Kuzul

Ichiro Suzuki wants to return to the New York Yankees in 2013, according to George King of the New York Post.

Suzuki’s agent, Tony Attanasio, told King:

“There has been a lot of interest [from teams], but he enjoyed playing for the Yankees so much it’s hard for him to say no to the Yankees. His preference is to stay there instead of going someplace else, but we will wait and see.”

Suzuki, 39, seems to be a logical replacement for free-agent Nick Swisher in right field. He hit .322/.340/.454 with five homers and 27 RBI in 240 plate appearances with New York after a July 24 trade from the Seattle Mariners.That was a vast improvement from the .261/.288/.353 he had posted in 423 plate appearances with the Mariners.

Suzuki was also one of the few Yankees to show signs of life at the plate during the postseason. The 10-time All-Star was 11-for-40 in nine playoff games, with a homer and five RBI. He also hit a pair of doubles and scored three runs.

Suzuki played mostly in left field after the trade, the first time he had played the position since coming to the major leagues from Japan in 2001. Most of his major-league career has been spent in right field, however, and he is a 10-time Gold Glove winner at that position.

If Suzuki is to return to the Yankees, he will make considerably less than the $17 million he was paid in 2012. Any offer is also likely to be a one-year deal, in keeping with the organization’s stated goal of reducing payroll to less than $189 million in 2014.

Suzuki is waiting while the Yankees focus on their pitching, specifically 40-something free agents Andy Pettitte and Mariano Rivera.

B/R featured columnist Doug Rush discussed the Pettitte situation in a piece posted on Monday, which speculated Pettitte might make his decision about 2013 this week. That has not happened as of yet. Rivera, meanwhile, told the Yankees earlier this month that he wants to come back in 2013.

Suzuki could add a lot to the Yankee lineup in 2013. Even at his age, he’s still got speed on the bases and could team with Derek Jeter and Brett Gardner to provide a solid 9-1-2 group of table-setters in the order.

According to King, the Yankees have spoken to Casey Close, the agent for free-agent outfielder Scott Hairston, and are not averse to the idea of bringing back playoff hero Raul Ibanez on a one-year deal.

Hairston, 32, spent the last two seasons with the New York Mets and hit .263/.299/.504 with 20 homers and 57 RBI in 398 plate appearances in 2012. He can play all three outfield positions and has also played a bit of second base in his nine-year career.

Ibanez, 40, would like to return to the Bronx. He hit .240/.308/.453 with 19 homers and 62 RBI in 425 plate appearances last season for the Yankees. In the playoffs, he became the first player in major-league history to hit three home runs in the ninth inning or later in a single postseason.

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The struggles of the New York Yankees during the 2012 ALCS were in large part because of the their aging players. While the team must look to get younger, they should make bringing back 39-year-old outfielder Ichiro Suzuki a priority for 2013.

Ichiro is no longer the same superstar who patrolled the Seattle Mariners outfield for more than a decade. While his production has declined over the last several seasons, he’s still a useful player who can positively impact the Yankees.

The mid-season trade from Seattle to the Yankees this past season seemed to rejuvenate Ichiro. After hitting just .261 in his first 95 games with Seattle, he batted .322 in 67 games after donning the pinstripes. He has always enjoyed hitting in the new Yankee Stadium, batting .350 in 49 career games. If used properly, there is no reason why Ichiro can’t have another .300 season in 2013.

The Yankees will get the best out of Ichiro by not treating him like a star. Instead of batting lead off he is much better suited hitting at the bottom of the order. His high contact rate plays up perfectly in that role, as evidenced by his .329 average in 2012 when hitting eighth or ninth.

Part of what makes Ichiro an appealing outfield option is his durability. He has led the AL in games played in each of the past three years and has averaged 159 per season throughout his 12-year career. There is no reason to believe that this amazingly conditioned athlete won’t continue his track record of health.

Aging players are often relegated to platoons to take advantage of pitching matchups, but that’s not something the Yankees need to be concerned about with Ichiro. Last season he hit .283 against righties and .284 against lefties, and carries a .319/.330 split for his career.

The Yankees already have Curtis Granderson and Brett Gardner slotted for outfield spots next year, and B/R’s Kenny DeJohn reports that the team is looking at free agent Torii Hunter. While Hunter is a fine player, he is also near the end of the line and doesn’t bring the same skill set Ichiro can provide, like stealing bases and being able to play all three outfield positions proficiently.

