Suzuki still plans to sign with an MLB team when the lockout ends, he told The Athletic’s Andrew Baggarly in a wide-ranging interview. The outfielder, who was posted by the Hiroshima Carp, has heard recruiting pitches from 10 to 12 clubs and the Red Sox are among them. When the lockout ends, he will have about 20 days to decide where to sign.
“The Red Sox are known to have strong scouting links to Suzuki, and in an interview with a Japanese TV station earlier this month, former Boston pitcher Koji Uehara tried to squeeze an admission out of him that he was bound for Fenway Park,” Baggarly wrote.
Baggarly reports the Mariners and Giants have also been involved in talks with Suzuki and adds that the Dodgers, Padres, Yankees, Rays and Blue Jays are also expected to be in the mix. Suzuki, 27, said he has no preference based on league and coast. His deal is expected to be in the range of five years and $60 million, according to the report.
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1. Jose is Absurdly Correct but not Helpful Posted: January 14, 2022 at 04:52 PM (#6061108)Kurt 20
Mac 0
I project he'll be the 3rd-best Suzuki in MLB history. Based on nothing except 20 WAR is rather a lot.
#4: I don't think there are many recent position players coming/returning from NPB for anybody to have a good estimate. Maybe you could back one out based on changes to pitching peripherals and based on changes for peripheral US players going to Japan. Ohtani's power has obviously translated very well -- his MLB SLG/ISO is actually higher. Suzuki's NPB numbers are much better than Ohtani's but, eyeballing, looks like Ohtani was better for the common ages 18-22.
Though of course Ohtani came over at 23, which is not an uncommon age for power jumps.
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fwiw, zips has seiya at .281/.350/.469. ymmv.
Davenport Translations project: .269 .355 .451--pretty close!
I thought I remembered Davenport being higher and I have to say I'm a little disappointed with those numbers.
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