MLB Rumors: Juan Soto extension, Red Sox star’s future, and Cubs benching

MLB Rumors: Why Seiya Suzuki is riding the pine, explained

The Cubs have a decent shot at postseason baseball, and they’re not going to let Seiya Suzuki’s struggles drag them down.

That’s the essence of what Cubs manager David Ross said about his decision to bench Suzuki after yet another sluggish performance on Friday.

In his last ten games, Suzuki has batted just .132 with one home run and 4 RBIs, and he has a .491 OPS. Those numbers are not going to help Chicago make a last-ditch run for the playoffs, so Ross is keeping him off the field until his “head is in the right place.”

Ross said of Suzuki:

"We’ll give him some time, and he’ll be back in there when we feel like he can help us win games… I know he wants to be in the lineup, wants to be playing and wants to help the team win. But he’s going to work. He wants to be in there and be better, but he also knows he’s not helping the team right now."

Just 2.5 games behind the first-place Brewers, the Cubs have a realistic shot at taking the division as long as they prioritize winning over player development. Other Cubs players (Cody Bellinger, Mike Tauchman, and newly acquired Jeimer Candelario) have been producing; Suzuki has not.

Benching Suzuki is a sad but simple solution for the Cubs who can’t afford to sabotage their 2023 season over one rusty player. Once the right-fielder gets back into the swing of things, he can have his spot back. Right now, it’s crunch time.