It’s possible the Yankees will choose to pursue both Hunter and Ichiro, but Yanks Go Yard’s Chris Carelli believes that it will be one or the other. While both outfielders are nearing the end of their respective careers, they both remain too productive to be relegated to playing once or twice a week, so the Yankees may have to choose who they think is the best bet going forward.

A final argument in favor of Ichiro is his financial impact. The Yankees are baseball’s fiscal titan, and maintaining that position is all about marketing their brand. Keeping Japanese-born Ichiro in the fold ensures the team taps into the vast network of Japanese press who follow him and the legions of adoring international fans.

The New York Post’s Joel Sherman says a one-year deal worth $5 to $8 million with an option for a second year would be enough to bring back Ichiro. If that’s the case, the Yankees should jump at the chance. After all, Hank Steinbrenner can probably find that type of money just by digging through the cushions of his furniture.

The Yankees need to get younger, but keeping Ichiro around a while longer is an exception they can’t afford to pass up.

Statistics via BaseballReference

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MLB personnel moves are frequently prefaced by fan speculation, media probing or an executive announcement. Somebody usually spoils the surprise.

This article celebrates 10 exceptions to that norm that were completed in 2012.

The players involved ranged from future first-ballot Hall of Famers to lifetime reserves. The reasons for relocation varied, too.

However, they all understand what it’s like to be moved in a shocking trade.

Let’s review their experiences from the past year.

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For over a decade, Ichiro Suzuki has been the face of the Seattle Mariners‘ franchise. When he made his debut in a Mariner’s uniform over 11 years ago, not only did Seattle fall in love with him, MLB did.

Over this stretch of baseball history, the MLB would come to know Ichiro as a slap-hitting, extra-base robbing superstar. He was the Emerald City’s most exciting player since Ken Griffey Jr.

Since his departure to New York this season, the image of the superstar outfielder in a Mariners uniform is now but a distant memory.

This article relives the high times in Ichiro’s Mariners career.

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The non-waiver trade deadline has come and gone, and as has become the “Yankee Way,” Brian Cashman and the Yankees‘ front office made a couple of minor moves without pulling off a blockbuster deal.

Cashman made two small upgrades to his first-place team’s roster, acquiring outfielder Ichiro Suzuki from the Seattle Mariners for minor league pitchers D.J. Mitchell and Danny Farquhar on July 23, and acquiring infielder Casey McGehee from the Pittsburgh Pirates for Chad Qualls just before Tuesday’s deadline.

Both deals are low-risk, medium- to high-upside moves that made sense. But the best moves the Yankees made at this year’s trade deadline are the trades Brian Cashman did not make.

July 23, Yankees acquire OF Ichiro Suzuki, Grade: A-

This was a prudent move for the Yankees.

After finding out the Brett Gardner would miss the duration of the season due to elbow surgery, the Yankees were looking at playing the final two months and the postseason with Raul Ibanez (40) and Andruw Jones (35) forming a platoon in left field.

Both players have done well in that role so far this season, but it’s questionable whether either would be able to keep up their performance for two more months at their ages. Neither has any speed, either.

So the Yankees traded for Ichiro, a 38-year-old outfielder who, at worst, comes relatively cheaply and gives the Yankees superb outfield play and the speed element they were lacking. At best, he is a dynamic offensive player who started his career with 10 200-hit seasons and seven times led the American League in hits.

This is the definition of a low-risk, high-reward trade.

July 31, Yankees acquire 1B/3B Casey McGehee, Grade: A-

This is another deal that comes with absolutely no risk and some upside, albeit not as much upside as the Ichiro trade gave the Yankees.

First is the cost. The Yankees gave up Chad Qualls, a reliever who was about to be designated for assignment as soon as Joba Chamberlain was ready to come off the DL. Chamberlain was supposed to make one more rehab appearance, but was instead activated Tuesday after the trade. So, in essence, the Yankees gave up about two days of Chad Qualls’ services.

In acquiring McGehee (via Yahoo!), they gained a corner infielder with a right-handed power bat who can fill in for Alex Rodriguez as he misses time with a broken hand.

McGehee has played primarily at first base with the Pirates this year, but has also been the Brewers‘ regular third baseman in the past. He’s not good at the hot corner, but is serviceable.

He doesn’t hit for average; he’s a career .260 hitter with a .316 on-base percentage. But he does have eight homers in 265 at-bats and his career high was 23 home runs in 2010.

I’m skeptical about how much the Yankees will get out of McGehee, especially since A-Rod will come back eventually and probably take McGehee’s roster spot regardless of his performance, but they gave up virtually nothing. It was a good deal to make.

