Hold up, fam. Joel Reuter from Bleacher Report just dropped a contract prediction for Cubs outfielder Seiya Suzuki, and honestly, it’s kinda baffling. We’re talking about a guy who just had his best season in the bigs, and the forecast? A mere three years, $66 million. Seriously? That’s $22 million a year, which isn’t pocket change, sure, but it feels super light for a player of his caliber right now.
Wait, *That’s* All He’s Getting?
So, Reuter’s prediction for Suzuki is that three-year, $66 million deal. He even compared it to the contract the Dodgers gave Teoscar Hernandez, a corner outfield slugger who was the same age. Reuter even hinted that Hernandez, being arguably the No. 2 bat on the market, might even get a fourth year added to his deal. Suzuki is officially hitting free agency this offseason, unless the Cubs pull off some last-minute extension magic. He’s one of a few key Chicago players testing the market, alongside fellow outfielder Ian Happ and a whole starting rotation that’s getting gutted with Shota Imanaga, Kevin Gausman, Matthew Boyd, and Clay Holmes all set to become free agents. With so many teams out there desperately needing a right-handed bat, especially in the outfield, you’d think Suzuki would be in line for a massive payday. This $66 million figure feels… underwhelming.
Suzuki’s Numbers Scream Way More Cash
The reason this prediction feels so off is because Suzuki just delivered his absolute best year in the big leagues. We’re talking 5.1 bWAR, 26 bombs, a .270 batting average, and an .841 OPS. Oh, and let’s not forget the dude plays great defense in the outfield; he’s Gold Glove-caliber, no joke. Yeah, he’s 32 years old, but coming off a season like that, where he put up over 5.0 bWAR, smashed 26 homers, and rocked an OPS north of .840, he’s clearly one of the most valuable players out there. The demand for a player with his skillset is going to be high. If he really did end up signing for just $66 million over three years, it would be a huge disappointment for a guy who’s earned more. Look, a $66 million deal is still a ton of money, and it wouldn’t be a horrible outcome for him. But it’s just not what you’d expect after the year he just had, right?
It’s going to be wild to watch this play out once the offseason hits. With so many teams needing a bat like Suzuki’s, you gotta wonder if some GM out there is gonna blow that $66 million prediction out of the water. Suzuki deserves more than an “underwhelming” payday after a year like that, right?
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by The Sporting News.
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