What a Cubs-Shohei Ohtani free agent contract would look like

Chicago Cubs slugger Seiya Suzuki wants to recruit Shohei Ohtani to the Windy City while the two play for Team Japan at the World Baseball Classic. What would that look like?

Seiya Suzuki signed with the Cubs in the 2021 offseason, and hasn’t disappointed yet. In his first season in Chicago, he looked like a rookie of the year candidate at times prior to hitting a wall midseason. Thankfully, he rebounded to the tune of a respectable .262/.336/.433 slash line. He added 14 home runs to boot.

Suzuki is signed long-term in Chicago, and will be a core member of this group moving forward. The Cubs hope their competitive window will open soon, hence the increase in spending the last two offseasons. This year, they brought in shortstop Dansby Swanson on a seven-year, $177 million deal.

Could Ohtani be next?

Suzuki admitted he would try to chat with Ohtani about coming to Chicago at the World Baseball Classic. While some of that was hyperbole, it wouldn’t be surprising for the two to discuss the topic since Ohtani will be a free agent after the season. Any extension between the Angels and Ohtani looks unlikely right now.

Cubs: What would a Shohei Ohtani free-agent deal look like?

Shohei Ohtani will be baseball’s first $500 million man, in all likelihood. Chicago does have the financial flexibility to make that deal happen, but it’s unclear whether the Ricketts’ family will want to take on that bill.

Any $500 million contract — or a deal of that magnitude — would have to come with a significant contract length to offset the AAV. Chicago could offer Ohtani a 14 or 15-year deal worth near the $500 million apex if they were so inclined. This brings the AAV down to $33 million (still not cheap) and pays Ohtani until he’s 42 or 43 years old.

More than likely, it would include some sort of service deal in which Ohtani would aid the team after retirement, whether that be as a spring training coach, special assistant, or even making promotional appearances with the team. It’s similar to Albert Pujols’ current deal with the Los Angeles Angels.

Affording a player like Ohtani is tough — it’s why the Dodgers and Mets are the primary teams linked to him — but the Cubs should not be discounted. In the end, it’s up to ownership.