SEATTLE -- The Seattle Mariners' star outfielder Ichiro Suzuki has been traded to the New York Yankees.
The Yankees also received cash in the deal that sent right-handers D.J. Mitchell and Danny Farquhar to the Mariners. Both 25-year-old players will report to the Tacoma Rainiers.
The trade was prompted by a request from 38-year-old Suzuki himself, according to team CEO Howard Lincoln.
"Several weeks ago, Ichiro Suzuki, through his long time agent, Tony Attanasio, approached Chuck Armstrong and me to ask that the Mariners consider trading him," said Lincoln. "Ichiro knows that the club is building for the future, and he felt that what was best for the team was to be traded to another club and give our younger players an opportunity to develop."
The 38-year-old Suzuki had spent his whole big league career with Seattle. The 10-time All-Star and 10-time Gold Glove winner is batting .261 with four home runs, 28 RBIs and 15 stolen bases this year.
Suzuki is a career .322 hitter and former AL MVP. He has never played in the World Series and now joins the team with the best record in the majors.
"Ichiro will be missed. He owns a long list of Major League Baseball and Mariners club records, has earned many prestigious awards, and in my opinion, he will someday be a member of the Baseball Hall of Fame," said Lincoln.
At a news conference, Suzuki recounted his past 11 years with the Mariners with misty eyes.
"When I think about taking off the Mariners uniform, I was overcome with sadness," he said with the help of a translator. "I will be moving on with pride on acount of the last 11½ years I spent with the Mariners."
The announcement came on Monday afternoon as the team prepared to face off against the Yankees in a series opener at Safeco Field. Suzuki will play for the Yankees against the Mariners.
When asked how he felt about having to face his former team in his first game as a Yankee, Suzuki grew tearful.
“It'll be hard for me to tell until I step onto that field,” he said.
Yankees Manager Joe Girardi said Suzuki will primarily play left field for his team.
Ichiro will always be remembered here. The lack of post season action must have taken its toll on him after the success in making post season when he first broke in with the M's back in 2001. I still don't wish for the Yankees to win the World Series, but if they do this year, Ichiro will likely be part of it and deservedly so.
I wish him well in closing out his career wherever he does. He and Ken Griffey Jr. are the Mariner icons that will be future Hall of Famers.
Posted by: KS | July 23, 2012 at 06:33 PM
if only they had a little extra room for Edgar...
Ichiro is a first ballot hall of fame guy.
I wish him the best.
Posted by: Puget Sound Blathers | July 23, 2012 at 07:27 PM
I also hope Edgar makes the Hall of Fame; he was the heart of the best Mariner team in 1995 - the best player outside of Pete Rose not to.
Posted by: KS | July 23, 2012 at 08:13 PM
The lightning bolt Ichiro threw form right field to gun down Oakland's Terrence Long, pricless.
Posted by: BlackRhino | July 23, 2012 at 09:10 PM
About time. M's also need new ownership (as Steve Kelly previously said in his column). They've been spinning their wheels and been acting as a farm team for others for years. Nothing against Ichiro as he has a terrific work ethic but he was going no where with the Mariners. Good Luck Mr Suzuki hope you achieve elsewhere what you couldn't here.
Posted by: Squeaky | July 23, 2012 at 11:03 PM
Thanks Ichiro. You're one of the best.
Posted by: DODJr | July 24, 2012 at 08:16 AM