WATCH: Yankees’ free-agent target Seiya Suzuki belts baseballs in batting session

The New York Yankees are expected to exit the lockout with an aggressive mentality towards signing free agents and acquiring talented players. Having to fill multiple holes on the roster, one prospect who has been linked to the Bombers is Japanese outfielder Seiya Suzuki.

Suzuki has been linked to the Yankees for quite some time, and he will get a second chance at finding a new club once the lockout ends.

According to Andrew Baggarly of The Athletic, the Yankees and a bevy of other teams will be in on the Japanese star slugger:

The Dodgers, Padres, Yankees, Rays and Blue Jays also are expected to be in the mix. Perhaps Billy Eppler, who was so instrumental in recruiting Ohtani to the Angels, will use the same persuasive skills now that he’s running the Mets front office. Or perhaps Suzuki will seek to do more than emulate Trout. Perhaps he’d like to become his teammate in Anaheim.

Yankees general manager Brian Cashman will have plenty of competition for Suzuki, especially coming off a stellar 2021 campaign with the Hiroshima Carp.

Suzuki recorded a .317 batting average with 38 homers and 88 RBIs this past season, including 88 walks and 89 strikeouts. Suzuki isn’t only considered a high-profile slugger from overseas, but he’s also great at creating contact and getting on base. He recorded a 1.069 OPS and .433 OBP.

Recently, Suzuki posted a video during a batting session, preparing for the season ahead.

There is no telling when the lockout will end, but both the players union and owners are keen to begin meeting more often to finally solve some of the tough economic issues that stand in their path.

With the Yankees remaining quiet during the first portion of free agency, expect them to be aggressive with any new signings, and Suzuki could be at the top of their list to fill an essential outfield spot with the departure of Tyler Wade, Clint Frazier, and Brett Gardner.