Mariners trade Ichiro to Yankees, gain 2 pitching prospects
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SEATTLE -- The Seattle Mariners' star outfielder Ichiro Suzuki has been traded to the New York Yankees, according to the team.
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.
"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.
The only thing missing on Suzuki's resume is an appearance in the World Series, and he may get a chance with the Yankees. Suzuki was the AL MVP and rookie of the year in 2001 after a stellar career in Japan, and the Mariners reached the AL championship series that season before losing to the Yankees. Seattle has not been back to the playoffs since then.
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.
The Yankees made the trade a few days after learning that speedy outfielder Brett Gardner would likely miss the rest of the season because of an elbow problem, and manager Joe Girardi said Suzuki will mostly play left field.
"We're very excited with the caliber of player we are getting. We feel that he brings the speed element. He's a tremendous hitter. That speed element is what we lost when Gardy had surgery," Girardi said. "So this is a big day for us."
Suzuki was given No. 31 because the number he wore his entire career with the Mariners, No. 51, has not been worn since four-time World Series champion Bernie Williams last played.
"No. 51 is a special number to me, but when I think about what 51 means to the Yankees, it's hard for me to ask for that number."
The Yankees certainly hope this trade with the Mariners works out better than the last big deal between the teams. New York sent prized young catcher Jesus Montero to Seattle before the season for All-Star pitcher Michael Pineda, who was later injured and is out for the year.
Mitchell made his major league debut this season and pitched four games for the Yankees. Farquhar made his big league debut last year with Toronto and was claimed last month on waivers by the Yankees from Oakland.
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.
"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.
The only thing missing on Suzuki's resume is an appearance in the World Series, and he may get a chance with the Yankees. Suzuki was the AL MVP and rookie of the year in 2001 after a stellar career in Japan, and the Mariners reached the AL championship series that season before losing to the Yankees. Seattle has not been back to the playoffs since then.
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.
The Yankees made the trade a few days after learning that speedy outfielder Brett Gardner would likely miss the rest of the season because of an elbow problem, and manager Joe Girardi said Suzuki will mostly play left field.
"We're very excited with the caliber of player we are getting. We feel that he brings the speed element. He's a tremendous hitter. That speed element is what we lost when Gardy had surgery," Girardi said. "So this is a big day for us."
Suzuki was given No. 31 because the number he wore his entire career with the Mariners, No. 51, has not been worn since four-time World Series champion Bernie Williams last played.
"No. 51 is a special number to me, but when I think about what 51 means to the Yankees, it's hard for me to ask for that number."
The Yankees certainly hope this trade with the Mariners works out better than the last big deal between the teams. New York sent prized young catcher Jesus Montero to Seattle before the season for All-Star pitcher Michael Pineda, who was later injured and is out for the year.
Mitchell made his major league debut this season and pitched four games for the Yankees. Farquhar made his big league debut last year with Toronto and was claimed last month on waivers by the Yankees from Oakland.
I hate to see them trade Ichiro for two minor league pitchers. Ichiro is worth way more than that!
Would have liked to see the Ms get something more than two minor league pitchers. Like maybe someone that can hit a **** baseball.
So now are we supposed to be expecting the standard 'playing as good or better than in his prime years' that mysteriously seems to happen without steroids when an aging star goes to NYY? Well, in the first year anyway.
Good move. Man deserves to be on a team that can actual win and have a chance at the world series.
After all these years Suzuki could at least thank his fan without an interpreter. Dam Dude!
Good Luck as "Bronx Bomber" World Series Quest
Good luck and we will always love and respect you Ichiro.
I never in my wildest dreams ever thought I would hear myself say this ... but I will be rooting for the Yankees in the playoffs this year. Ichiro of all people deserves to have a World Series ring on his finger. He worked so hard for Seattle and its fans -- and our management screwed him and us out of several chances to bring the playoffs back to Seattle. It was an immeasurably classy act for him to ask to leave so we could start looking to the future. Good luck Ichiro! To the Seattle management -- you need to STOP these "rebuilding" years and give us a team we can be proud of! You are driving away this team's best fans, unless that is what you want?? It has been 11 years since we have had that team we can be proud of; enough is enough!!
