Truth & Rumors > MLB
Mariners face tough decision on Ichiro's future
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10:12 AM ET 09.25 | Much of the Ichiro narrative has changed this year, a season in which many of his standards have not been met. And with that decline has come a raging debate among Mariners fans about Ichiro's role in the team's future. At its heart is a central question, one's answer to which tends to expose his or her point of view: Is Ichiro's 2011 merely an aberration, or the first step of an inexorable decline as he nears 40 (Ichiro turns 38 on Oct. 22). There is an urgency to formulating an answer. The five-year, $90 million contract Ichiro agreed to during the All-Star break in 2007 -- the day before he hit the first and still only inside-the-park homer in All-Star history and was named the game's MVP -- expires after next season. Though some have speculated Ichiro might follow the example of former teammate Kenji Johjima and give up the final year of his contract to return to Japan, that will not happen, said his agent, Tony Attanasio.
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Comments (29) Add A Comment
If ya ain't first....you're last
DENVERROB
Total Comments (2569)
Yeah, you win a prize.
.ChiSoxFan.
Total Comments (13436)
I dont know man, people were saying the same thing about Jeter going into this season. They're both in their late 30's and having a down year. A .270 avg is respectable, but we've become accustomed to their high Ba for so long that we expect more.
With 40 Sb on the year, he's still in great shape, & with 157 games played his health is out of the question. Ichiro has the talent, he'll bounce back next season.
johnny 2 tone
Total Comments (397)
Hey, trade him to the Giants! He's perfect for them, he's old, doesn't hit for power, on the downside of his career, and Brian Sabean would probably extend his contract for another two years!
Perfect for the Giants!
Pitbull 101
Stockton , CA
Total Comments (31)
At least they have one more year to decide. If he looks done, they can trade to a contender.
check out fanubo
Total Comments (116)
His agent breaks out in a cold, cold sweat every time he contemplates Ichiro leaving a contract year unexecuted.
Hatrunner
Total Comments (2007)
Don't put any dining utensils in this guy yet. He's got a few more years in the tank.
h2opololpunk
Gainesville, FL
Total Comments (2261)
Prize as DOOFUS of FanNatiion, lol.
robertclemente21
Total Comments (1347)
They should've traded him a few years back and got five good prospects so they would have decent outlook for the future. It's going to get uglier in Seattle as far as the M's are concerned.
robertclemente21
Total Comments (1347)
Call Theo Epstein! J. D. Drew's contract is up and they'll need a right fielder next year. Why not Ichiro?
HenryDIII
Miramar, FL
Total Comments (90)
after one bad year? and really only a bad year for him. he still hit .280 or so didn't he?
Geeechiman
Total Comments (4111)
I agree.
Geeechiman
Total Comments (4111)
they do need a leadoff hitter since crawford didn't do it this year. oh never mind. they still have ellsbury and he's a good one.
Geeechiman
Total Comments (4111)
oooh thats cold, sounds like the Angels though. (wells, abreu, hunter, etc.......)
Geeechiman
Total Comments (4111)
.280 ain't too bad for 38 year old, but it's unlikely he'll revert back to his younger days. He may have another 2-3 so-so years left in him. Which is not all that bad... at a right price. If he asks for $ 18 mil per year, release him, but if he's willing to stick around for 8-9 mil per year, not a bad price for his skill set. 3 years 26 million sounds about right
HarryCarey
Morton Grove , IL
Total Comments (156)
Most of us who live in Seattle and have watched Suzuki the last 3 years are ready to move on. The high batting average (until this year) hides a mediocre hitter - no power, refusal to work a count or take a walk - just those silly slap hits that he's too slow to outrun anymore. His OBP has always been in the middle of the pack among leadoff hitters. His defense is pretty average now, too. Yet he still has the expectation that he will lead off and play right field every night. Please, let it be somewhere besides Seattle next year.
CVinyl
Maple Valley , WA
Total Comments (1)
Tonight's star prize...the blow on the head!!!
I think the folks in Japan would probably love to see Ichiro come back and do a final "retirement tour" year there. I can't see anybody in the US giving this guy a big contract after THIS season, much less next season.
Hellborn
Total Comments (1246)
the only reason this is even being speculated is because the Mariners are in need of change ... their hitting is miserable, but it's not Ichiro's fault ... sure he had an off year for him, but he's still heads and shoulders above a majority of the league ... give it a rest ... he's not the issue with the Mariners ...
jctoo, cult elitist
Coolsville, TX
Total Comments (11254)
where are the mods?
jctoo, cult elitist
Coolsville, TX
Total Comments (11254)
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