6:41pm: Suzuki and his reps are expected to meet with Cubs brass tonight, reports Sahadev Sharma of the Athletic (Twitter link).
4:45pm: Suzuki himself shot down rumors of a decision having been made, via Instagram story. “There are several reports that I’ve made my decision, but none of that is true,” writes Suzuki.
2:28pm: Suzuki has not chosen a team yet, according to Dylan Hernandez of the L.A. Times, who says six to seven teams remain under consideration. Jon Heyman of MLB Network names the Padres, Dodgers, Red Sox, Giants, Mariners, and Cubs as some of the teams still involved.
TODAY, 1:43pm: “It appears Seiya Suzuki’s decision is not far away,” tweets Acee.
YESTERDAY, 11:53pm: The Padres are known to be making a push for Seiya Suzuki, and the outfielder worked out in front of Padres executives at Petco Park this weekend, The Athletic’s Dennis Lin reports (Twitter link). Suzuki’s time in San Diego also included a visit with Padres righty Yu Darvish and Darvish’s family.
Now that the lockout is over, Suzuki is finally free to partake in normal free-agent recruitment tours, which are particularly key for players coming to Major League Baseball for the first time. Lin notes that it isn’t known if Suzuki visited any other teams this weekend or what his other travel plans may entail, though given the number of teams interested in Suzuki, he could have quite a few stops to make before his posting period is up. Suzuki now has 17 of his 30 posting days remaining, as the lockout interrupted this process and kept Suzuki from any contract with big league clubs.
Suzuki has seemingly become an increasingly important figure in the Padres’ roster-building efforts, as Kevin Acee of The San Diego Union-Tribune said earlier today that obtaining Suzuki was part of a “Plan A” scenario for the team. That outline included signing Suzuki and Nelson Cruz, and then trading one of Eric Hosmer or Wil Myers to open up payroll space, though one element of that plan has now been scuttled since Cruz signed with the Nationals.
With Cruz now off the board, it could only intensify the Padres’ pursuit of Suzuki. Since Cruz is limited to DH duty, adding Suzuki would arguably be a better fit for San Diego anyway given the team’s needs in the outfield. Suzuki could be easily slotted right into the Padres’ right field spot, as Myers (if he isn’t traded) could be moved across the grass to fill San Diego’s left field vacancy.
Why me Yuuuuuuuuu
Tell ‘em Soulja boy
Well well well. Really excited to see Suzuki play in 2022, no matter the team.
Well Van;
This may well prove to be the most excitement since Shogo Akiyama signed and transformed the Reds.
… And in a non-surprising move the Angels sign Curtis Granderson!!!!!!!!!!!!
Hosmer, Myers and a solid prospect for Stanton & Voit. Who hangs up the phone first?
Stanton would never aprove of a trade.
Brian Cashman blocks AJ Prellers number with that offer.
Hosmer and Myers? $82 million in salary obligations. Stanton alone? $150 million! Does anyone seriously think that the Padres would almost DOUBLE their money owed and give the Yankees a solid prospect as a bonus? I don’t.
Cashman would take that offer in a heartbeat. Saved money would just be reinvested in other players.
Also, Stanton would probably approve the trade. Give up crime-ridden NY streets for low-key sunny San Diego, for the same money? Who wouldn’t.
No kidding – Stanton’s contract is a huge anchor for another decade. Preller would be committing career suicide doing that.
He already has. Preller won’t work again after he is fired by the Padres
Crime ridden? When was the last time you were in NYC, if ever, bumpkin?
Thing is Stanton is – ya know – good. Whereas Hosmer is terrible & Myers is mediocre. Hosmer is a wasted roster spot. & the Yanks are trying to win (as usual.) Cash would absolutely never take that trade – as he is not only a pretty smart dude – he is also a competent MLB GM.
Preller will need to find himself somebody else to bail him out on all that. Perhaps Voit for Myers & Campusano would be realistic. But there is no way he wants anything to do with Hosmer (who would?) & it’ll cost to get rid of Myers contract.
