"I Can See $15-$20M A Year": Japan League MVP Open For Bidding

Japanese sensation Seiya Suzuki has now officially been posted by his Japanese club for MLB teams to bid on. And the bidding could get pretty serious. Some observers have likened Suzuki to a Ronald Acuna Jr.-like five-tool talent. "I can see $15-$20M a year," said former MLB GM Jim Bowden on MLB Network Radio when asked to estimate what he'll be able to fetch from a major league team.

The 27-year-old was the Nippon League MVP in 2021, with 38 HR, a .430 on-base percentage, and 1.075 OPS. Over the last six seasons, his numbers are astounding:

.318 AVG
30 HR
89 RBI
1.007 OPS

Suzuki explains that it was another Hiroshima Carp legend that convinced him he needs to head to North America.

So, basically, if you’re a Carp fan, you can blame franchise legend Hiroki Kuroda for making Seiya Suzuki want to leave Japan pic.twitter.com/4mLbcihGqY
— Yakyu Cosmopolitan (@baseballcosmo) November 19, 2021

He's mainly an outfielder, but can also play some infield. The signing window runs for 30 days, but the word is that it will be extended if a lockout and signing freeze go into effect when the collective bargaining agreement expires on Dec. 1st.

If you scan through Twitter, there seem to be reports that pretty much every MLB team is "interested" in making a pitch for Suzuki, but the ones that seemingly have the most traction, at least according to Bowden and some other insiders, at this point, are the Atlanta Braves, San Francisco Giants, San Diego Padres, Seattle Mariners and Texas Rangers.

Other notables who are "entertaining" bidding on Suzuki include the New York Mets, Boston Red Sox, and Los Angeles Dodgers.