MESA, Ariz. — Amid the welcome back to spring training, Chicago Cubs manager Craig Counsell and Seiya Suzuki both acknowledged a communication gap that they are trying to fix.
The relationship between the Cubs and the Japanese player came into focus during Major League Baseball’s Winter Meetings, where Wasserman agent Joel Wolfe told reporters that the club had broached the subject of Suzuki potentially waiving his no-trade clause.
In hindsight, Wolfe said, his client also likely would not have signed with a team that projected him as a full-time designated hitter during the posting process of leaving Nippon Professional Baseball.
Suzuki is still a Cub, but Counsell intends to mostly use him as a designated hitter while Kyle Tucker, Pete Crow-Armstrong and Ian Happ cover the outfield. Counsell, now in his second year with the Cubs, also expects to have a better feel for managing Suzuki.
“We both talked about it at the end of the year,” Counsell said. “I put it on myself, just doing a better job with talking to him. Sometimes, the language barrier makes you lazy, unfortunately. That’s on me. I got to get way better at that. And will. That’s something that I promised Seiya.”
Seiya Suzuki is expected to mostly serve as a designated hitter in 2025 after 59 starts as a DH last season. (Kyodo via Associated Press)
Suzuki and Counsell both indicated that their communication issues did not factor into the dismissal of Suzuki’s interpreter, Toy Matsushita, in the middle of last season.
“It’s a secret,” Suzuki said with a smile, answering through interpreter Edwin Stanberry, who initially joined the Cubs to primarily work with Japanese pitcher Shota Imanaga.
David Ross, Suzuki’s first manager in Chicago, became a big presence during the team’s presentation to the prized free agent. Suzuki signed a five-year, $85 million contract after MLB’s lockout ended in 2022, an investment in what president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer dubbed “The Next Great Cubs Team.”
Suzuki said he is looking for a “deeper understanding” of Counsell’s philosophy and “trying to learn how he thinks.”
“I can’t share too much about what the conversation was between Counsell and I,” Suzuki said. “But I feel like last year we could have had better communication. So going into this year, I feel like we’re improving upon that. And we’ll communicate better during the season.”
The Suzuki trade rumors faded away this offseason after the Cubs acquired Tucker from the Houston Astros and dumped Cody Bellinger’s salary in a deal with the New York Yankees.
“I didn’t think much about it,” Suzuki said. “My job, as a player, is to do my best and give it my all. It doesn’t matter where.”
Suzuki also downplayed his preference to play defense (which has been an issue, at times, with routine fly balls to right field). He developed a routine as a designated hitter and excelled in that role last season, hitting .298 with an .846 OPS in 59 games.
“My job is to give it my all,” Suzuki said. “So if it is to DH, if it is to play the field, I’ll give it my best.”
Suzuki, 30, should be in the prime of his career. He’s been a solidly above-average hitter in each of his first three major-league seasons. His OPS+ has risen annually (113, 130, 138). His WAR ratings have also steadily increased each season (1.8, 2.8., 3.5, per Baseball Reference). His work ethic is tireless.
Suzuki is looking forward to Opening Day in Tokyo against the Los Angeles Dodgers, the most glamorous team in baseball. Without a $300 million payroll, the Cubs are banking on certain players stepping forward. The hope is that Tucker’s presence, good health, more experience and better communication can draw more out of Suzuki.
“In a great Cubs season, we’re going to need players to have that next level in them,” Counsell said. “Seiya’s offensive seasons are really, really good. Sometimes, we’re like: ‘Do more!’ I told Seiya: ‘That’s a blessing and a curse. People think you’re that good that you can do more. That’s how good they think you are. You take it that way — it’s a belief that everybody has in you.’”
(Photo: Nanako Sudou / The Yomiuri Shimbun via Associated Press)