Anything involving Campusano is not realistic.
Nor is Hosmer to the Yanks.
Go to Savant. His grounder heavy approach would be a disaster in The Stadium. He is the rare LH hitter whom would not benefit from short porch. As the RF can position himself so much closer to the action.
Trust me. If I can figure that out, so can Brian Cashman.
It is. Don’t pretend it isn’t unless pushing people off subway platforms and serial killing homeless people is legal now.
NYC is a third world cesspool
You seriously think Stanton worries about crime at his pay grade?
‘“’This is my new home; this is pretty cool’—that’s how it was for me most of last year,” he said. “I now know where I’m at and what part of the city I need to be in. I feel like I have a better grasp on it this time around.”
‘Central Park and Prospect Park tend to get all the love, but Stanton has found another little oasis: Battery Park, on the southern tip of Manhattan. Of course, that’s a long way away from Yankee Stadium in the Bronx, which … was sort of a mistake — he wasn’t familiar with the lay of the land before he moved.
‘Still, being a little bit off the beaten path has turned out to be a blessing: After games, he’ll stroll around the park to clear his head.’
https://www.mlb.com/cut4/giancarlo-stanton-s-guide-to-new-york-city
BTW, the Middle-American fantasies about crime-ridden New York have no application to Manhattan. Battery Park City, where Giancarlo lives, is rated one of the best neighborhoods in America by Niche with a B+ Crime & Safety rating and the 10th-best city neighborhood overall in Niche’s “2022 Safe Neighborhoods in America.”
When asked “How safe do you feel in this area?” 57% of poll respondents in Manhattan picked “Very safe. There is really no crime to speak of.” Only 15% of San Diego respondents picked that answer.
“NYC is a third world cesspool”
Says another guy who’s never been there.
New York City experienced a 38.5% increase in overall major crimes last month compared to the same time period last year, according to the latest statistics shared by the NYPD. yes, its crime ridden. when was the last time you were on the subway, if ever?
Wait.. what??? I’m confused. Do you even watch baseball? Stanton has literally been basically an albatross contract that the Yankees took on to impress their fans… Voit has been solid but hurt. He was so solid that they snagged Rizzo to gap fill lol. Rizzo is the better first basemen hands down… block the number? Possibly because Cashman is a fool. If he could dump that Stanton contract and throw in Voit for literally anything more coming back than (2) $3 call girls I would be impressed!
Let’s talk about Hosmer again
Yankees hang up. How about Hosmer, Nola, and $20-30 million for a couple of mid level prospects?
How about Hosmer and we’ll clean Yankee stadium with our toothbrush after every game for a bag of baseballs?
Huh? Why would the yankees trade Stanton & Voit, to take out the Padres trash for them?
Because it would allow them to get rid of Stanton.
Padres. That Stanton contract is atrocious.
Yes but it comes with a no-trade clause.
Both Hosmer and Myers are salary dumps. The Padres will have to couple a good player with each one to move them. For example Hosmer and Snell to the Red Sox for Matt Barnes.
LOL
Will Shohei show the way to the big A ? Say you , say me , see ya Seiya
They haven’t really been in contact with Suzuki so it’s unlikely. Angels could stand to add but Arte doesn’t seem to want to spend any more. He would be a good fit if they could trade Adell+ for an arm though
Myers prefers RF. Suzuki is happy in LF. Why does article suggest opposite? Suzuki can play 3b and SS too. Doubt the Pads can afford him.
Myers rates better statistically in LF even though it’s not his natural position.
His natural position is catcher.
My grandmother is statistically better in LF.
Means nothing.
Padres probably can afford him. They are the only game in town in San Diego and their owner Seidler said that they were willing to increase spending from the $216 million they spent last season. Move Hosmer and there is money for whatever they want.
How do you move Hosmer? You can’t give him away, given his contract.