I hate to see Ichiro playing for the Yankees, of ALL teams, but it was time to let him go. We have a chance to see what our farm prospects look like, the Mariners will actually have money freed up by not paying $18 mil to him, and he gets a chance to get a ring before he retires. What really ticks me off though is ownership. If they cared half as much about bringing a championship to Seattle as other sports owners have, like say, Paul Allen? Ichiro would be retiring as a Mariner and we wouldn't see half our former roster in Pinstripes
@DawgFan72 The only problem is that I wonder if the front office will spend the money? They haven't proven to have a good track record so far! But I am cautiously optimistic.
Thank you Mariners fans, for the standing ovation you gave Ichiro tonight. I was in tears watching it on TV tonight. What the front office doesn't realize is that our players are more than just ball players. They are family. The fans are far classier than the front office will ever be!
Thanks Ichiro for the great play but when I hear people say you will be a 1st ballot HOFer I look at your numbers and see another great Mariner that is being blackballed for the position he played.
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Edgars #'s 17 seasons Super Slow Runner
AB 7,213
doubles-514
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Ichiros #'s 12 seasons Super Fast Runner
AB 7,862
Doubles-295
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Tell me him being Asian doesnt have something to do with him being a HOF? Im sorry but Im not into watchin guys play hardball like womens fastpitch. I do believe this a huge move in the right direction,
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 @YESGARYÂ
OKAY - Him being Asian has NOTHING to do with it. WHY WOULD IT?? How many of the HOF voters do you think are Asian? What a weird thing to say. Seriously where is your logic?Â
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I agree that Edgar was AMAZING and deserves to be in the HOF, but why connect them? Ichiro deserves first ballot - if you include his Japan pro numbers, he's approaching 4,000 hits. Singles are still hits and he hit an ungodly amount of them.  HE BROKE MLB records. Shattered them. Most hits in a season (EVER) - Ichiro. Most 200+-hit Seasons - Ichiro(TIED with PETE ROSE) Most consecutive 200+ hit seasons - Ichiro. 10 GOLD GLOVES. AL MVP. There's not way he is NOT a first ballot HOFer. Regardless of his race.  Why should he not be?  Feel free to tout Edgar all you want. I agree he had some amazing numbers, but don't ruin it for one of the most amazing players ever to wear a Mariner Uni.Â
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I hate to see Ichiro in a Yankee uniform, but if they do win the world series, at least he'll finally get a well-deserved ring. He's a class act and again, just to make sure you got it - Being asian has NOTHING to do with him being inducted in the Hall of Fame - his NUMBERS ARE TOP OF THE TOP, try telling me otherwise and I'll show you a liar.
One of the hardest things to see, our Ichi wearing a Yanks uniform. My grrrlfriend was crying when he bowed to the audience, such a class act. What a gargantuan loss for us, but a big plus for him. Gonna miss you Mr. Suzuki, you are one of the very best baseball players and a wondrous human being.
This could be the beginning of the end for the Seattle Mariners. The team will be sold soon and fan interest is waning. The team can't compete and is one of only 2 that hasn't been to a World Series. Fans in Seattle only show support when their teams are winning. Don't believe me? Look at 2001 attendance and 2011. Sure, every city has some fair-weathered fans but Seattle fans are extremely fickle. Mark my words, this team will be sold and moved within 5 years and you will be looking at an empty Safeco Field. Then Seattle will spend another 20 years trying to get a team. A change in leadership needs to happen to keep pro sports alive in Seattle, but fans here also need to stop being so apathetic. Other than that I hope Ichiro can make it to the World Series.  Â
 @FremontTroll I don't think Seattle fans are overly fickle; I think they are sick to death of the litany of excuses and lack of commitment by the management to putting a winning team on the field. The only thing that changes from year to year are the ticket prices which never fail to go up. I know being a Seattlite means I am expected to be content with mediocrity. Even so I just can't justify dropping a hundred bucks anymore to go watch what has clearly become the farm team for the rest of the league play.
