The Chicago Cubs have made their first big splash of the post-lockout free agency period coming to terms on a 5-year, $70 million deal with Japanese outfielder Seiya Suzuki.
Multiple Japanese publications – Tokyo Sports and Sanspo – are reporting that Seiya Suzuki has decided on the Cubs for a 5-year deal.
Sanspo: https://t.co/PsNZAJO4fJ
Tokyo Sports: https://t.co/cpQj4YqOBA
— Sung Min Kim (@sung_minkim) March 16, 2022
Suzuki’s signing adds a much needed power bat to the Cubs lineup as he batted .317 with 38 home runs and 88 RBIs for the Hiroshima Carp of the Nippon Professional Baseball League in 2021. The Japanese star has been a model of consistency across the board beyond just the slugging stats with a career on base percentage of .402 and 5-time gold glove award winner.
The 27-year old slugger was pursued by several teams once the floodgates opened for free agency and it appears the Cubs spared no expense in making sure he was brought to the North side with ESPN 1000’s David Kaplan reporting that Cubs chairman Tom Ricketts was a part of the meetings on Monday evening to sway Suzuki to the Cubs.
After meeting with the #Cubs front office and chairman Tom Ricketts on Monday evening, Japanese star Seiya Suzuki has agreed to a 5 year/70 million dollar deal with the Chicago Cubs. #TakeThat
— David Kaplan (@thekapman) March 16, 2022
Suzuki is bringing solid contact, gold glove caliber defense and patience at the plate for the Cubs as he will slot in as one of the team’s everyday corner outfielders. But we’re all here for dingers. Check out this bomb from Suzuki and imagine it happening off Waveland.
seiya suzuki to the chicago cubs. 5 yrs $70 mil. get your hardhats ready pic.twitter.com/fx1PnDCWHB
— DOM (@DOM_Frederic) March 16, 2022
There are still plenty of unsigned players out there, so is this just the first domino to fall or do the Cubs have more moves in mind? We’ll find out in due time with Opening Day just 3 weeks away.
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