Brent Suter would be an excellent fit for Cubs |
Eventually, you have to think the Cubs will make a big move, but until that day comes, enjoy the crickets. For whatever reason, Jed Hoyer has taken the patient approach this offseason after claiming the team would be aggressive after the season ended.
Being aggressive and not having a deal done are two different things, as he very easily could be aggressive in the negotiation process but has yet to be able to land one of the big fish up to this point. That has to be a concern if you are a fan of the Cubs, as the rest of the Cubs division has made moves, especially the St. Louis Cardinals, with their starting pitching decisions. While the big moves may not come until after the new year, several players could be had on reasonable deals, so to see the Cubs not even get any of these guys is painful to watch. One name that comes to mind is LHP Brent Suter, who is available for the taking and would be an excellent addition for the Cubs. Suter is familiar with Craig Counsell as he was in the Brewers organization for several years before venturing to Colorado. The former starter turned reliever and dealt with some shoulder issues, which was one of the main reasons he moved to the pen. Since doing that, he has been one of the more overlooked left-handed relievers, and for a team that doesn't have a ton of lefty relievers apart from Drew Smyly and Luke Little, Suter would be an ideal addition for Counsell. Unlike most relievers who thrive on high velocity, the 34-year-old Suter is a turn-back-the-clock type of pitcher who relies on location far more than velocity. His fastball is in the 88-89 MPH, and he mixes in a steady dose of offspeed pitches to counteract that. The best part of his game is the pace he works with, as his quick pace keeps hitters off balance and often leads to hitters making soft contact, leading to quick and easy outs. It took Suter a bit to make his major league debut as he debuted in 2016 and appeared in 14 games that season, going 2-2 with an ERA just north of 3.00. In the 2017 and 2018 seasons, he established himself in the Brewers rotation as Suter made 32 combined starts and appeared in 42 games overall. At 11-9, his record wasn't what the Brewers were hoping for, but he was still an excellent back of the roation option who also posted a 3.79 ERA. When you look at the MLB landscape and how bad some of the backs of the rotation arms are, Suter was far more valuable than most, which was a big reason why the Brewers had the depth they had in that rotation. Despite dealing with injuries and COVID in 2019 and 2020 that limited him to just 25 games with four starts, Suter was still outstanding, posting a 6-0 mark and a combined 2.59 ERA. One year later, Counsell moved him to the pen permanently; the rest is history. Suter pitched in 61 games during the 2021 season and won a career-high 12 games while posting a 3.07 ERA. He had less than 30 walks and was close to 70 strikeouts, as that wasn't a part of his game at any point. He followed up his career-best season with another solid showing in 2022, going 5-3 with a 3.78 ERA across 54 games before signing with the Rockies last season. Although not much went well for the Rockies last season, Suter was one of the rare things that worked in their favor as he posted a 4-3 record across 57 games with a 3.38 ERA. That is challenging to do in Colorado, as Suter continues to impress. Regarding the Cubs pursuing him, you can bet that he will be looking for a multi-year deal in the seven million per year range but may be willing to give a slight discount to be reunited with Counsell. This pitcher has found his niche in this league and knows how to pitch, as he has gone 40-22 with a 3.49 ERA across 253 games. Suter may not strike out many guys or walk many, as he pitches to contact to let his defense go to work. When you look at the Cubs defense, espeically the infield behind him, Suter could have the best season of his career if the Cubs would be willing to take a shot on him.
