The Chicago Cubs have had a busy offseason. They traded Cody Bellinger to the New York Yankees and acquired Kyle Tucker from the Houston Astros. However, they could add another impact bat.
FanSided’s Mark Ruelle listed the Cubs as a potential trade partner for the Boston Red Sox to move Masataka Yoshida. The Red Sox could ask for one of the Cubs’ middle infielders and pitchers in return.
“The Cubs could also use more production out of their offense and could immediately slot Yoshida as their everyday DH,” wrote Ruelle. “The Red Sox could consider a few options in a deal like this: The Cubs have a surplus of middle infielders and they could aim for a defensive minded one like Nico Hoerner. The Sox could also try and pry a veteran pitcher like lefty Drew Smyly.”
The Cubs’ outfield currently is shaping out to feature Ian Happ in left field, Pete Crow-Armstrong in center field and Kyle Tucker in right field. That leaves Seiya Suzuki to handle DH duties. Suzuki’s agent has noted that he does not wish to be a full-time DH, according to ESPN’s Jesse Rogers.
Unfortunately, if Suzuki wants to keep playing defense, the Cubs are paying him far too much money to not be an everyday player. He signed a five-year, $85 million deal in 2022. The Cubs are essentially left with two options in that case. They can either move Crow-Armstrong to a bench role, allow Suzuki to stay in right field and add a DH like Yoshida. They could also deal Suzuki and trade for a DH like Yoshida who is willing to serve as an every day DH.
Yoshida signed a five-year, $90 million deal with the Red Sox in 2023. He hit 10 home runs in 108 games last year and slashed .280/.349/.415.
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