Suzuki back ‘home’ with Mariners after signing 1-year deal
Ichiro Suzuki’s wish was granted. He is back in the familiar white and blue jersey of the Seattle Mariners.
“Even in the offseason when I would go back to Japan, I always came back to Seattle. This was my home ... has always been my home,” the 44-year-old outfielder said in Peoria, Ariz., through a translator Wednesday after finalizing a $750,000, one-year contract. “Somewhere deep inside, I wanted to return and wear this uniform again.”
Almost six years away, Suzuki returned to help patch an injury-depleted outfield on the team he played for from 2001 through ’12. The 10-time All-Star can earn an additional $1.25 million in performance bonuses based on plate appearances.
Suzuki earned the 2001 AL Rookie of the Year and MVP, with the Mariners and won two AL batting titles. He was traded to the Yankees midway through 2012, played parts of three seasons with the Yankees, then spent three seasons with Miami.
He has a .312 average and 3,080 hits, not including the 1,278 hits he amassed in nine seasons in Japan. Suzuki appeared in 136 games last year for the Marlins and hit .255 with a .318 onbase percentage.
Suzuki had 2,533 hits with the Mariners, including 262 in 2004 when he set the bigleague season record. Injury report: St. Louis closer Luke Gregerson, a former A’s reliever, is expected to be sidelined for at least several days with tightness in his oblique . ... Tampa Bay right-hander Jose De Leon, acquired from the Dodgers last year, has a torn UCL and might need elbow surgery, according to multiple reports. Briefly: The spring training workout facility created for free agents by the players’ association, will close Friday after three weeks, union executive director Tony Clark said. With dozens of free agents unsigned as spring training began, the camp opened Feb. 13 at the IMG Academy in Bradenton, Fla. Fortyone players have attended . ... Former A’s reliever Tyler Clippard, one of the free agents who attended the camp, agreed to a minor-league contract with Toronto . ... Kansas City reportedly has agreed to a minorleague contract with right-hander Ricky Nolasco . ... Tampa Bay released former A’s reliever Evan Scribner, the Tampa Bay Times reported.