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Seiya Suzuki took the MLB by storm in the second half of last season and proved he could be a legitimate starter at the highest level. In the second half of the season, he posted a .938 OPS.
He played his second MLB season, both with the Chicago Cubs, in 2023. He played in 138 games and slashed .285/.357/.485 with 20 home runs and 31 doubles.
MLB.com's Shanthi Sepe-Chepuru asks if Suzuki can carry his success from the second half into 2024. Sepe-Chepuru acknowledges that his first half wasn't poor, but due to the injuries he dealt with, it made sense why he found his groove in the second half.
The question for Suzuki is if he can do this for an entire season.
A .938 OPS for an entire season would put him up there with some of the best hitters in the game. If he had posted that for a full season, he would've had a better OPS than Juan Soto, Yainer Diaz, Bryce Harper, Kyle Tucker, and many other stars.
His full season OPS of .842 ranked 22nd, ranking higher than Jose Ramirez, Adolis Garcia, and many others of the game's best.
As the Cubs' lineup currently stands, Suzuki will likely struggle a bit at times next season. There isn't much protection around him and given Cody Bellinger hasn't re-signed, it's uncertain if Chicago will get a deal done.
While not adding above-average hitters to this lineup isn't a guarantee to slow Suzuki down, it certainly doesn't help.
That's something to look for in 2024 if the Cubs enter the season as constructed.
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Cardinals Announce Willson Contreras News After Leaving Rockies Game
The St. Louis Cardinals have been fighting to stay alive in the National League Wild Card race, entering Tuesday’s slate with a 61–59 record and three games behind the New York Mets. A huge reason for the team’s success this year has been Willson Contreras, who is playing in his third season for the Cardinals after joining the organization ahead of the 2023 season. The 33-year-old transitioned from catcher to first base to appear in the lineup more frequently and to fill the void at the position due to Paul Goldschmidt departing for the New York Yankees in free agency. Contreras has been a force at the plate, posting a .256 batting average, .787 OPS, 16 home runs, and 65 RBIs over 113 games. Willson Contreras Leaves Rockies Game Early During Tuesday’s game against the Colorado Rockies, Contreras was drilled on the foot by starting pitcher Kyle Freeland. He was replaced in the top half of the sixth inning at first base by Nolan Gorman. Moments later, the Cardinals announced that he had left the game with a bruised right foot. “Contreras has left game with a bruise on his right foot, per #stlcards official,” wrote St. Louis Post-Dispatch’s Derrick Goold. Contreras Continues to Carry Cardinals Offense This comes at a disappointing time for St. Louis, as they just got All-Star second baseman Brendan Donovan back after missing three consecutive games, and Nolan Arenado is still out with a right shoulder strain. Contreras has kept the lineup afloat since his arrival, and if he is forced to miss extended time, it would be a massive blow to St. Louis’s playoff odds. Over three years in St. Louis, Contreras has a .261 batting average, .818 OPS, 51 home runs, and 168 RBIs, seemingly improving his game as a Cardinal after spending seven years with the Chicago Cubs to start his career. Contreras has made it clear that he intends on staying with the Cardinals for the long haul after his name surfaced in trade rumors at this year’s deadline.
Dillon Brooks and Jalen Green could factor into future Phoenix Suns trades
The Phoenix Suns have made no secret of their ambition to remain in the NBA championship conversation. Two players who could quietly shape the team’s next roster shift are newcomers Dillon Brooks and Jalen Green. The Suns’ front office has shown a willingness to adjust the roster by balancing the urgency to win now with the flexibility to retool quickly. Whether the team is eyeing another blockbuster trade to add another star or a strategic move to bolster depth, Brooks and Green provide two very similar trade profiles. For Suns fans, their presence is about more than just the current rotation for the upcoming season. It’s about keeping the door open for deals that could reshape the Suns’ path to a title. In a league where the right midseason trade can define a playoff run, Brooks and Green may be the keys to the Suns’ next big move. Could the Phoenix Suns move on from Jalen Green and Dillon brooks this early? With Dillon Brooks and Jalen Green now on the roster, the Phoenix Suns face a big decision. Keeping the pair as part of their core or flipping them in a trade to fit the team’s long-term vision is a question the Suns are facing. Brooks brings elite defensive intensity, and a strong defender that can guard the opposing team’s best scorer. His toughness and edge can set a tone for the entire roster, and his playoff experience makes him valuable for a contender. Green, meanwhile, offers youth and explosive scoring upside. At just 23, he averaged 21.0 points per game last season and has the athleticism to grow into a premier offensive weapon. On the other hand, keeping them could provide a defensive anchor and a future star, balancing short-term competitiveness with long-term flexibility. Though if the opportunity does arise to get a star point guard to pair with Devin Booker, Phoenix might just have to pull the trigger.