All that they can do with Hos is move him to bench, he’s not going anywhere. They can likely afford Suzuki but the bidding war from 12-15 interested teams will inflate his price – can the Pads overpay again? There might be better short term bargains for OF until Hassell and Abrams come up.
Hosmer and Snell to the Red Sox for Matt Barnes.
Only way to move Hosmer is to eat half of his contract and pair him with someone with perceived value. Hopefully at a position where you have multiple options.
The Padres have 4 catchers on the 40 man roster. The only one they should absolutely not trade is Campusano who hit extremely well in AAA at 22 years old. He also improved immensely at game calling. His defense was never an issue.
The Padres are probably not trading Caratini either since that is Darvish’s caddy.
That leaves Nola and the newly acquired Alfaro. Alfaro has negative value, so Nola.
Hosmer and Nola plus $30 million for some mid level prospects. The Padres are in need of relief depth, so a couple of guys down near #25 to 30 on some teams prospect list.
You pick a team that has a need for a catcher.
But Snell can’t grow a beard …
Padres will need to eat half his contract and send either a MLB player or a prospect with him. I like what PadsFans said below. Nola has value and catcher is an area of strength for the Padres.
You like what he said because he IS you.
Suzuki hasn’t played the infield since 2014.
Trading Myers and Hosmer will be impossible with their salary and production. Good luck with that
People said the same thing about Josh Donaldson too.
Donaldson can still play a little bit of baseball unlike Myers and especially hosmer ! They wouldn’t even be beer league recreational all stars at this point
I have an idea, let’s talk about Hosmer some more
Why don’t you comment this again, see if you can get a laugh this time? Third times a charm!
Let’s talk about Hosmer some more
Players with more upside down of contracts have been moved.
Beckett, Price, Gonzalez to Dodgers to essentially create a salary dump. It can be done if they take on some of the monet and/or include prospects in some way, shape or form.
Myers, Hosmer, Abrams, and Campusano for a bucket of chicken and two kids in the DSL.
Some other team will say yes.
CJ Abrams dh, lead off hitter.
CJ may be the starting SS opening day with Tatis’ injury.
If he could work out with Chris Young and Jon Daniels doing contract signing exercises, that’d be nice.
Tatis in RF, Abrams at SS. if CJ has trouble, kim is here ready.
Matt Olsen for Weathers and Hassell to man 1b, push Hoz to a part time DH role.
Tatis should move to the OF
OF of Tatis Suzuki and Grisham
INF should be machado abrams cronenworth hosmer
Myers should DH if hes not traded.
Padres just need to find a RH bench bat to platoon Hosmer. Donovan Solano, Matt Duffy
agree and for some reason i really like him right?
he looked good out there
Tatis is a SS. Abrams won’t break camp on roster.
abrams is a top 5/6 prospect in baseball, there are now draft picks tied to bringing him up (i think)
tati looked really good and healthy in rf
I’m looking forward to Abrams MLB debut, but he’s coming off a significant injury and just turned 21. Mid-season call up is possible though.
I thought Junior looked depressed in OF. It will be Melvins decision, but Tatis laughed off the idea that he’d be anything but the SS they signed for 14 years.
Abrams still needs time in AA/AAA. If he played a full season last year there is a chance he could have broke camp this year.
He might now.
Probably not even now. The short ST isn’t enough time to get him back into baseball following the injury. They have two quality backup SSs in Kim and Cronenworth, and if they sign Suzuki (big if) they add a 3rd interim SS option.
Possibly they just go with Kim to start the season and see how much his hitting has improved.
Kim was a league average player by WAR last season even while being absolutely horrible hitting the ball.
You are starting a guy at SS that has not played above AA? Ok. If you say so. Padres need to clear at least half of the money owed Hosmer off their books.
lol did you say the same thing going into 2019 about our last top prospect?
hoz will be a fine part time dh.
Abrams is not in the same class of prospect that Tatis Jr was in 2019.
Hosmer will make $20 million in 2022 so he will start or be traded.
