique injury slowed him down early, but he closed strong, posting a 141 wRC+ over his final two months and launching 12 homers in his last 46 games.
Even with the uneven start, the overall numbers still carried weight. Suárez finished with a 104 OPS+, 26 home runs and 74 RBI, production that should keep him on the radar for teams looking for right-handed power. For the Cubs, that matters because Seiya Suzuki is also heading toward free agency, which could leave a hole in the lineup’s pop.
A return to third base in Chicago doesn’t look likely. Alex Bregman is set there, and Matt Shaw can handle the position when needed.
That makes a full-time DH role the cleaner fit for Suárez if the Cubs decided to bring him in. His expected market also works in Chicago’s favor: he shouldn’t command a big multi-year contract, which would let the Cubs keep their biggest focus on the pitching staff.
Still, Suárez wouldn’t be the ideal answer if the goal is to make the offense more athletic and more varied. The better blueprint, from this view, is a roster with more versatility and speed. But if the Cubs are shopping in the bargain aisle and want proven power, Suárez is a name that makes sense.
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Against that backdrop, the idea of chasing CJ Abrams from Washington only sharpens the challenge. Abrams has flashed enough at the plate to make him intriguing, but a deal of that magnitude would not come cheap, and Chicago would be forced to answer a hard question about where its resources are best spent. The Cubs need pitching help, the Nationals would surely ask for plenty, and even as a roster-building thought exercise, it is the kind of trade-off that makes sense in theory and gets much tougher in practice. [Read more 🡒]
Seiya Suzuki Free Agency Just Put Cubs Fans On Notice
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Suzukis situation matters in Chicago because interest from a team like Toronto is exactly the sort of early free-agency attention that can change the conversation around a players future. The Blue Jays are expected to shop for offense after their struggles at the plate this past season, and Suzuki fits the profile of a hitter who could help right away, which is enough to put Cubs supporters on notice before the bidding even begins. [Read more 🡒]