Jim Bowden’s latest offseason free-agent rundown delivered a pretty blunt message for the Cubs: Seiya Suzuki may be on the market, but Chicago might not be the team most likely to land him.
Bowden, the former MLB general manager who annually lays out his top free agents, their best landing spots and projected contracts, slotted Suzuki at No. 6 on his list of this winter’s top 40. He projected a five-year deal worth $120 million for the outfielder, even as he placed Japanese third baseman Teruaki Sato and Randy Arozarena ahead of him.
That placement is a little surprising given how many people have treated Suzuki as the premier position player available this offseason. Bowden clearly sees a strong market for him, but his fit list was short: just the Toronto Blue Jays and Philadelphia Phillies.
That light list stands out, especially considering the offensive production Suzuki has put together over the past two seasons. Any team hunting for outfield help figures to have him on the radar.
The Blue Jays, in particular, sound like the most serious threat to any Cubs reunion idea. Bowden echoed a feeling that has been floating around since the regular season ended, saying, "There is a lot of scuttlebutt in the industry that the Blue Jays are going to be targeting him as they look to add more offense to their outfield and more protection in their lineup for Vladimir Guerrero Jr."
Suzuki may not be Bowden’s top position player in the class, but he still looks like a player who belongs near the top tier of the market. For the Cubs, though, the bigger issue is roster construction. Chicago’s need for pitching makes a bidding war for Suzuki hard to picture, especially if the offseason moves quickly and free agents try to get deals done before the lockout after December 1.
That timing matters. If Suzuki is moving early, the Cubs may not be in a spot to chase the top end of his market without first sorting out what their pitching staff is going to look like.
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