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| Ichiro will provide outfield depth for the Yankees. (US Presswire) |
The Yankees acquired Mariners outfielder Ichiro Suzuki on Monday, ending an era in Seattle. Suzuki swapped clubhouses after the trade and played against the only Major League team he's ever known on Monday, slapping a single to center in his first plate appearance as the Yankees opened a three-game series at Safeco Field. The Yankees won, 4-1.
The Mariners receive right-handers D.J. Mitchell and Danny Farquhar in exchange for Suzuki and $2.25 million to help pay the remaining portion of Suzuki's $17 million salary, according to CBSSports.com Insider Jon Heyman.
Mariners CEO Howard Lincoln said Suzuki approached the team about trading him several weeks ago, knowing the team was going to rebuild. Suzuki was a free agent after the season.
"I realized this team has many players in their early 20s and I began to think I should not be on this team next year when I thought about the future of this team," Suzuki said, according to an interpreter.
| Ichiro to the Yankees |
Suzuki is in the midst of his worst season in the big leagues. The 38-year-old is hitting .261/.288/.353 for the Mariners this season. Suzuki has spent his entire career in the United States with the Mariners, coming over from Japan in 2001. He won the AL MVP and the Rookie of the Year his first year and has been named an All-Star 10 times and won 10 Gold Gloves.
"When I imagined taking off a Mariners uniform, I was overwhelmed with sadness," Suzuki said.
With Brett Gardner out for the season, Suzuki adds outfield depth and likely takes over in left field, where Andruw Jones and Raul Ibanez have filled in.
Mitchell, 25, has appeared in four games for the Yankees this season, putting up a 3.86 ERA in 4 2/3 innings. He's allowed two earned runs on seven hits. He's walked three and struck out two. In 15 games and 14 starts at Triple-A this season, he's 6-4 with a 5.04 ERA, recording 72 strikeouts in 85 2/3 innings. He's considered the better prospect of the two.
Farquar appeared in three games for the Blue Jays last season. Farquhar, 25, was desingated for assignment by both the Blue Jays and A's this season. With four different minor-league teams this season at the Double-A and Triple-A level, Farquhar is 2-3 with a 3.33 ERA in 32 games, picking up five saves.
The Yankees designated outfielder Dewayne Wise for assignment to make room for Suzuki on the roster.
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