 @Petwlkr You have a good point. With baseball Seattle seems to be stuck in this rebuilding pattern while I see other young teams getting better. They shouldn't be charging major league prices for a minor league team. I've been to plenty of minor league games and that's the great thing about it, it costs next to nothing to park, tickets are cheap, food is almost reasonable, and you can score great seats. The problem is this team is very weak but they expect the fans to pony up big money. With the NBA and NFL I can't see why teams can't rebuild here. I mean we had a great young team with Durant, just needed to be patient, but the team was sold to a guy that wanted it more in OKC than we wanted it here. With the bad leadership what I mean is Key Arena was only 6 years old when the NBA first said it was already outdated and needed to be replaced. I know Safeco is a very nice ballpark so that isn't the case but it would be a shame to see that building sit empty.Â
 @Steve Giovanis Strange how everyone else but you still counts those two WS as valid. The wild card system is valid.   It's not at all uncommon for teams getting a wild card to have been beaten by a team multiple times in the season. It doesn't mean the wild card system is invalid, because the wild card is basically a loser bracket or 'best of the rest'. That means ALL YEAR, not a few games.
 @Steve Giovanis That may be true but the Marlins didn't create the Wild Card system so you can't fault them for taking advantage of it. All I know is the end result was still that they took the World Series from the Yankees in NY at a time when their payroll was a tenth of what the Yankees was.
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It can be done people. There is no need for Seattle to constantly put up with a crappy product on the field. Time to give a good hard look at cutting off the diseased head of this lethargic snake of a baseball team.
 @PetwlkrÂ
The only reason why the Marlins won anything is because of the wild card They couldn't beat my team, the Braves in the regular season. But were saved by the wild card.
...STOP showing up. Sorry for the lousy grammar.
 @FremontTroll Every single year all the fans get is excuses. We are told to be patient, that they are only one or two trades away from where they want to be. Then when they underperform yet again the managements answer is to trade away the marquee players in exchange for what we are told is young talent that can be developed. Every year is billed as a rebuilding phase but the damn project has no end.Â
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I moved here from South Florida a decade ago. I've seen first hand what can be done in 10 years when you have a commitment to winning. The Florida Marlins went from starting off from scratch to winning TWO World Series within 10 years. It can be done.
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We've had such a revolving door of players that there is no way you can pin the blame on them. The problem is not on the field, it's in the front office. They need to sell the team to someone else whose committed to leaving it in town and then gut the front office.
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You can say what you will about Ichiro's best days being behind him he STILL managed to put people in the seats. The Mariners have just lost a huge chunk of their fan base with this move. Inevitably they will respond by upping the ticket prices yet again to make up for the lost revenue and then publically moan and groan about the "lousy fan base" when people stopping showing up.
 @FremontTroll Sadly, there is more truth to this than I would like to admit. While its a good move on both parts (Ichiro and the team) I see a bleak future so far. I hope we aren't stuck in a perpetual rebuilding cycle or we WILL see the team sold and moved.
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This region tends to not be sports focused unless winning is happening. Other regions/cities seem less-so in that manner (plenty of weak teams sell out games/seasons for decades)
Sometimes I think back to 2001 and Edgar, Ichiro, Olerud, Boone, Bell, Cameron, Dan, Buhner, Guillen, Garcia, Moyer, Seele, Halama, Nelson, Rhodes, Sasaki, Norm and Abbott and wonder if it was all a dream.Â
@windtreeman What that 2011 team had was leadership in the clubhouse. Lou was the backbone of that team, and when we lost Pay-Rod everyone had to step up and contribute. Maybe that will be the case now. What this team needs is a definitive leader, on and off the field.
 @lgconservative  @windtreeman Yeah, SOMETHING has to be done to get the whole crew performing, because I've seen plenty of reasons to send about 2-3rds of them back down to the farm, and very few reasons not to try bringing up different personalities and different skillset combinations. For the wages, benefits, and star treatment these guys get; you'd think they'd all be the hardest working guys in baseball-and perfect models of behavior as well, just to try saving their own jobs. But it ain't so, for some reason.
And a team cornerstone like Ichiro leaving; that should be a final warning bell for quite a few others.
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Whoops, make that Sele, not Seele...the dream's fading so fast I can't hardly remember it!Â
So let me get this straight... not only did we lose the face of the organization and get nothing in return we also had to PAY the Yankees!?! I am used to the M's making bonehead moves but this takes the cake. Safeco Field has seen the last of me.
