CHICAGO — As the Chicago Cubs look ahead to the 2026 season, the organization faces a critical decision regarding one of its most consistent, and globally popular, players: outfielder Seiya Suzuki.
After four years with the team, Suzuki’s future in Chicago is a topic of growing debate. His 2025 campaign, which started with All-Star potential before a dramatic second-half collapse, has complicated discussions about a potential contract extension.
Suzuki, 31, is entering the final year of his contract in 2026.
A 2025 Season of Two Extremes
Suzuki has been a reliable producer since arriving from Japan, accumulating 11.1 bWAR over four seasons (approximately 3.0 WAR per year). He began 2025 on a torrid pace, sparking talk of a 40-homer season.
- First Half (92 games): Suzuki hit .263/.319/.547 with 25 home runs and 77 RBI.
- Second Half (59 games): His production fell off a cliff. Suzuki posted a .213/.336/.351 line with just seven home runs.
This sharp decline mirrored that of teammate Pete Crow-Armstrong, leaving the Cubs with a significant hole in production down the stretch. Suzuki did show flashes of power in the postseason, hitting three home runs and three doubles in eight games (7-for-31).
Shifting Roles and Defensive Questions
Suzuki’s role on the team changed significantly in 2025. After the Cubs acquired Kyle Tucker by trade, Suzuki was moved from his primary position in right field. Though he won the NPB equivalent of a Gold Glove five times in Japan, his defense in MLB has not reached that elite level.
However, injuries to Tucker forced Suzuki back into right field for 32 starts, in addition to 14 in left field and one in center. While advanced defensive metrics were “not kind” to Suzuki, the eye test suggested he was at least adequate in his old position.
His defensive home in 2026 remains a question mark. If the Cubs do not re-sign Tucker, Suzuki would be the logical choice to return to right field full-time.
The ‘Suzuki Effect’: Unquestionable Franchise Value
Beyond his on-field stats—a career .818 OPS and an average of 22 home runs per season—Suzuki provides immense, intangible value to the franchise.
He and pitcher Shōta Imanaga are the pillars of the Cubs’ successful efforts to plant roots in the Japanese player market. Suzuki’s popularity has cultivated a new, dedicated fanbase for the Cubs in Japan, a value that does not show up in a box score but is critical to the team’s global brand.
To Extend or Not to Extend?
Suzuki is projected to hit his 100th home run as a Cub next season. The core question for the front office is whether his 2025 second-half slump was an aberration or the start of a decline.
Given that Japanese players historically tend to age well, analysts have begun to speculate on a potential extension. A hypothetical deal has been floated: three years, $57 million (an average of $19M per year), with a fourth-year club option at $22 million or a $3 million buyout.
With his 2026 free agency looming, the Cubs must now decide if Suzuki’s consistent 3-WAR production and significant marketability warrant a new long-term investment.