Reason for Struggling Warriors-Bulls Trade Involving Jonathan Kuminga
The Golden State Warriors and Chicago Bulls are two teams stuck in major limbo. On one end, the Warriors have not made any signifcant moves during NBA free agency, largely due to not finding a solution to Jonathan Kuminga's contract dilemma. On the other end, the Chicago Bulls have been stuck trying to find a solution for both Nikola Vucevic and Josh Giddey. Coincidentally, the two teams could very easily help each other, but it's looking like they won't. According to NBA insider Jake Fischer, the Warriors are not open to any sign-and-trades for Jonathan Kuminga that would force them to trade either Buddy Hield or Moses Moody. "Golden State values both players quite highly, sources say, while maintaining high expectations for both Hield and Moody to be consistent contributors who prove reliable in providing the necessary spacing to boost the Warriors' half-court offense in the postseason," Fischer said. Why Won't a Jonathan Kuminga Trade to the Chicago Bulls Happen? From Fischer's analysis and reporting, the Warriors refusing to trade either Hield or Moody will be the main reason why a trade does not happen between the Golden State Warriors and Chicago Bulls. "The Warriors' refusal to entertain the prospect of surrendering Hield or Moody in those circumstances are among the prime reasons that it's difficult to envision Golden State and Chicago ever finding common ground on a sign-and-trade construction that features Kuminga and Giddey switching teams," Fischer said. Are the Golden State Warriors Interested in Josh Giddey? It may have seemed like the Warriors' interest in Josh Giddey seemed to have come out of nowhere, but according to Fischer, their interest is genuine. However, if the team has to trade Hield or Moody, it won't be happening. "I'm told that the Warriors continue to value Giddey's skillset and have communicated their interest to the Australian point guard's representation. There simply does not appear to be a feasible pathway to such a trade … not right now," Fischer said. Simply stated, the Golden State Warriors are interested in trading for Josh Giddey, which would likely be for Jonathan Kuminga, but the salaries make it tough. "The base-year compensation issue alone makes it challenging before we even get to the limited salary-matching and outgoing player flexibility that Golden State is currently facing," Fischer concluded. The Warriors and Bulls still have over a month before training camp, but once the clock reaches September, then it may be short.
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Steelers' Ben Roethlisberger Thinks It Is Clear Preseason Hero Will Be Playing Elsewhere In 2025
The Pittsburgh Steelers played their first preseason game of 2025 on Saturday, and the organization was able to beat the Jacksonville Jaguars by a score of 31-25. The offense looked surprisingly good in the game, although it was mostly backups playing in the contest outside of the offensive line. The passing game was efficient, and both Mason Rudolph and Skylar Thompson looked good in the game. Logan Woodside came in at the end, but he didn't attempt a pass. The offensive player of the night was certainly Thompson, who was the fourth quarterback on the depth chart before Will Howard got hurt. Thompson is certainly on the outside looking in when it comes to the final roster, but his impressive performance during the first week of the preseason likely caught the eyes of some other teams around the NFL. Ben Roethlisberger spoke about the game on the most recent episode of Footbahlin With Ben Roethlisberger, and he shared that he thinks the quarterback could end up elsewhere. "I don't think the Steelers are going to keep four quarterbacks," Roethlisberger said. "Let's be honest. I think he is playing himself into like a really legit chance for a backup job somewhere on a team. Which is what you want." Thompson is going to need to continue to stack good performances in the preseason, and if he does, the Steelers may have the chance to trade him before cutting down to the final roster at the end of August. It is known that the top two quarterbacks on the roster are Aaron Rodgers and Rudolph, with Howard being right behind them. Thompson will likely end up elsewhere, it just depends on how that comes about. Other teams across the league probably know that the Steelers do not have the intention to keep Thompson around for the regular season, and that could make navigating a potential trade difficult. However, if there are multiple teams that are going to be interested in Thompson's services, one might be willing to trade a Day 3 draft pick in order to get him. The Steelers would not get much in any deal surrounding Thompson, but an additional sixth or seventh round pick for the 2026 NFL Draft would not hurt. No organization would trade for Thompson based off just one good preseason performance, especially with how the rest of the quarterback's career has gone when he was with the Miami Dolphins. He has struggled when he has been asked to start in games, but maybe he has turned over a new leaf that might make him valuable as the top backup for another organization. Another strong performance or two should definitely put him on the radar of quarterback-needy teams. Steelers' Skylar Thompson Could Have A Few Potential Destinations When looking around the league and trying to figure out what teams might be interested in bringing in Thompson, it is hard to ignore a team like the New Orleans Saints. The entire quarterback room in New Orleans has limited experience with Spencer Rattler and Jake Haener barely ever seeing the field. Rookie Tyler Shough is an interesting prospect, but there is no telling how he will play. The Saints may want to consider Thompson, at the very least to bring in someone who has legitimate playing experience. Another team to consider would be Thompson's former team, the Dolphins. Tua Tagovailoa has struggled with injuries, and neither Zach Wilson or Quinn Ewers looked great in the team's first preseason game. A reunion could be in play as Thompson has a handle on the offensive system and has a decent amount of game experience playing in Miami. Another option is the New York Jets, as Tyrod Taylor is going through an injury and the rest of the room has a lot of question marks.
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