The Reds announced today that they have signed a three-year deal with Japanese outfielder Shogo Akiyama. It’s a $21MM pact, the club added. Akiyama will earn successive salaries of $6MM, $7MM, and $8MM, according to Mark Sheldon of MLB.com (via Twitter).
This deal reportedly came together just before the calendar flipped, but details had remained murky. It turns out Akiyama is indeed headed to Cincinnati, becoming the organization’s first player from Japan. (Every MLB team has now employed at least one player from the Asian baseball giant.)
The 31-year-old Akiyama is a well-rounded performer who primarily played up the middle in Japan. He broke out in 2015 and has sustained it since, producing a cumulative .320/.398/.497 batting line with 94 home runs in that five-year span. Akiyama played in every single one of the Seibu Lions’ 143 games in each of those campaigns.
With this contract now in the books, the Reds have added two key pieces to an already talented slate of position players. Akiyama and Mike Moustakas both figure to see steady action in 2020 and beyond. It remains to be seen what that means for the rest of the roster — and the rest of the offseason. As we explored recently, the Reds now seem to have quite a few options for finishing things off over the next five weeks.
Out of the Ozuna race now? Interesting move. Probably a good one though.
Reds move senzel it’s bc they are gonna sign Ozuna. Reds most likely team least scared to give a pick up to sign him.
Ozuna is the most overrated player in this free agent class
If Corey Dickerson got 2 year 17.5 million and kole Calhoun got 2 years 16 million I don’t see how ozuna can really be worth any more than 2 years 20 million, I would much rather my squad have signed Dickerson for that than ever give ozuna anything close to the predictions on this site
I couldn’t agree more, JoshG. This is the signing I really wanted to see.
I agree w all that. Problem is reds struggle getting free agents to sign so they get creative or overpay to get to guys. That’ll be the case w Ozuna. Not their first pick by any means but if they can roll senzel into lindor and Ozuna- that has to be on the table. Ozuna will get good money if that’s the case
Agreed
Yeah…not crazy about Ozuna…
But compared to what we have…I’ll take him.
barely an upgrade on winker/ervin/Aquino/Senzel
now if the do trade winker/senzel it would make a little sense at least
Can’t say who is most overrated, but I know it’s not Ozuna. As a Cardinals fan who never misses a game I can tell you his past 2 seasons don’t show his capability. In 2018 he battled shoulder problems all year. At the end of the year after an injection he came back with the performance we expected when we traded for him. Last year he was on a tear until he broke his hand and after his return his performance wasn’t the same. With a healthy season his numbers will more closely resemble 2017 with Miami. He won’t be an MVP but he will put up solid numbers and certainly has the ability to be an all star more than once.
Nice!
Time to trade @lilsenzii
*obligatory comment about how this means Senzel is undoubtedly going to Cleveland*
This is an interesting signing. 302 average, 390 OBS and 23 HR….if that translates to 280/ 360/ 20 with sold defense it will be nice. It’s cool that the Reds are thinking outside the box ( for the Reds) for talent
*solid
ZIPS has him projected as .273/.331/.433 for next year and I don’t think that will be far off.
I’d say .270/.350/.430 since he is known for his plate discipline.
That’s not great playing 81 games in Cincy. He doesn’t have to be much better than that to justify what they’re paying him, but that’d also be fairly disappointing when accounting for park factors.
Cincinnati is known to inflate HR totals and suppress all other extra base hits. It’s not exactly the most hitter friendly place you could ever go especially if you’re not hitting it out of the park.
Yea I just dont buy all that….then what about Winker…..Votto….. Puig was gonna destroy it there right? I dont think we add anything to him as he already has a bit much on his plate-
Gimme fat stacks on the under 350 obp thats been sprayed around here pretty liberally as well
According to the Zips projections, if Akiyama hit the slash line mentioned above, that’d be a little below league average, though you are right about the park factors – Cincy has only been slightly above average for runs the last couple of seasons. Regardless, that’s only an average slash line in the current run environment with the new ball, which obviously goes with you to every park.
There is no planet, projected simulated or otherwise where that slash line is below average. That’s ridiculous.
League average last year was .252/.323/.435, so idk what the “below average” statement is about.
He is projected to generate 4.3 WAR over the next three seasons which would value his contract at $24.5M. I’ll take it!
I read once this guy is a distant cousin of Saul Rubinek
I need to go watch Warehouse 13 now.
This opens the door for a New short stop
Maybe one from Cleveland
Felix Fermin?
It might just open the Lin-door. Ba dum tss
Underrated comment
I thought lindor would for sure be on a new team by now. His arbitration is coming up. Once his figures locked and reds get a deal in place with another free agent outfielder- be interesting if they’ll trade senzel for him
Typed in :
Top 50 in the MLB traderumors search engine.
Crazy the link below would be the third option.
mlbtraderumors.com/2008/01/remaining-top-5.html
I think Senzel stays in Cincinnati and play shortstop…
Which one of these guys in the photo is Akiyama?
The guy in the back. Hard to believe they couldn’t find a better picture lol
Happy the Reds finally picked up an NPB export, but I’m not sure about this guy. Minimal power and speed.
