A legendary figure in Seattle will be changing uniforms, but won't have to go farther than the visitors' clubhouse to join his new team. The Yankees, who are playing in Seattle tonight, have acquired Ichiro Suzuki and cash from the Mariners in exchange right-handers D.J. Mitchell and Danny Farquhar, the teams have confirmed.
Within the press release, Mariners CEO Howard Lincoln revealed that Ichiro requested the trade:
āSeveral weeks ago, Ichiro Suzuki, through his long time agent, Tony Attanasio, approached Chuck Armstrong and me to ask that the Mariners consider trading him. Ichiro knows that the club is building for the future, and he felt that what was best for the team was to be traded to another club and give our younger players an opportunity to develop."
The 38-year-old Ichiro has never known life outside of Seattle in the Major Leagues, but will jump from a last place team to a first place team as a result of the transaction. The two-time batting champion's production has tapered off considerably in recent years, and he's hitting just .261/.288/.353 this season. A move from the spacious Safeco Field to Yankee Stadium could very well help boost his offensive production, however.
Ichiro, who is a free agent following the 2012 season, is owed roughly $6.7MM of his $17MM salary. The Yankees will be responsible for $2.25MM of that salary, meaning the Mariners are including somewhere around $4.5MM to facilitate the deal. Baseball's new collective bargaining agreement prevents teams from acquiring compensatory draft picks for players who didn't spend the entirety of the season on their roster. In other words, Ichiro is strictly a rental.
The Yankees' interest likely picked up when Brett Gardner suffered another setback in his rehab. Because Ichiro has 10-and-5 rights, he had the chance to veto this trade, but approved a deal to the Yanks. Mitchell is on the Yankees' 40-man roster, but Farquhar is not, which means the Mariners will not have to make a corresponding move.
Mitchell, 25, has appeared in four games for the Yankees this season, pitching to a 3.86 ERA in 4 2/3 innings. In 85 2/3 career Triple-A innings, he has a 3.81 ERA with a 6.8 K/9 and 3.4 BB/9. The Yankees selected him out of Clemson University in the 10th round of the 2008 draft.
The 25-year-old Farquhar was taken just 11 picks earlier in the same draft, by the Blue Jays. He spent time in the Jays and Athletics organizations this season, and was claimed off waivers by the Yankees on June 26 after the A's designated him for assignment. Farquhar owns a 4.65 ERA in 69 2/3 Triple-A innings, where he's posted a 7.6 K/9 and 3.5 BB/9.
Jack Curry of the YES Network first broke the news (on Twitter), and Joel Sherman of the New York Post added details surrounding the money that was exchanged (Twitter link).
say it ain’t so Ichiro!
Wow, what a move!
does anyone know about the prospects the yankees are giving up?
Yes we do.
The Yankees have acquired Ichiro Suzuki for RHPs DJ Mitchell and Danny Fahrquar, a source said. Yanks also get undisclosed cash in deal.-Jack Curry twitter
Ha didn’t the yankees just pick up Farqhuar from waivers!?
What the heck is going on today?
NY wanted another player to get 3k hits in ‘stripes?
Kidding.. Nice pickup, he can still hack ‘n slash with the best and nobody will knock the glove.
Sorry, Ichiro won’t get to 3,000. There isn’t enough left in the tank to remain on a MLB roster long enough, unless he’s a FA bargain for a weak franchise (and even then it will be a struggle; he’s still 467 hits shy, which will take about 3 years to get).
Did NOT see that coming. That’s crazy.
crazy… left-field trade?!!
Yes he will be playing left
Mind is blown.
I know he’s past his prime. but I think I’m going to cry. I’m so happy! hahaha
He is still fun to watch with that gun for an arm
Holy crap didn’t see that happening
No way…Farquhar has already been DFA’s this year. Don’t know about DJ Mitchell but this package seems light for the M’s
they get ca$$$H, i’m guessing that is the real deal.
Cash is going to the Yankees
This isn’t a major deal, but not as bad for M’s as it appears superficially. Given his numbers, the M’s wouldn’t get any draft picks if he went FA at the end of the season and even if neither pitcher works out at the major league level they at least provide minor league depth to protect legitimate prospects (assuming the M’s have any) by chewing up innings.
Holy Sushi!
So yeah, the world is in ending in 2012.
nope, the yankees keep buying players, nothing new.
Can’t fault them for buying in a trade.
L2
Yeah they bought him as a free agent. Good thinking.
Wow. I thought he’d be in Seattle for his whole career.
I hate this news with the burning passion of a thousand hells.
What the hell is this?
Where did this come from? Didn’t know he was available
he wasnt know to be available he requested trade
Well well, today was a good day in mlbtraderumors. yes indeed.
I second your statement.
I imagine you lighting a pipe filled with smoking tobacco while saying this
since they were supposedly going to keep Ichiro around . . . . Felix trade anyone?
Stop it. You and your horrible imagination, just stop it.
I want to puke
Let’s go Cubs, are you really going to be shown up Theo!? Jed!?!?
Sounds like a good move except that Ichiro is old and over the hill.
Ichiro is hitting .261 with a .641 OPS.
