I can’t believe I fell for it.
Just like last offseason, the writing has been on the wall since October. The Cubs aren’t going to be spending money in free agency. even if it means making a sensible signing for a more than reasonable price. Compete in 2020? Bullshit. Now, of course, the Cubs have enough talent to compete next season, but not so if they trade their best player and have no desire to sign any players to MLB contracts.
So, yeah, I’m pretty dumb for ever thinking the Cubs were actually going to sign Shogo Akiyama. After the Rays and Diamondbacks signed left-handed hitting outfielders within the last two weeks, the Cubs and Reds were seen as the favorites to land Akiyama. Those four teams were the only ones who reportedly met with Akiyama at the Winter Meetings and had serious negotiations.
Now, a few reports from Japan indicate that the Cubs are out on the center fielder.
The report from Nikkan Sports says the Reds appear to be the team most likely to sign Akiyama, as contract negotiations will pick up with Cincinnati this week after Christmas.
There was also another report from Wednesday that said the Padres were the favorites to sign Akiyama.
Yet, that one seems off or the reporter messed up or something happened with the translation. Unless the Padres have been unmasked as a mystery team, only the Cubs, Reds, Rays and Diamondbacks have been reported as the teams who were negotiating with Akiyama since the Winter Meetings. Who knows, it’s possible that the reporter meant the Reds all along.
Anyway, the connection both Japanese reports make about the Cubs maybe not being able to “afford” Akiyama could stem from this by Jordan Bastian a couple weeks ago.
The last we heard of a price range for Akiyama came from 670 The Score’s Bruce Levine, who reported that the 31-year-old outfielder would be satisfied with a two-year, $10 million deal.
Again, not sure why I ever though the Cubs would be willing to spend that much, when their top priority for 2020 seems to be how to trade Kris Bryant or Willson Contreras or both.
So, get ready for more Albert Almora Jr. first-pitch ground outs in 2020!
