Chicago Cubs Bring Seiya Suzuki and Former Hiroshima Teammate Ryan Brasier Together After Recent Trade
The Chicago Cubs experienced an active season so far but now the team is looking forward to acquire Ryan Brasier from the Dodgers who missed much of last season due to his calf strain, but returned in August with his nailbiting performance.
This also comes with Brasier reunited with Seiya Suzuki, his former team member from Hiroshima Carp. This article will take a look at the Chicago Cubs Trade, why the Chicago Cubs decided for their latest Ryan Brasier acquisition, and the chemistry between Brasier and Suzuki.
The Chicago Cubs’ Latest Acquisition: Ryan Brasier
The Chicago Cubs have acquired the right-hand pitcher Ryan Brasier from the Los Angeles Dodgers in return for a player who will be named later, according to what the clubs announced last Tuesday.
Chicago Cubs designated Rob Zastryzny, the left-hand pitcher for the assignment, making room on the roster, which has the names of 40 players. The 37-year-old Brasier was designated last week for assignment after the Dodgers signed Kirby Yates.
Brasier was removed from the 2024 season due to his calf injury, but he still contributed with a solid performance during his participation in 3.54 ERA.
Brasier recorded a total of 1.89 ERA during two seasons he played in Los Angeles, which included, a dominant mark of 0.70 in almost 39 appearances the previous year, leading to an extension of a two-year contract last offseason.
Just last season, Brasier was not quite sharp as he pitched to 3.54 ERA in 28 innings. He missed over three months because of the strain in his right calf and and recorded 4.5% walk rate, which was the lowest point in his career. His chase rate was 34.8%, well above the league average of 28.5%.
Seiya Suzuki and Ryan Brasier’s Japanese Baseball Connection
The veteran right-hand pitcher, Brasier, will unite with Hiroshima Carp team member, Seiya Suzuki.
Suzuki has served as a trade chip all offseason for the Chicago Cubs, and if this right-handed slugger needs to be dealt, it would only help the Cubs dump salary.
Suzuki is all set to earn $19 million in each of the following two seasons, but with an outfield depth on the club, there are concerns whether Chicago wants to pay the price.
Prior to the Dodger’s pitcher popularized his name in the latter part of his career when he played with Hiroshima in Japan Suzuki slashed .300/.389/.547 when he was only 22 years with 20 doubles, 26 home runs, 1 triple, 85 runs, 90 RBI, 62 walk, 80 strikeouts, and 16 stolen bases over 512 plate appearances, and 115 games.
While entering the 9th MLB season, Brasier will be the latest key addition to the team, and with this the Cubs’ bullpen can become significantly stronger, making them a preferable team to follow for punters on the best MLB betting sites in the upcoming season.
The reunion between Brasier and Suzuki will influence both their roles on the Chicago Cubs and make Suzuki the primary designated hitter. Their chemistry started from their game in Japan and they later reunited in Major League Baseball since 2017. Both have well-defined roles this season which will benefit the Cubs moving forward.
