The Chicago Cubs have been pursuing a new direction this winter and it seems that relatively few players on the roster can be guaranteed a spot for 2025 and beyond.
In its two biggest moves of the winter so far, the team added superstar slugger Kyle Tucker for his final year of arbitration and traded away two-time Silver Slugger Award winner Cody Bellinger, along with the near-$50 million that might be left on his deal.
That pair of moves suggests the Cubs are looking to remain competitive while shedding some financial obligations for the near future. With that strategy in mind, Brad Wakai of On SI has named three high-salary veterans as the trio of Cubs players who are “most likely to get traded” next year.
Wakai tabbed veteran Jameson Taillon, who signed a four-year, $68 million deal in 2022; Nico Hoerner, who signed a three-year, $35 million deal in 2023; and Seiya Suzuki, who signed a five-year, $85 million deal in 2022 — a $188 million trio that could be on its way out of Chicago in 2025.
While each member of this trio has some strong attributes, each might have already reached the prime of their production as well. And with so much owed to them collectively, the Cubs could be looking to reshape their roster around some younger talent.
The Cubs have a top-three farm system, according to USA Today, and they might seek to replace their veteran trio with more controllable players in 2025. Hoerner, for instance, might make sense on a contending team looking for a veteran infielder and the Cubs might already have his substitute waiting in the wings.
“With No. 5 prospect James Triantos reaching Triple-A last season and owning a career slash line of .289/.349/.417 with 24 homers, 104 extra-base hits and 169 RBI across his 336 minor league games, Chicago could be ready to give him a shot and trade Hoerner to boost other areas of their roster,” Wakai noted.
Meanwhile, Suzuki and his salary might be seen as superfluous in Chicago as Tucker has brought a major boost to the outfield. And Taillon could net a strong trade return as the Cubs rely on younger options in the rotation, including Shota Imanaga, Justin Steele, Ben Brown, Jordan Wicks and top prospect Cade Horton.
After acquiring Tucker, the Cubs seem focused on ending their playoff drought in 2025. But their willingness to deal Bellinger might mean the end of the road for some remaining veterans on the roster as well.
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