Should the closer-needy Cubs trade for Robert Suarez? |
Remember the old meme about the person with a stick poking something, and in a bubble, it states, "Please Do Something." That's the feeling most Cubs fans have with the Chicago Cubs right now, as they have once again gone quiet on the offseason front. You could understand that if they made some massive early-season signings, but with Kyle Tucker and Carson Kelly as their big fish, much more has to happen to get the fans excited about 2025.
With the Cubs convention set to begin this weekend, you can bet there will be excitement surrounding Tucker and some frustrations with this team's direction. After failing to reach a deal with Tucker and having the two sides on the verge of arbitration, the Cubs aren't doing themselves any favors with anyone. As the roster sits right now, this team has plenty of holes, and barring a miracle, it doesn't look like those holes will be filled in Free Agency. The trade aspect is always a possible route, which remains an option for the Cubs. Where that trade comes from and what they give up in these trades is a different question, but Jed Hoyer knows he needs to do something, and it needs to happen soon. The Cubs aren't the only ones looking to trade, as plenty of other teams are taking calls on players who can improve the Cubs' roster. San Diego is one of those teams, as they have started to take calls on closer Robert Suarez. For a closer-needy team like the Cubs, it would be worth giving the Padres a call to see what he is worth and to see if they can get something done without overpaying. When you look at the failures of this team last season, there were plenty of things that led to the failures, but it was the bullpen that stands out the most. Not only did this team blow 41 leads after the sixth inning, but they also blew an NL Worst 27 saves, with 19 of those 27 blown saves turning into losses. Had the Cubs found a way to win five more blown saves, they would've made the playoffs, as their bullpen was their undoing again. Unless the Cubs do something soon, they will be entering the season with Porter Hodge as their closer, and despite an overall good showing in 2024, it's unclear whether he can be trusted with that role long-term. Suarez is someone you could trust and the perfect back-of-the-pen reliever for the Cubs to close out games for them in 2025. Despite being 33 and turning 34 soon, Suarez is the classic definition of a late bloomer who has finally come into his own as a pitcher. He is coming off an all-star season in 2024, where he saved 36 games in 42 chances while posting a 2.77 ERA. He did that with one of the best fastballs in the game, as Suarez averaged 99.1 MPH with his fastball. Throw in the incredible command with 16 walks in 65 innings, and you have the true definition of a lock-down closer. Heading into the 2025 season, Suarez is set to make 10 million, which may seem like a lot, but when you look at what Tanner Scott and some other closers are making, his price tag is a bargain. It does make you wonder why the Padres would even entertain the idea of shopping him, especially when you look at how good he has been the past two years. A big reason for their desire to, at the very least, take the calls is his fascinating journey in the MLB. You would think that, at 34 years old, Suarez would have around a decade of MLB experience, but instead, he only has three years. His career started in the Venezuelan League until age 24 when he succeeded in the Mexican League. Suarez would have the most success in Japan, spending five seasons before the Padres took notice and inked him to a contract in 2022. The details of the contract were rather strange, but there was a part of it where he would be allowed to opt-out and hit free agency following the 2025 season, which it does seem like he will do. That is another big reason why the Padres are looking to deal with him: they would rather get something for him than lose him for nothing. You must also consider his second-half performance, where his ERA blew up to 4.28 in the second half. Is that a situation where the age is catching up to him? At the very least, the Cubs need to look into acquiring him as he is a cheaper option than the free-agent closers and can solve the need for this team.
