Should the Cubs Trade for Eugenio Suárez?
What’s The Plan for Third Base?
The Cubs roll into the All-Star break with a record of 57-39, coming off a series win against the New York Yankees. The team has proven that they can compete with the top teams in the league, but there is definitely a position that needs to be addressed to bolster further what is already a strong roster.
When evaluating positional production, it is evident that third base has lacked the offensive firepower that would take this team to the next level. It has been clear over the past month that Matt Shaw should be in Triple-A for the remainder of the season to work on his mechanics at the plate.
The 23-year-old has just not had it going for him offensively.
With another stint in Iowa likely coming, there is one option in particular that the front office should be exploring, and that is…
Eugenio Suárez
Bob Nightengale of USA Today reported on Sunday that the Diamondbacks are “definitely sellers” at the trade deadline, as they sit 5.5 games out of a Wild Card spot. Arizona has a handful of players set to hit free agency this upcoming November, Suárez being one of them. It is in Arizona’s best interest to trade these players now to avoid letting them walk for nothing in the future.
Suárez is batting .250 with 31 homers, accumulating an OPS of .889 with a wRC+ of 146, as well as heading to Atlanta as an All-Star reserve. The guy has been a slugging machine, leading the league in RBIs and putting up elite power-hitting numbers in what is a contract year for the 33-year-old.
The Cubs’ offense has been elite all season long, leading the league in run differential, as well as ranking in the top seven in OBP, SLG, and OPS. Adding an impact player like Suárez would turn an already great offense into an elite one.
Chicago has struggled against left-handed pitching. While Suárez hasn’t been great against southpaws, he still has an OPS of .876 with 10 home runs—meaning, the slugging is present against both righties and lefties, he’s just not as much of a “bat to ball” hitter against left-handed pitching.
The one concern I have with Suárez is that he is not a good defender and a terrible baserunner. But I firmly believe that the bat on its own makes up for the below-average fielding, especially in the short term. The Cubs are already full of premier defenders, boasting four Gold Glove award winners in the lineup, with more recipients on the way.
This would only be a rental deal, meaning that Suárez would likely only remain a Cub for the rest of the 2025 season before hitting free agency. Still, the move would give Matt Shaw the rest of the season to improve as a hitter, as well as time to build on his already great defense.
While it may not be Suárez specifically, I do expect a discussion between Craig Counsell and the front office to determine what the ideal move at third base will be for the remainder of the season.
I think it is clear that Shaw needs more time, and I expect a deadline move to be made that addresses this need.
PHOTO: Matt Kartozian/Imagn Images
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Categorized:Cubs