Overall Grade: A

At the end of the day, though, the Yankees did well at this year’s trade deadline because they did not trade any of their top prospects for a player they did not need.

Yes, the Yankees have been slumping. But they still have the best record in the American League and will almost assuredly win the AL East.

The offense is solid, and they made a deal to improve on their main weaknesses in left field and lack of speed. Russell Martin has had a terrible season, but there weren’t many catchers on the market significantly better than Martin.

Many fans were clamoring for the Bombers to make a deal for Cliff Lee, or Ryan Dempster or another elite starting pitcher. While a deal for a top starting pitcher would have been nice, the Yankees’ rotation has been excellent this year, and fans should be confident with CC Sabathia, Andy Pettitte, Hiroki Kuroda and probably Phil Hughes as the team’s rotation heading into the playoffs.

Brian Cashman held on to Gary Sanchez, Tyler Austin, Mason Williams, Manny Banuelos, Dellin Betances and all of the team’s top prospects for the future, and he still has the best team in the American League.

The Yankees did well at this year’s trade deadline.

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With the whirlwind circumstances of Ichiro Suzuki‘s trade to the New York Yankees on Monday, there wasn’t much time to reflect on his career with the Seattle Mariners. 

Before fans, reporters and bloggers had a chance to digest the news, the immaculately dressed Suzuki was sitting next to Yankees manager Joe Girardi at a table to discuss the trade with the media. 

There was plenty of time—five or six hours—for Mariners fans to find out that Ichiro had been traded. Yet, while watching him take the field at Safeco Field Monday night in a Yankees uniform, I kept imagining several thousand fans who either hadn’t heard the news, were casual Mariners followers wondering if some sort of elaborate prank had been played or if they had entered a wormhole into an alternate universe.

The man is a folk hero in Seattle. Actually, he’s a rock star. I’ve witnessed the adulation Ichiro receives from Mariners fans, and it was truly impressive. No one drew more cheers, no received more love, no one could do less wrong in front of the Safeco Field faithful. I’ve seen players who were popular with home fans before, but nothing like the continual affection directed at Ichiro. 

Now that the initial shock and surprise have worn off, however, we can contemplate Ichiro’s 12 seasons in Seattle and the legacy he left with the Mariners. We may never see another player like him in baseball. For one thing, Ichiro was a trailblazer. And that trail should lead all the way to Cooperstown and the Baseball Hall of Fame.

A Strong First Impression

Ichiro was the first Japanese position player to play baseball at the major-league level. That alone made him a curiosity. With that curiosity came skepticism, naturally. How would this thin slap hitter fare against big-league pitching? 

He could hit, but did it in a way we’d never really seen before.

Ichiro seemed to run out of the batter’s box as he swung, getting a head start toward first base that allowed him to run out many infield hits. But he could drive the ball into the outfield, as if the upper half of his body stayed back to hit while his lower half was running toward first base.

No one could argue with the results. Ichiro led the majors with 242 hits that season, 36 more than the next closest competitor. His.350 batting average tied for the best in the big leagues with Larry Walker. Ichiro also finished with the most stolen bases in baseball that season with 56.

As SI.com’s Joe Lemire reminds us, Ichiro was the first player to lead his league in batting average and stolen bases since Jackie Robinson in 1949. From one pioneer to another. 

Oh, and we can’t forget Ichiro’s defense. We especially can’t forget that straight-line throw he made from right field to nail Oakland‘s Terrence Long at third base. This was no little guy. He had a cannon for an arm. 

Despite being a rookie, Ichiro led all players in All-Star votes. He won the Gold Glove and Silver Slugger Awards as a right fielder. But most impressively, Ichiro went on to win the AL Rookie of the Year and Most Valuable Player awards. 

Ichiro had this major-league thing figured out pretty well. 

The Hitting Machine 

During his 12 years in Seattle, Ichiro led the majors in hits seven times.

In 2004, he not only got more hits than any major leaguer that year, but Ichiro accumulated more hits than any baseball player had in a single season. His 262 hits broke George Sisler’s 84-year-old record of 257 hits. 

Even when Ichiro didn’t lead the league in hits in three separate seasons between 2001-10, he still notched 200 hits for the year. 

As of this writing, Ichiro has 2,534 hits. Just think if he hadn’t spent nine seasons in Japan. During his professional Japanese career, he compiled 1,278 hits. That gives him 3,812 for a career total. 

