Pitching Will Be the Reason the Chicago Cubs Lose Seiya Suzuki in Free Agency

The Cubs' biggest offseason priority is overhauling a pitching staff decimated by free agency and injuries, leaving little resources to win a bidding war for Suzuki. With massive commitments already made to Hoerner, Pete Crow-Armstrong, Alex Bregman, and Dansby Swanson, the front office isn't expected to go all-out to re-sign him.

From 2023-26, Suzuki posted a slash line of .270/.353/.480 while averaging 25 home runs per year. He wrapped up 2026 with his fourth straight season of 20-plus home runs and an OPS above .800, ranking 19th in the league in fWAR.

Matthew Boyd, Shōta Imanaga, Kevin Gausman, Clay Holmes, and David Peterson are all set to hit free agency. On top of that, Justin Steele is returning from nearly two full seasons missed, and Cade Horton isn't expected back until July after Tommy John surgery.

Yes, the Cubs are expected to place the qualifying offer on Suzuki once the offseason begins. That move could slow his market, though a weak free-agent outfield class — with Randy Arozarena as the only other premier option — still sets up well for Suzuki.

A deal in the $100 million range isn't out of the question for Suzuki given his strong production and a thin free-agent outfield market. The Cubs are unlikely to compete in that bidding war given their urgent need to rebuild the pitching staff.