Better pony up more then that for Olsen if you think the Padres really want him…
I just cannot believe the Braves have done ABSOLUTELY NOTHING!!! Have I ever told you guys how much I hate McGuirk and Liberty Media?!? I cannot imagine it is AA, But whoever it is needs to quit pussyfooting around not signing Freeman and moving on with building back this team up to make a title defense!!!
i agree it will take more, but not much more. Weathers is legit, Hassell is a nice young bat. throw in some young arms and get it done.
They can “maybe” afford Suzuki or Olson, but not both. With Suzuki they don’t lose prospects.
Still feel that way today?
Olson? You mean the guy the Braves traded for?
Mets are a dark horse… let the seething haters hate…
What can you do but admire what Cohen is trying to do with the Mets. Money is no object.
I 1,000% admire what the Mets are doing…My personal favorite team, the Braves, I don’t admire what they’re doing whatsoever..
Basically instead of just giving your franchise icon a 6 year deal and the money..They’d rather be cheap, trade for Matty O, and in the process lose their catcher of the future in Shea Langeliers, a promising 23 year old GG caliber CF who was showing solid signs at the end of last season, a 10 year old stud that marveled in his full season debut in Estes, and their first round pick from last season in Cusick…
ALL OF THAT was worth not giving Freeman ONE EXTRA YEAR!!! Liberty Media and McGuirk ARE A COMPLETE JOKE..
I don’t blame AA because he has to make the best roster he can under their tight purse strings, but good lord they just made a butt ton of money in revenue last year winning the world series, AND THIS is how they repay for their fans loyalty???
Padres fans must be doing backflips after hearing this. Great young player in his prime to plug into an already good young group of position players. If their pitchers stay healthy, they will be a team in the hunt.
Bit of mixed feelings after how the kim signing turned out. Of course, KBO to JPPL is apples to oranges, but…We (the Padres) kind of need to hit on the outfield signing they make to bolster the offense.
Hope Seiya Suzuki adjusts to the new league like that other Suzuki guy did about 20 years ago.
ANNNNDDDD, then the Tatis injury.
So they can sign him and he can sit on the bench like Ha Seong Kim. Do the Padres really have a spot for him?
Yes he will play left or right field. While I will still be riding the pine.
I noticed they had him meet with Darvish, but not Kim. Watch the Nationals swoop in and complete the Padres “Plan A”.
Kim is from Korea, not Japan…what would be the point in meeting with Kim?
@PadreB2011 lol
A different perspective? Is Suzuki only allowed to talk with Japanese players? Going to be a long season in America for him if that’s the case. As the Padres recent international FA signing, Kim could give let him know if signing with the Padres was all they promised in the brochure.
Tatis is hurt so you will be the starting SS. Learn to hit will you.
Kim Yu Seiya!! Is that Asian slang for National Pie Day??
The Padres don’t have a LF at all, so yes they have a spot for him.
Yes, the Padres have a spot for Suzuki. At this point, SD’s only outfielders are Jurickson Profar, Wil Myers, and Trent Grisham.
Those talking about Stanton to SD that ain’t gonna happen.We’re trying to dump salary….not add it, and no way the Yanks add enough cash to lower SD’s payroll.
He’s signing with the Red Sox. No way he wants to be on a second or third place team (SFG/SDP).
Ha! Problem with your thinking is we have expanded playoffs now, don’t have to be in first place to win a ring, and the Giants know that best.
That’ what happens when teams like LAD & SFG play trash teams like Arizona & Colorado 38 times in a season. Extra 38 wins amongst them.
How is that their fault? Every division has teams like that.
When was it that the Dodgers and Giants went 19-0 against the Dbacks and Rockies again? I can’t seem to remember it.
He seems to forget that there are almost always 2 or 3 trash teams in the NL East and one of them was the Mets in 3 of the last 5 seasons.
Giants have the cash and if they add the WILL they can pay this dude a lot more then the Padres.
Preller will make some 100 plus million offer to get him. Just blow everybody out of the water on a drastic overpay.