Will the Mariners ever learn? I lived my whole life in Seattle until 3 years ago but have remained a staunch Seattle fan. Tell me what good have we ever received from the Yanks? Granted, I do not know of these 2 pitchers, but they are just prospects (sorry guys). Mariners have been notorious for trading GREAT players for prospects. Do I need to become an Arizona fan?
 @Dani An Arizona fan? Well, did Arizona get any prospects for Leiter or Johnson? If yes, then why switch?
 @Dani Dude , he WAS great, he is now barely average. He wasn't going to stay here next year anyway They got what they could for him, time to move on, Develop some of the younger players. .Â
Thanks for the memories. Â A change will do us all some good.
This trade is the biggest Japanese surprise since Pearl Harbor.
why wouldnt we try to get some bats instead of pitchers? we have a good starting rotation besides millwood only cause of his age and three great prospects in the minors already?
 @takingamericaback What team is going to give you good hitters for a guy that can't hit any more? Ichiro has no trade value.
 @worm dog Exactly, part of this teams problems are that they held on to Ichiro too long, over paid him and continued to put him at leadoff.  Ichiro also had 10-5 rights so he was going anywhere he didn't want to, and I'm sure his list was very very short.
Im one that looks at this as a positive. On both parties. Mariners get out of the pressure to having to resign him, open a space for younger, Ichiro gets and deserves an opportunity at the playoffs. I thank him for his work, I for the last 3 years have wanted him to move on, but wish nothing but the best for him
How long did we go see games and think of Ichi as OURS? How much money did we spend on tickets and food and clothing with his name on it and he leaves Seattle without even talking to us in English? What a shame. I will not support the Mariners again for a long time I suppose.
So would it make you feel better if Ichiro speaks English to "us" and played like crap? Â Up till last year, I think the guy was pretty much holding up his end of the bargain, not like the front office. Â He asked for the move definitely not just for the Mariners' good but for his as well; and that's fine with me. Â I am much less worry about his future and more about our team's.
 @dissapointedwithichi By "talk to us"  do you mean give media interviews in English?  He spoke English with teammates just fine, but when it came to talking with the press and having his words on tape or paper, he chose to use an interpreter to make sure there was no confusion or mix-up.  We didn't pay him to speak English to us, did we?  As for spending money on tickets, food, and clothing - ummm, why single Ichiro out?  MOST stars don't spend their entire career on the same team - Lebron, Griffey.  A-Rod.  Manning,  The list goes on.  I'm not happy about it - but why be angry that he didn't speak English?  He BOWED to the Seattle fans.  That says a lot more than any words could. Â
 @dissapointedwithichi I'm equally frustrated on the same levels.  However, at least the Mariner's finally cut ties before pouring tons more money into this guy.
 @dissapointedwithichi your comment is very selfish, the man wanted to be traded for two reasons one he never went to a world series and has every right to attend one, and its only right for us to send him to a contending team after everything he has done for us, the second  reason is because he knew we were ready to groom our young talent and that was a self less act by ichiro.
 @takingamericaback  @dissapointedwithichi His comment isn't selfish, Ichiro doesn't deserve a ring any more than any of us do. You seem to forget he was getting more money than all of the position players on the field combined.
 @takingamericaback and there was this thing about demanding a proper batting order to boost his stats...
YES! Getting rid of some dead weight. A .223 batting average is not even close to what it should be. He is making way to much money for barely performing. Yes, he is good on the field, but as far as speed and hitting, he is no longer an All-Star.
Is Jason or Felix next? The Mariners do have some up and coming pitchers in the farm system.
I never understood the Ichiro haters. It was obvious this guy works very very hard and takes his job very seriously. I also hope he wins a World Series, even if its with the Yankees.
 @FossilSpark Same here man...I never liked the Yankees but I will absolutely be rooting for them in the post season for Ichiro's sake.Â
I personally would rather have seen him traded to any team but the Yankees. Really. But I still like the guy.
 @Schmiml I agree, but IF the evil empire does win another series, at least Ichiro will get a well-deserved ring on his finger. Â