Even so, Ichiro could still reach 3,000 hits in the major leagues. Depending on whether or not Ichiro signs with another team next season and continues to play another two or three years, he’ll reach that coveted milestone. 

They Love Him, They Really Love Him

Ichiro was named to 10 straight All-Star teams from 2001-10. During that span, he also won 10 Gold Gloves and three Silver Slugger Awards.

Those honors are decided by fan balloting, and voting from managers and coaches. So, it could be argued that the awards are subjective and not reflective of a player’s merit during a particular season.

But it’s generally understood that All-Stars, Gold Glove winners and Silver Slugger honorees are considered the best of the best at their positions. Ichiro didn’t get those awards simply because he was popular or had a good reputation. He earned them.

One subjective vote remains. Hall of Fame voters will consider Ichiro one of the best at his position during his major-league career. With nearly 3,000 hits and a career batting average around .320, he has the resume.

Ichiro won’t have the power numbers that other Hall of Fame right fielders such as Al Kaline, Reggie Jackson, Roberto Clemente and, of course, Hank Aaron compiled. But he was a different kind of player.

As I wrote at the beginning of this article, we may never see another player like him again.

Follow @iancass on Twitter.

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Let’s slow down the massive hype on this “Ichiro to the Yankees” deal.

News broke yesterday that Ichiro had been acquired by New York in exchange for two minor league players, as well as cash.

Let’s be honest, if it were a guy named Bob Smith this deal would not even be worth mentioning.

Ichiro is having his worst season in recent memory. Both his batting average, as well as his on base percentage, are under .300. He is 38 years old and his best days (and possibly generally productive days) are behind him.

Put me in the camp that considers this deal a gigantic victory for the Mariners.

Seattle has never really had a gigantic superstar stay with them throughout the duration of their career. Yes, there have been some great talents, but none remained with the M’s from sunrise to sunset. Ichiro didn’t even arrive until he was 27.

Looking at another year outside of the postseason, ownership knew fans would be pulling strongly for re-signing the guy who has never known a MLB team other than the Mariners.

Ownership also knew that, for a small-market team, a declining outfielder would not be producing the numbers that the money he demanded would be worth.

The Yankees are absolutely running away with the AL East and likely would have made the playoffs with or without Ichiro.

Why give up ANYTHING in order to land a declining outfielder who hits nothing but singles when you were (in my opinion) the favorite to land him next year?

Yes, the Yankees land a first ballot Hall of Famer and, from a marketing aspect, this deal may make a bit of sense. But, this is the New York Yankees we are talking about. They can acquire a one-armed, one-legged blind and deaf third baseman and he would still be revered as a superstar from most members of the media.

Many other options were available to the Yankees as far as upgrades go, including one who was already on the team. DeWayne Wise, the player the Yankees DFA’d to make room for Ichiro, has a higher OPS than Suzuki has had in the last three seasons.

If Ichiro isn’t hitting, which he hasn’t done consistently all year, it creates an awkward situation for Joe Girardi when he has to bench him.

And, don’t give me the “But Brandon, Ichiro said he doesn’t care if he plays every day, he just wants to be on a winner” line. It’s New York. Everything from Derek Jeter’s dating habits to Alex Rodriguez‘s RBI total is a story. Don’t be foolish and tell yourself that if Ichiro started riding pine it wouldn’t headline your favorite baseball news show.

I think the Yankees made a mistake here. I see it as them giving up a potential future starter, and possibly a bullpen guy, in order to have a declining player for two extra months who they could have signed next year anyway.

By no means does this mean the Yankees are out of contention. This doesn’t mean they aren’t the likely victors of the AL East. Ichiro is not going to cost them a World Series.

I see it as a move with a microscopically small upside, and a rather annoying narrative should it not be a success.

Brandon Wheeland can be found on Twitter @BrandonWheeland for MLB News and Analysis, as well as read on his brand new website, Wheeland On Sports.

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Jay Buhner, a Seattle Mariners legend, apparently doesn’t like the idea of the team he played 14 seasons for re-signing Ichiro Suzuki to a multi-year extension, even if it comes at a sizable pay cut.

Buhner told ESPN 710 Seattle that he’d “vomit” if the Mariners offered Ichiro any type of long-term commitment.

Here‘s Buhner’s full comment:

I’d vomit. I mean, really, no offense. No offense, we’ve got to get this organization turned around. You can’t be spending all the money on one guy.

I’m sure if the Mariners offered a guy like Felix Hernandez or Jesus Montero a multi-year deal, Buhner would have absolutely nothing to say about it.

