Ichiro returning to Mariners
The Mariners are bringing back one of their franchise greats, with Ichiro Suzuki reportedly set to return after taking his physicalMonday.
ESPN reported that the deal would be amajor- league contract, meaning the Mariners would have to make a move to open a spot on the 40- man roster.
The Mariners’ outfield has been decimated by injuries. Most recently, left fielder Ben Gamel suffered a strained right oblique muscle that will keep him out four to six weeks. Right fielder Mitch Haniger has tendinitis in his hand, and reserve outfielder Guillermo Heredia is still recovering from offseason shoulder surgery.
Ichiro, 44, played in 136 games last year as a reserve outfielder for the Marlins, posting a .255/. 318/. 332 slash line with three home runs, 20 RBI and one stolen base in 215 plate appearances.
The future Hall of Famer has spent the majority of his 17- year major- league career with the Mariners. He signed with them in 2001 and earned 10 American League All- Star bids and 10 Gold Gloves in 11 ½ seasons.
The Mariners traded Ichiro to the Yankees at midseason of 2012. He spent 2 ½ seasons in New York and the last three in Miami. He has a career .312 batting average and 3,080 hits in the majors.
DeJong gets long- term deal
Shortstop Paul DeJong and the Cardinals agreed Monday to a six- year, $ 26 million contract that includes team options for 2024 and 2025.
DeJong made his majorleague debut May 28 and hit .285 with a team- high 25 homers and 65 RBI in 108 games. He was selected by the Cardinals from Illinois State in the fourth round of the 2015 draft.
DeJong’s deal covers up to four years of arbitration eligibility, and the options extend to two years of free- agent eligibility.
Nationals send top pick home
Nationals pitching prospect Seth Romero was sent home from spring training for violating team policy, according to reports.
The Nationals drafted Romero in the first round in June after his stock dipped when he was kicked off the University of Houston’s baseball team. Romero had a history of off- field issues during his college career.
This and that
Outfielder Alejandro De Aza agreed to a minor- league contract to return to the Nationals. De Aza was a free agent and led off an exhibition game last week for a team of available big- league players against Japanese amateurs in Bradenton, Florida.
The Diamondbacks signed veteran catcher Anthony Recker to a minor- league contract and invited him to big- league camp. Recker played in 39 games for the Braves in the last two seasons. He played in nine games for the Cubs in 2012.
The Braves acquired infielder Ryan Schimpf from the Rays for a player to be named or cash. The Rays had traded for Schimpf in December but dealt him after he went 0- for- 14 with eight strikeouts in spring games.