He avg. 23 hrs per last 3 years. Is that minimal.Might hit 30 in the reds bandbox.
23 in the npb is nothing
It was good for top 10 in the league during that time according to baseball-reference.com.
looking at the stats.. 23 over there is solid.
he finished 9th, 11th, and 14th in HR’s in NPB’s Pacific league the last three years
Can Senzel play 2b? I’d love to see Boston go after him
I guess we could do a Senzel for Bogaerts deal.
maybe the Reds will sign Ozuna and then make the trade for Lindor…
3 team trade.
Lindor to LAD
Seager to Cincinnati
Senzel to Cleveland
Some other moving parts like prospects to Cle. Thoughts
I think Dodgers are out on Lindor since they want to keep Lux.
If the Dodgers get Betts and take on Price’s contract at the same time, they’ll need to cut some payroll.
Reds could take Seager, Pederson, and Downs and send Senzel and India to LA.
My friend where is lux in his deal…. think before you type…. also your proposal is crazy
I think its very reasonable Murphy and if a Lindor deal to the Dodgers went down I have said for a while it would have to be a 3 team deal and they certainly work well with Cincy in the recent past
@dragonsbeard
That’s a really bad trade offer for the dodgers for so many different reasons.
Seager is an all star SS who’s only projected to make 7.1m this year. Hes the last piece you move if you’re looking to dump salary.
Plus…In your ”scenario” the dodgers don’t add Lindor so why would they want to move a very cheap and productive seager for anything other than a top of the rotation SP or a hader like piece for the bullpen?
Look…I get it…the reds desperately need a SS but this is just pure fantasy unless the dodgers get Lindor or unless they were to use seager or more specifically his trade value to help get Lindor or Thor or Hader or something in that mold that would provide value to the current roster. This trade does none of that in the scenario you describe. Even then why would they include Downs in the deal? To get india? Hard pass. I like Downs much better than India straight up.
I respect that you want seager but I think you failed to add some dodgers perspective to the equation before you hit send on this one.
If you want thoughts to your “new” idea, scroll back about a month …
Hey Murphy,
I made that trade scenario a while back on some other Reds article, so yeah I think it sounds great. Seems like a win/win for all. as long as those moving parts are not too expensive.
Most Cleveland fans aren’t particularly thrilled with the idea of senzel being the main piece they get back in a Lindor trade or if he is included in the deal they would want a significant amount of value on top of him.
Now…I’m not saying they are right or wrong to feel that way but that’s certainly the perception that I get from them.
For what it is worth, the Cleveland Indians just confirmed that shortstop Francisco Lindor will be attending their winter fan fest on February 1st.
It appears that Lindor and Clevinger will be Cleveland Indians in 2o2o, and I am very glad about that.
As you should be John. That’s great news.
I sincerely hope Lindor is an Indian for a long time and I hope they extend him…but if they don’t…I certainly hope the dodgers are ready to pounce! Lol
They play 144 game seasons.
I thought it was 144 also, but Seibu has had 143 game seasons for the last 5 seasons. If you look at Baseball-Reference he’s listed for every game (not sure if he started in all, but he appeared in all).
Yawn
We keeping you up big guy?
I think Senzel can catch.
Start Senzel in the rotation between Bauer and Miley, and he can start at SS on his off days. Then Castillo is expendable, and you can trade him and Suarez for Odor and Choo, so the Rangers can sign Donaldson and Chirinos… Looks good lol. Seriously though, I’d be excited about the possibilities as a Reds fan this season.
lol.
Maybe Senzel will be in CF and Shogo will back him up while playing a corner most days – like the team said. There are other SS’s out there that will not require Senzel being moved to get them. For that matter Blandino can spell Galvis at SS occasionally.
Ozuna is going back to cards and a third baseman is coming in another trade heard it on a cards site and this signing proves it.
I think it’s great the Reds are thinking outside the box, and are going with a fat second baseman…
Buck, You may be on to something. Isn’t everyone tired of seeing the short quick types at 2nd base. Just plop that big ole corn fed, husky boy Moose in the middle of the field.
Yea I just dont buy all that….then what about Winker…..Votto….. Puig was gonna destroy it there right? I dont think we add anything to him as he already has a bit much on his plate-
Gimme fat stacks on the under 350 obp thats been sprayed around here pretty liberally as well
.280/.360/.440 is what I’m thinking/hoping
I have been thinking since the Akiyama rumor first came out that it would mean Senzel would be moved. But I don’t think the Reds are ready to throw Senzel AND the farm at Lindor…which is what it would cost.
I’m wondering if Trevor Story would not be a better bet. The Rocks are trying to dump payroll and I think he’d have to be a good deal cheaper than Lindor. Not to mention probably a lot cheaper to extend. Like Lindor, Story is 2 years out of FA. And Colorado has Hampson who can step in.
I know everyone seems concerned about the Coors factor. But GABP is far from the worst place to be for a hitter. I think he’d rake in Cincy.
But have you seen his road splits? make him look awfully pedestrian… not worth the cost to get him
Shogo out and buy your Reds season tickets now