Buhner likely has absolutely no problem with the Mariners offering a ton of money to one guy, as long as the one guy isn’t an aging right fielder who is experiencing the worst season of his MLB career.

Ichiro, 38, is hitting just .260/.288/.351 this season with 97 hits and 13 stolen bases. Last season was only slightly better. He hit .272/.310/.335 with 184 hits and 40 stolen bases.

It’s no question that Ichiro is on the decline, but if the Mariners want to keep the face of the franchise around for a few more seasons, I say, “why not?”

If he’s willing to take a pay cut to play in Seattle for a few more seasons, there’s no harm in keeping him around in a platoon role. Even if he starts but gets dropped down in the lineup, you can do much worse than having Ichiro in the outfield.

Buhner’s comments will definitely cause some sort of an uproar in the Seattle media, but I would suggest fans think about the Mariners’ options before taking a definitive stance on the matter.

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Whenever an athlete is playing on the last year of his or her contract, it is crucial to have a good season in order to parlay that success into a long-term deal.

No matter a player’s age, if he shows he can perform at a substantial level, he will greatly enhance his chances of a long-term deal.

Every free-agent class has its top-tier players, but for every good player that maintains their previous levels of excellence, such as Cole Hamels and Zack Greinke, there are guys who do not perform as well when the money is on the line. 

There are a variety of reasons why these players fail. Whether it is age, luck or simply an inability to handle the big moments, their stats do not live up to their expectations heading into the season.

Here are five guys who are having disastrous seasons in their contract year.

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Batting average is not an overvalued statistic. When you compare Ichiro Suzuki‘s 2004 season with Eddie Stanky’s 1950 season, it illustrates the importance of a player’s batting average when you evaluate him.

Suzuki batted .372 with a .414 on-base percentage and a .455 slugging average.

Stanky batted .300 with a .460 on-base average and a .412 slugging average.

I must point out that singles, not extra base hits, created Suzuki’s higher slugging average.

Suzuki hit 24 doubles, five triples and eight home runs. He hit 225 singles.

Stanky hit 25 doubles, five triples and eight home runs. He hit 120 singles.

Ichiro had 105 more singles than Stanky.

The difference in on-base percentage between the two came from the fact that Stanky walked 144 times and Ichiro walked 49 walks. Stanky had 95 more walks.

Adding Ichiro’s 225 singles and 49 walks results in his getting credit for reaching first base 274 times.

Adding Stanky’s 120 singles and 144 walks results in his getting credit for reaching first base 264 times.

He and Ichiro each reached first base almost the same number of times.

Now, with a runner in scoring position, Ichiro’s singles are much more valuable than Stanky’s walks.  The single will almost always score a runner from third and usually score one from second.

Batting average measures the chances a batter will hit safely. It really is that simple.

In 2004, Ichiro had a 37.2 percent chance of getting a hit when charged with an official at-bat. In 1950, Stanky had a 30.0 percent chance of getting a hit when charged with an official at-bat.

Ichiro had 762 plate appearances with 262 hits. He had a 34.4 percent chance of getting a hit when he batted.

Stanky had 692 plate appearances with 158 hits. He had a 22.8 percent of hitting safely when he batted.

 A single is more valuable than a walk. It makes little difference whether a batter singles or walks when the bases are empty. A single is often more productive when one or more runners are on base.  

A batter who doesn’t draw many walks is criticized for not “working the pitcher.” Singles hitters who don’t walk a lot can still work pitchers by taking a few pitches before offering.

The game has changed. In the 21st century, starting pitchers are held to pitch counts, which strengthens the criticism that Ichiro doesn’t walk much.

When Stanky drew his 144 walks, “working the pitcher” was not important because it didn’t matter. Starting pitchers in 1950 were expected to finish what they started, and many did just that.

Let’s say that your team is trailing in the ninth inning by one run. The team is down to its final out with the number nine batter, Max Bishop, at the plate.

Bishop was an integral part of the 1929 world champion Philadelphia Athletics. He had a .398 on-base percentage, but batted only .232.

The chance of Bishop getting a hit to tie the game is 17.8 percent. The chance of Bishop walking and keeping the game alive for the next batter, Eddie Stanky, is 20.7 percent.

If Bishop walks, Stanky has a 22.8 percent chance of tying the game.

The chance of both Bishop and Stanky drawing walks is a little more than five percent.

Your team has a better chance in such a critical situation of tying the game with a batter that has a high batting average. On-base percentage is almost irrelevant.

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