The Red Sox need a right handed hitting RF/CF and Suzuki would be a perfect fit. If Suzuki is the real deal offensively and defensively Chaim Bloom should go all out to sign him.
5 yr 70m
https://twitter.com/nikkansports/status/1503423462160928768?s=10
If he’s contemplating 5/70 from the Pads, I hope he’s also contemplating 5/75 from the Giants.
Let’s all Seiya prayer for the 2022 padres
Next article title looks to be pretty awkward:
“Seiya Suzuki Showers with Padres; Decision Imminent”
Ha!
Can Kim play short?
Angels have a need, would be a “cheap” option
Obviously
Kim is an outstanding SS on defense. His problem was hitting. Overall he was an average or lightly above average player based on his 2.1 WAR.
With the Tatis being out 3 months with the fracture, Kim is likely the Padres starting SS on opening day.
Works out with Padres, signs with Dodgers
He was looking to sign in the city with the best nachos, last I heard. San Diego makes sense.
San Diego: Nachos Trophy.
NPB Report says Padres signed Suzuki 5yrs/$70mill
https://twitter.com/Npb_Report/status/1503432932312383490
GIANTS, please!
The plan, to sign Cruz and Suzuki then trade Hosmer or Myers, sounds like the plan I had as a teenager, to become a rock star and make a million dollars. I’m sure the Padres hope their plan turns out better than mine did.
Ha! Another good one. Keep ’em coming boys. 🙂
Red Sox will sign this guy.
Japanese Sporting Network already leaked the Padres deal 5/$70M.
Let’s see if they’re more reliable then Kevin Acee usually is.
if that’s real, then that’s a steal
14 million a year, is it a steal or an overpay.
estimated market value was about 15 mil/year going in. So that’s just under. I think the bidding war will take it over that number. Whether he proves worth that, yeah only time will tell.
MLBTR said 5/55 or $11 million per year.
https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2021/11/top-50-mlb-free-agent-rankings.html
Interview last week with Giants brass estimated market has risen substantially recently – they were guessing 15/yr, so that’s what I’m using.. Whoever signs him also has to pay his old team $10 mil. Pricey gamble
Which some teams can afford and some teams can’t.
https://twitter.com/Npb_Report/status/1503426898978029568
5/70 if they are correct.
My moneys on the Pirates.
Well, we know he’s had face-time with the Pads, has he done so with any others?
Win for cubs . If they get him great if padres get him take on hosmer and Myers contract for prospect haul . Pitching pitching pitching
If Suzuki signs with the Padres, I think the RS should call up on Myers. He’s a righty, so can platoon with JBJ, Kiki, & Arroyo in RF/2B combos. He’s in his walk/option year, so added motivation.
But mostly, he has a $14M cap #. SD knows that have to throw in some cash for any trade, since his cash cost is really $21M. They could have SD kick in $9M, making Myers $5M against the cap. Or have SD throw in no cash, and add Weathers or Hassell in the trade.
I think SD still needs Myers. Right now, the only outfielders in SD are Jurickson Profar, Wil Myers, and Trent Grisham.
That, plus Myers actually is pretty decent (albeit in in a frustratingly streaky way).
SD will bring in at least one new OF. Have to. There are guys available who cost in the $5-10m range, but may need to make a trade.
To bad San Diego doesn’t have a guy that can play the OF and second base and hit .300
You actually think that you could get Robert Hassell or Weathers from the Padres for $9 million dollars? LAY OFF THE CRACK!
Have you seen Preller’s track record on trades? If he can get an additional $14M CBT & $21M real money, he will give up something good.
To truthlemonade’s point, I agree 100%. They should keep Myers, and I have made that point many times. But Preller is a trade junkie.
I know it’s shorthand for the CBT, but baseball doesn’t have a salary cap.
They have a soft cap. I use CBT and cap interchangeably. I think most of the readers will read it that way.
