The New York Yankees showed interest in Japanese Star Seiya Suzuki before the MLB lockout. Could he end up in Pinstripes?
Many Yankees fans have shown frustration towards their team early in free agency. Although it’s still early December, many big-name free agents have flown off the board ahead of the lockdown. With the work stoppage now underway, New York will have to wait until a new CBA is in place to bolster their squad ahead of 2021. Although no significant moves have been made, the Bombers were pursuing a free agent that may be surprising to most: NBP star Seiya Suzuki.
Who is Suzuki?
Suzuki is a 27-year-old who can play third base, shortstop, and rightfield, according to Baseball Reference. He hits righty and had a huge year for Hiroshima in the NBP. In 533 plate appearances, Suzuki hit .317 with a .433 on-base percentage. He blasted 38 homers with 88 RBI and spotted a 1.069 OPS. He also stole nine bases.
For his career, Suzuki is a career .309 hitter with a .402 OBP. He has 189 total dingers, too. Many teams have been in on Suzuki, and a report recently came out from Sean McAdam by linking Suzuki to not only the Yankees, but to the Blue Jays and Red Sox, too.
Obviously, there’s no guarantee with players coming from overseas. A lot of them turn out to be busts, most recently Yoshi Tsutsugo with the Rays. According to MLB Trade Rumors, they predict Suzuki to land a five-year, $55 million deal. Considering MLBTR is pretty accurate with contract predictions, it’s fair to assume that he’ll get a contract in this range. Some of the predictions for where he’ll land include the Rangers and Phillies.
Will the Yankees Land Him?
It’s no surprise that the Yankees are at least in on the Carp Superstar considering his positional versatility. Another outfield option could go a long way for New York, as Aaron Hicks is a question mark in center field. As for third base, Gio Urshela has regressed and we all know the Yankees are in on shortstops, although I still hold faith that Carlos Correa is their top target in that regard.
Although the Yankees’ offseason has been slow so far, I truly think they’ll be very active come the new CBA. After nearly missing out on the postseason last season and their playoff run lasting a grand total of nine innings, I expect general Manager Brian Cashman to be in on a couple of big names following the work stoppage. Suzuki may be a piece that flies under the radar that Cashman likes enough to sign.