DALLAS – The trade market represents the most realistic avenue for the Cubs to find a way to shake up their offense. There is little wiggle room on the position player side of the roster, making it imperative for president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer to consider a wide range of scenarios.

That process included exploring potential deals with Cubs slugger Seiya Suzuki, his agent Joel Wolfe said Tuesday as he held court with the media in a ballroom at the MLB winter meetings. It wasn’t until Monday evening that Hoyer informed Wolfe about teams that had inquired about the outfielder.

“Jed was very communicative,” Wolfe said. “He told me which teams they spoke to. I don’t think he wants to trade Seiya, but there could be a scenario where he feels like he has a deal he can’t say no to. So he talked to us about which teams Seiya would consider.”

Given that the five-year, $85 million contract Suzuki signed with the Cubs ahead of the 2022 season includes a full no-trade clause, it makes sense for Hoyer to keep an open line of communication. Wolfe said Suzuki would be “open” to waiving his no-trade, but the agent added that there is a “small universe” of teams the outfielder would consider.

The Suzuki situation comes as the Cubs look for ways to improve their major league roster due to a lack of vacancies in the starting lineup. If Hoyer and his front office team want to reorganize the roster and create pathways for the group of top-100 prospects knocking on MLB’s door, the trade market is the logical route.

“The hurdle to trade a great player is really high,” Cubs general manager Carter Hawkins said Tuesday. “We don’t want to trade Seiya. But look, like Joel said, there are people interested in great players. So when teams ask, we are at least willing to have those conversations.

“But I really don’t think much will come of it because he’s just a great player and fits in so well with us.”

When Bellinger decided to exercise his 2025 player option (instead of electing free agency), the outfield was blocked with him in right field, Ian Happ in left field, and Pete Crow-Armstrong in center.

Suzuki also patrols right field but plans to get more action as designated hitter since Bellinger is still in action. That’s how it went on the track last season. Suzuki moved to full-time DH duty starting August 16, found a routine that worked for him, and posted a .326 OPS with a .933 OPS in his 37 games from that point on.

Despite Suzuki’s strong finish, Wolfe noted Tuesday that the 30-year-old (who is under contract for $18 million each of the next two years) did not want to remain a full-time DH.

“Seiya was a great defender in Japan,” Wolfe said, “so him being a DH is not a compliment.”

Wolfe added that he expressed Suzuki’s thinking and offered no comment on the Cubs’ decision-making. On Monday, manager Craig Counsell said he doesn’t expect to use Suzuki exclusively as a DH next year.

“We ran into a situation where he was DH-bound for a while,” Counsell said. “Again, I think that’s unlikely.”

Suzuki’s move to DH came after Crow-Armstrong (an elite defender) became the Cubs’ everyday center fielder and pushed Bellinger (a Gold Glove winner in right field in 1919 with the Dodgers) into the corner. Suzuki also struggled defensively at times last season, recording -3 outs above average with a fielding run rate of -2, according to Statcast.

Offensively, Suzuki had his best season overall in 2024, although he was limited to 132 games due to injury. His .889 OPS in the second half helped him finish with a slash line of .283/.366/.482 overall with 21 homers, 27 doubles, 73 RBIs and an OPS+ of 138.

“A lot can happen over the course of an offseason,” Hawkins said. “But from Seiya’s perspective, he will be a big part of our team. He’s obviously one of the better hitters in the league. And there will be opportunities for him to play in the outfield. There will be chances for him to become DH. We just think he’s going to be a great player for us.”