With no collective bargaining agreement (CBA) in place more than three months after the lockout began, MLB delayed Opening Day and canceled two series of games. Another CBA deadline has been set for Wednesday, with more games to be canceled if a deal is not reached.
The lockout has also delayed the free agent market as teams are not permitted to negotiate with players, including international free agent Seiya Suzuki, who was posted by the Hiroshima Carp of Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) on Nov. 22.
The 27-year-old initially had 30 days to join a team, but that was paused when the lockout started, which gives him roughly three weeks to sign when the lockout ends.
With the NPB season scheduled to open on March 27, Suzuki could return to continue playing baseball in Japan, but it appears he will continue to wait out the lockout no matter how long it takes, his agent told Andrew Baggarly of the Athletic:
Seiya Suzuki’s agent, Joel Wolfe, tells me the Hiroshima Carp star outfielder isn’t reevaluating coming to MLB based on today’s news that games will be cancelled: “Seiya is 100% committed to playing in MLB this year. He’s shown remarkable patience and resolve.”
— Andrew Baggarly (@extrabaggs) March 2, 2022
Suzuki has already been connected to many clubs, including the Los Angeles Dodgers, Boston Red Sox, New York Yankees and Toronto Blue Jays. However, some in baseball believe the San Francisco Giants and Seattle Mariners are the frontrunners for the star outfielder’s services.
Per the posting agreement between MLB and the NPB, the Carp would be due a release fee that amounts to 20% of the first $25 million from a contract Suzuki signs. Should the total value exceed that amount, the Carp would receive an additional $17.5% of the next $25 million, and 15% for any total that exceeds $50 million.
Suzuki set career highs with 38 home runs and a 1.079 on-base plus slugging percentage last season, and in nine years playing in NPB, hit .315/.415/.571 while making five All-Star teams.
Suzuki feels like he is an “all-around type of player”
Although Suzuki has drawn the most praise for his power with nearly 200 career home runs in the NPB, he feels like he can contribute on all levels of the game and that he will just keep improving.
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