After consecutive 83-79 seasons and missing out on the playoffs both times, the Cubs are beginning one of their most crucial winters in recent years. As the hot stove season kicks off in earnest, we analyze the Cubs depth chart at each position and how Jed Hoyer and the Cubs front office might address the team’s needs.

Next up: Designated hitter

DEPTH CHART

1. Seiya Suzuki
2. Cody Bellinger
3. Alexander Canario
4. Owen Caissie
5. Moisés Ballesteros

ANALYSIS

As the 2024 season wound down, Suzuki was very clearly the team’s everyday designated hitter, with Bellinger manning right field. From Aug. 15 to the end of the season, Suzuki made 1 start in right and 36 at DH. With Bellinger’s decision to return to the Cubs in 2025, it’s safe to assume — health provided, of course — that both will return to those respective roles on Opening Day.

“It feels premature [for those conversations],” Cubs president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer said at the GM Meetings earlier this month. “But I thought Seiya did a great job DHing.

“We didn’t have injuries down the stretch. I think any time you just have depth at a bunch of positions — you lose an outfielder, and all of a sudden, having the ability to slot a guy like that in is really nice.”

[MORE: Cubs move on from a pair of veteran role players]

In an ideal world, Craig Counsell and the Cubs would have the position be a rotating spot, using it to give players a partial day off and maximizing matchups. But with how the Cubs roster is constructed, they can’t really do that — unless injuries pop up, like Hoyer said.

The Cubs have players locked in at every position in the diamond, meaning Suzuki fills in as the everyday DH to start. His success in that role, coupled with Bellinger’s defensive prowess — he won a Gold Glove in that position in 2019 — allows the Cubs to deploy Suzuki as DH.

Over his final 37 games in 2024, Suzuki slashed .326/.433/.500 (.933 OPS) with 5 home runs and 18 RBI. Not every player can adjust to the challenges of manning that role, but Suzuki’s ability to do that helps the Cubs.

Having Suzuki as the primary DH could keep him healthier throughout the year, too, as he’s missed 105 games the last three seasons. That’s especially frustrating because of the potential within his bat. Over the last two seasons, Suzuki has a 133 wRC+ — 33% better than league average — which ranks 19th among all qualified hitters and above players like Francisco Lindor, Rafael Devers and Kyle Schwarber.

Suzuki can be the type of game-changing bat that Hoyer and the Cubs have talked about, but his health remains the biggest hurdle in that pursuit.

WHAT’S NEXT

As Hoyer said, injuries happen — and the offseason is far from ending, meaning there could be more moves that can shape things up. Just last week, the Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal reported the Cubs were looking at trading Bellinger. If the Cubs move Bellinger, then, depending on the return, Suzuki would return to right field and leave an opening at DH.

There are too many intricacies and what-ifs to try and predict how the DH would be filled if Bellinger is traded. But suffice to say, Suzuki’s role would probably be different. If that’s the case, the Cubs could try and maximize matchups with the position, but some interesting in-house options can and likely will make appearances at DH in 2025.

Canario is out of options in 2025, meaning the Cubs would have to pass him through waivers before sending him to the minor leagues. He’s an intriguing bat who has dealt with injuries throughout his career (he’s played just 138 games over the last two seasons). But Canario has showcased serious pop.

[WATCH: Exclusive interview with Pete Crow-Armstrong on offseason, Bellinger’s return to Cubs and more]

In 7 minor league seasons, he has 109 home runs and 116 doubles. He hit 37 home runs across three minor-league levels in 2022 and 18 this season in 64 games at Triple-A Iowa. He could serve as a righty power option against lefties for Counsell.

Caissie and Ballesteros are intriguing options, too. Caissie was just added to the 40-man roster last week and figures to make his major league debut in 2025. He hit 19 home runs and had an .848 OPS with Iowa in 2024. The outfielder provides a left-handed option for the Cubs.

Ballesteros could be a longer-term solution at DH. He really burst onto the scene in 2024, hitting .289 with an .826 OPS and 19 home runs across Double-A and Triple-A. A catcher his whole minor-league career, there are questions about his defense. But his bat has few doubts and he, too, likely will force his way up in 2025 and could make appearances at DH, while making occasional starts behind the plate.

BOTTOM LINE

Provided Bellinger returns in 2025, Suzuki will be the Cubs everyday DH to start the season. But a few interesting young bats could make their way up to the majors and could allow Counsell to mix-and-match at the position.

State of the Cubs series
Catcher
First base
Second base
Third base
Shortstop
Left field
Center field
Right field
DH
Starting rotation
Bullpen