Seiya Suzuki’s rise on defense has turned a complicated Cubs offseason question into a much simpler one: keep him.
That is easier said than done, because Suzuki is about to reach free agency for the first time since being posted from Japan, and he should draw plenty of attention as one of the strongest players on the market. The Cubs would obviously benefit from bringing him back, but they also have to navigate a winter that could include the departures of Ian Happ, Carson Kelly, Tyrone Taylor, Michael Conforto, and most of their pitching staff when the market opens. With that kind of turnover looming, fitting in a new Suzuki deal may not be simple.
Still, it only becomes impossible if the front office decides he is not the priority. And after the season Suzuki just put together - especially with the glove - he has made the case that he should be near the top of the list.
The Cubs highlighted that development by naming him a Gold Glove finalist on October 14, 2026. That recognition fits the season he delivered. Suzuki, who once built his reputation in Japan by winning five NPB Gold Gloves with the Hiroshima Toyo Carp, finally matched that defensive background in right field for Chicago.
At the plate, he was excellent as well. Suzuki posted a .270/.368/.473 line with 26 home runs, 86 RBIs, and a 134 wRC+.
Those numbers were the second-best of his career behind his 2024 or 2025 seasons, with on-base percentage as the lone exception. But the bigger story was the leap he made in overall value: he finished with 4.6 fWAR in 2026, a career high by a wide margin.
That jump came from the defensive side. After seasons in which his right-field metrics lagged far behind his offensive production, Suzuki turned in career-best numbers across the board in 2026, finishing at +5 Outs Above Average, +8 Fielding Run Value, and +14 Defensive Runs Saved. Each of those marks topped what four-time Gold Glover Ian Happ produced in left field this year.
Suzuki is 32 now, which means the Cubs are staring at a player who is almost certainly closer to the back end of his prime than the front. Even so, he’s still improving in ways that matter, and that is exactly why he has become such a valuable piece. He is too productive, and too complete, for Chicago to let him leave for nothing more than qualifying-offer draft compensation.
In Other News...
Cubs Suddenly Have A Compelling New Outfield Option To Watch
With the Guardians out of the ALCS, the offseason chatter around Steven Kwan can finally take on a more practical shape for clubs that need outfield help, including the Cubs. Kwan is headed into his final year of arbitration, which naturally makes him a player teams around the league will monitor closely, especially ones trying to reshape the edges of a roster and keep the lineup balanced.
For Chicago, the interest makes sense on paper. The Cubs have been linked to the need for outfield reinforcements with some departures looming, and Kwan fits the kind of dependable, contact-oriented profile that can stabilize a lineup. Whether Cleveland actually decides to move him is another matter, but the possibility gives the Cubs a new name worth watching as the winter market begins to take shape. [Read more 🡒]
Former Cubs Coach Drawing Interest As Mets Rework Their Staff
The Mets are still sorting out the shape of their hitting staff, and a familiar name for Cubs fans has surfaced in the process. Kevin Long and former Cubs coach John Mallee are among the candidates being interviewed for a hitting coach role, as New York looks to reshape a group that already has Troy Snitker and Rafael Fernandez expected back.
Jeff Albert, the clubs director of hitting, is not expected to return, which leaves the Mets deciding how they want the next layer of the staff to look. They have not settled on whether to bring in a new director of hitting above Snitker or simply add another assistant hitting coach beneath him, leaving Mallees fit in that structure as part of the ongoing review. [Read more 🡒]
Cubs Front Office Suddenly Has An Unexpected Seattle Concern
The Mariners managerial search has taken an unexpected turn for the Cubs, with Chicago director of player development Jason Kanzler emerging as one of the names under consideration in Seattle. The job opened after the Mariners decided not to retain Dan Wilson following the 2026 season, and Kanzler is now being weighed alongside former Astros manager Joe Espada and Dodgers special assistant Rocco Baldelli.
For Chicago, the interest is notable because Kanzler has coaching experience in the majors, but not nearly the same managerial background as some of the other candidates. If Seattle decides he is the right fit, the Cubs would suddenly have a front-office issue to sort through, since Kanzler sits in a key spot within their player-development operation and his departure would force some internal reshuffling. [Read more 🡒]