{"id":18525,"date":"2024-12-17T00:06:34","date_gmt":"2024-12-17T00:06:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/?p=18525"},"modified":"2024-12-17T00:06:34","modified_gmt":"2024-12-17T00:06:34","slug":"the-phillies-should-try-to-trade-for-seiya-suzuki-heres-what-they-could-offer-for-him","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/?p=18525","title":{"rendered":"The Phillies should try to trade for Seiya Suzuki. Here\u2019s what they could offer for him."},"content":{"rendered":"
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Dave Dombrowski is the president of baseball operations for the Phillies. (Cheryl Pursell)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n

When the Cubs traded for Kyle Tucker on Friday, it took another potential offseason splash off the board for the Phillies.<\/p>\n

And it was a good thing.<\/p>\n

In all likelihood, Tucker-to-Philadelphia was never happening. He\u2019s a one-year rental seemingly destined for free agency, and the Astros\u2019 asking price seemed high enough that it probably would\u2019ve cost Aidan Miller or Andrew Painter. What the deal might\u2019ve done, though, is open up the door for the Phillies to swoop in on a different impact bat: Seiya Suzuki.<\/p>\n

The Cubs have an outfield logjam and will likely deal someone in order to get out of it. Cody Bellinger\u2019s name has been floated plenty \u2014 if the Phillies are wise, they\u2019ll have zero interest \u2014 but it\u2019s possible his contract gets in the way. If no Bellinger deal comes to fruition, perhaps dealing Suzuki is plan B.<\/p>\n

He\u2019s exactly what the Phillies need. He hits for power, from the right side. He hits for average. He\u2019s a corner outfielder. Sure, he strikes out a decent amount, but there\u2019s evidence that was a product of terrible luck more than anything else. He would help them get more involved in the Japanese market, currently a weak spot in the front office. And, at least year-to-year, he\u2019s remarkably consistent.<\/p>\n

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Pretty in on the Seiya Suzuki idea, and the Phillies should be too. Corner outfielder, righty power bat, strikes out but whatever.<\/p>\n

Also, this consistency is remarkable:<\/p>\n

2023: .285\/.357\/.485, 20 HR in 583 PA
\n2024: .283\/.366\/.482, 21 HR in 585 PA<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\u2014 Nathan Ackerman (@NathanAckerman_) December 6, 2024<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n

So, how could they get it done? Here are three ideas, perhaps with increasing appeal to Chicago.<\/p>\n

Ranger Su\u00e1rez and Rafael Marchan for Seiya Suzuki<\/strong><\/p>\n

The Su\u00e1rez-for-Suzuki framework just makes too much sense for both teams. The Cubs are looking to bolster their starting rotation but feel unlikely to pay top dollar for someone like Corbin Burnes. Su\u00e1rez is on an expiring contract, but as evidenced by Tucker, the Cubs seem willing to go for it in 2025 and figure the rest out later. Su\u00e1rez\u2019s ground ball tendencies could fit nicely in an infield that features Gold Glovers in Dansby Swanson and Nico Hoerner.<\/p>\n

They\u2019re also in the market for MLB-ready catching depth to work in tandem with Miguel Amaya, and Marchan could factor in to that equation. The Cubs acquired Matt Thaiss from the Angels earlier this offseason, but likely as a backup plan if they can\u2019t do any better. The Phillies want catching depth, too, as they try to lessen J.T. Realmuto\u2019s workload \u2014 but their preferred backup catcher (if Marchan even is their preferred backup catcher) shouldn\u2019t stop them from acquiring a player like Suzuki.<\/p>\n

Ranger Su\u00e1rez and Edmundo Sosa for Seiya Suzuki<\/strong><\/p>\n

If Marchan won\u2019t move the needle, maybe Edmundo Sosa would. Top prospect Matt Shaw might be the Cubs\u2019 Opening Day third baseman in the wake of the Tucker trade (which sent Isaac Paredes to Houston), but Sosa would serve either as infield depth, something Chicago lacks, or as a stopgap starter if Shaw isn\u2019t quite ready come April. He\u2019s an injection of energy for a team that seems confident it can compete, and he\u2019s under control for two more years. The Phillies\u2019 bench could withstand Sosa\u2019s loss, too, with Kody Clemens or Weston Wilson or Buddy Kennedy or someone currently outside the organization filling in as infield depth.<\/p>\n

The centerpiece, of course, would still be Su\u00e1rez. See above.<\/p>\n

Alec Bohm, Seth Johnson and Max Lazar for Seiya Suzuki<\/strong><\/p>\n

It wouldn\u2019t be a \u201cPhillies offseason trade ideas\u201d brainstorm without Alec Bohm included, now would it? Bohm could immediately slot in as the Cubs\u2019 starting third baseman, or he could simply slot in to Suzuki\u2019s DH spot if they deem Shaw ready to man the hot corner. Team control is no issue here: He\u2019s under control through 2026, like Suzuki, and at a cheaper price.<\/p>\n

The best player in this deal would be heading to Philadelphia, so the Phillies could partially bridge that gap by tossing in Seth Johnson, who Baseball America recently ranked the seventh-best prospect in the organization and could be ready to slot into an MLB rotation next year. Acquired in the Gregory Soto trade, Lazar had a 2.73 ERA across 25 Double- and Triple-A starts with the Phillies and Orioles last year.<\/p>\n

Finally, with the Cubs looking to shore up their bullpen, Max Lazar is a controllable flier who had a strong season in the upper levels last year. Upon his promotion to the big league club in August, Lazar threw 6 1\/3 scoreless innings before hitting a wall \u2014 but he showed enough in the minors to offer some appeal to a team looking for cheap, under-the-radar relief candidates.<\/p>\n

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