Safe to say the Mariners are out on Suzuki. We already have a log jam in the OF with the addition of Winker, we already have Haniger, Lewis, Kelenic, and J-Rod waiting in the wings…
Great deal for Seattle. Suarez should find his form again playing 3rd base and Winker will be a monster! They gave up some decent players but unless the PTBNL is a big name, I’d say Seattle looks to have won this trade. Williamson has some decent upside. The other two are average, including Dunn.
Winker’s a platoon guy (albeit very good when he’s got the platoon advantage) who’s a terrible defender. Very much overrated because of his freaky extreme batting eye, which is fun and all, but I think he’ll be the 4th or 5th best OF on the M’s at the end of the day.
No one that has a .949 OPS and 140 OPS+ is overrated.
Frazier can play OF too
Can someone explain to me why the White Sox are not negotiating with him?
Because Reinsdorf is too cheap!
Playing time. White Sox OF is pretty stacked isn’t it? Don’t want to block Vaughn.
Remember these folks were saying that free agency would be amazing. On Friday they said Freeman would announce within 24 hours so we may not find out till the weekend
Welcome to the world of MLB, Seiya Suzuki, where stories are fabricated for the clicks.
Its 7am in Hiroshima right now. “Honor would dictate not signing until he talked to his former team. Maybe in an hour or two we will know his decision.”
My bet is the Cubs don’t match anything
Who said what you had in quotes?
Pick a team and let’s go.
I’m so glad Yu and his family were telling him how great the Cubs were to them, how he should choise them, and how awesome it would be for him to follow in the footsteps if the legendary Kosuke Fukudome. And also probably something about how Yu wishes he never would have been traded.
Where prescience and sarcasm merge.
It’s like death by a thousand cuts being a Padre fan…..
Come on Farhan, time to open up the wallet.
Get it done, Chaim! Suzuki fits perfectly in RF at Fenway and he would tattoo the green monster. Give him 6/$90M, he wouldn’t turn that down.
He had 3 conditions for teams that were negotiating with him. A safe environment for his family, a team that could compete in the postseason, and a warm climate. Boston doesn’t meet two of them.
Don’t let ‘im leave Chicago without a deal, Cubbies!
Cubs are about like the Orioles now
Cubs dropped coin on stroman and Miley.
Think may have been what vegasdan was alluring to.. When they (epstein) spends on FA’s.. It’s the wrong ones and that goes back to his days with Boston and poor FA choices, like almost every time.
Angelos clan with O’s same way with Baltimore in always going after the wrong guy and hamstrung Duquette, who actually had a brain when he was there from signing much of anything above bargain basement guys, which luckily he has always excelled at.
Theo and Jed broke Red Sox and Cubs curse . G.O.A.T.’s
Really hoping the Angels sign this guy! Think him and Fletcher would be pretty good up the middle.
I don’t think the Angels even contacted him.
Plz close a deal Jed, I need some hope buddy lol
have to figure the Dodgers have an inside lane given their history w Japanese players. not sure why we need another outfielder though.
Braves should swoop in
Padres could make some payroll room by treading Myers and Hosmer… 1.2.3 Go!
I starting to get the feeling that Bryant and Rizzo are getting squeezed out to teams they are attracted to. Not saying they could eventually sign with the Cubs (I preferably do not want either one back). Wherever they do sign, it will be significantly LESS in AAV than what was offered by the Cubs.
Looks like the Padres are about to sign him according to Yahoo. Are they sure they don’t want Stanton?
When in the last year and a half have we thought seriously about trading Stanton? Yes, he costs a lot, but Miami picks up some of the money. Plus, when he’s hot he is a freaking beast. Guy has shown up for us in the playoffs. Is he gonna hit 50 home runs anymore? No, but he makes left handed pitching mess themselves and is certainly good for 30-35 blasts and a 900 OPS.
Cubs sign him 5/70. But but Ricketts is cheap . Hoyer the goat . Miley stroman and now Suzuki . Let’s get correra and Danny duffy.