Report: Cubs sign Japanese star outfielder Seiya Suzuki to five-year contract

GLENDALE, Ariz. - Outfielder Seiya Suzuki, a star player in Japan since the 2016 season, is reportedly signing with the Cubs.

According to David Kaplan of ESPN 1000, Suzuki and the Cubs have agreed to a five-year contract. Multiple reports value the deal at $85 million.

The Cubs are also expected to pay a posting fee of just over $14.6 million to the Hiroshima Carp, Suzuki's team in Japan for nine seasons.

In 132 games for Hiroshima last year, Suzuki hit .317/.433/.639 with 38 home runs and 88 RBI.

Since the contract will not likely be announced until Suzuki passes a physical, nothing is yet official.

"The rumors are exciting, right?" manager David Ross said to the media at Cubs camp in Mesa Wednesday. "All that stuff is good to see and hear. We'll wait until things are official. But, yeah, (Suzuki) has a unique skillset that I think is valued in major-league baseball. A lot of teams are after him, so the fact that our name is on the top of the rumor mill, that's exciting."

During his run with Hiroshima in Nippon Professional Baseball, the 27-year-old Suzuki slashed .309/.402/.541 with 189 homers and 621 RBI.

Primarily a right fielder who won five Gold Gloves in Japan, the 5-foot-11, 182-pound Suzuki has also played left, center, first base, third base and shortstop for the Carp.

Jason Heyward has been the Cubs' regular right fielder since 2016, but he'd likely switch to center to make room for Suzuki. Heyward still has two years and $44 million remaining on his contract.

"I've already told the outfielders from Day 1 in camp, I think flexibility is important," Ross said. "If we're talking specifically about Jason Heyward, that guy wants to win and will do anything possible for the team. I've never been around somebody more pro than he is."

The Cubs also reportedly signed two pitchers Wednesday, right-hander David Robertson and lefty Steven Brault.

Robertson's contract is one year with a base of $3.5 million. Once a solid closer, Robertson had Tommy John surgery in 2019 and allowed 6 runs in 12 innings with Tampa Bay last season.

Brault was 0-3 with a 5.86 ERA in 7 starts for the Pirates last year.