According to Gordon Wittenmeyer of the Cincinnati Enquirer, before left-hander Brent Suter decided to accept a one-year contract with the Cincinnati Bengals earlier this week, the Cubs were one of several teams interested in him. Chicago was still interested in Suter’s talents “down to the end” of his tenure as a free agent, according to Wittenmeyer.
It comes as no surprise that the Cubs would be interested in Suter. Prior to last summer’s trade deadline, the 34-year-old was reportedly one of the lefty relievers in whom the team was interested. This winter, the team has found itself regularly involved in the relief market, with names like Ryan Braiser and Robert Stephenson being floated as possible Cubs targets. Suter also played for the Milwaukee Brewers for seven seasons under new manager Craig Counsell before moving to the Rockies before the 2023 season.
In addition to Andrew Chafin, other bullpen players who have signed in the last month include Will Smith, Chris Stratton, and right-hander Jordan Hicks, who recently cleared waivers after agreeing to a starting pitcher contract with the Giants. Nevertheless, the Cubs should have no trouble selecting from a wide range of choices this winter as they look to improve their bullpen. In addition to Stephenson and Brasier, the likes of left-hander Matt Moore and right-hander David Robertson might bring some seasoned solidity to the late innings for Chicago, where they presently intend to utilise Adbert Alzolay and Julian Merryweather.
Last week, the Cubs made their first major offseason acquisition when they signed left-hander Shota Imanaga to a four-year, $53MM contract. Although Imanaga was put up for signing by MLB teams less than two months ago, Maddie Lee of the Chicago Sun Times recently provided an account of the club’s efforts to sign the southpaw, going all the way back to when they first started scouting him in 2018, which was Imanaga’s third season in Nippon Professional Baseball. Lee points out that Imanaga attracted more notice from Chicago during the 2019 Premiere12 competition held by the World Baseball Softball Confederation. As the team’s regular right fielder, Suzuki had a stellar season last year, slashing.285/.357/.485 in 138 games during the second year of his five-year contract with the Cubs.
Shortstop Matt Shaw, the first-round pick of Chicago in the 2023 draft, made a big impression in his first professional season last summer, slashing a solid.357/.400/.618 in 170 plate appearances across three levels, including a strong.292/.329/.523 in 15 games at Double-A. The 22-year-old has raised eyebrows for a potential big league debut at some time in the 2023 season after that performance. Dansby Swanson and Nico Hoerner, two gold glove fielders
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