However, going from Safe Co to Yankee Stadium can’t hurt.
It isn’t like he swings for the fences, though.
True, but Ichiro does have some pop in his bat. He could adjust his swing to a more comfy ball park like Yankee Stadium.
Ichiro is hitting .297 away from Safec0, although his OBP is still a bit low
I know Ichiro isn’t his past self anymore, but he’s worth more than that in marketing alone.
maybe a line up with real protection, a ball park built for left handers, and a contender will rejuvenate him
Winning is the best marketing plan, and Ichiro isn’t able to help there. Maybe with the money they save on Ichiro’s contract will allow them to upgrade (especially since they didn’t get much in the trade: a couple of hopefuls who haven’t exactly blown away AAA batters).
Da Hell?!
Oh my, what a shocker.
Bit of a shock. Right move for the Mariners, they really needed to move on and spend whatever money they have on younger talent.
Mariners should have tried to get better players.
But I’m curious, doesn’t Ichiro have 10-5 rights?
Wow.
This has to be a joke or something. Maybe a belated April Fools day thing.
Jaw on the floor.
That’s a steal, speedy centerfield type for basically nothing.
Funny, Mariners are having fun ripping the Yankees off this year, haha
Mariners got nothing in this deal… must’ve been salary dump.
I literally almost passed out.
Agree i was just commenting on the tigers trade, clicked the like to come back to the home screen and literally made a loud vocal “WHAT!”
Wow!didn’t see this happening. Has ichiro Fallen that much? Thought he would command more
Yes, he has.
If only there were hundreds of websites where you could look up how well a player is doing.
You ah gotta be ah sheeta me!
This is a big deal for the Yankees! Wow!
Doesn’t seem to make sense for the M’s. I get trading Ichiro, but I would have guessed they could do better than a couple of 25 year old AAAA pitchers.
I thought it seemed like a pretty fair return for a 38-year-old OF who is batting .261 with 4 HRs and makes $18M.
not sure how you can say Mitchell is AAAA when he’s only pitched 4 games in the majors. actually I saw him pitch 1 of those games against the O’s and I remember thinking “this no-name guy has pretty good stuff”. for what that’s worth.
He’s got solid talent and will definetly be in the majors although probably not a star.
Still…even with Ichiro not being a very good hitter now it’s still a steal as far as I’m concerned simply because netiher DJ or the other guy figured to me major parts of our staff.
Agreed, they have plenty of midlevel guys (Mike Axisa had him #17 of Yankees prospects). To get ichiro is a great move. He is older, but compared to what what the Twins want for Wise, this is a better move. Ichiro has a nice arm, and can still move around in the field.
you meant for Span I assume?
I actually interviewed D.J. the night he was drafted working for a magazine at the time and have followed him since. I agree with you that he’s solid – he’s going to be able to succeed if put in the right environment and get get lucky enough to get some run support. I think he could do well in Seatle – but he won’t see the run support he would have seen at Yankee Stadium (though he also won’t see as many hrs hit into the short porch).
Still, he’s a decent pick-up and could be a contributor for Seattle.
They really couldn’t considering his contract and the fact that he’s not the Ichiro that he was from 2001-2010 anymore.
Yeah, just looking at Mitchell’s line in the article tells me his ceiling is “MLB closer.”
wow never saw this coming
didn’t see this one coming, what a great day for trades
Wow. Wow. Wow.
Wow this was even more shocking than the Tigers/Marlins trade.
Um, what?
I guess Yankees get the arm from left? What about Gardner though?
Gardner is out for the year.
Are the Mariners insane? Future HOF guy they’re trading away. Franchise player.
Really good player. HOF-er? Maybe not.
10 time GG winner and All Star. 4 time SS winner. 1 time AL MVP. You really must be kidding yourself if you think Ichiro isn’t going to Cooperstown after he retires.
Single season hit record holder as well.
And rookie of the year and the only person to ever hit an inside the park HR in the ASG
@twitter-196998928:disqus so confused by this comment please explain why he isn’t a HOF?
Yeah, the single-season hits record holder is not going to miss the HOF.
HOF-er on the first ballot? Maybe.
12 seasons, 10 with over 200 hits, 1 season with most hits in modern era history, over 2500+ hits, over 400 SBs in a somewhat abbreviated career. Not to mention single handedly opening MLB for Japanese-born players. First Ballot if anyone.
I agree with nearly everything you said. My only fault is “(n)ot to mention single handedly opening MLB for Japanese-born players.”
I think Hideo Nomo might take a little issue with that statement.
You’re kidding right? .322 lifetime bat avg w/ a .366 obp? Oh yeah and the 10 straight years of 200 plus hits which is something NO ONE has ever done? I don’t even know if another player has ever had 10 200 plus seasons let alone all consecutively.
First ballot HOF-er. 85+% will vote him in on first ballot. Watch.
They want him to have a chance to win?
He’s an offensive liability now (mind you, so is most of the M’s line-up). From a baseball perspective, trading him for younger talent makes some sense. However, I really think he’s worth more than what’s listed here. I also thought the M’s valued him as a franchise player, as well as the marketing aspectsāIchi-rolls and all that at the concessions.
You don’t trade away franchise players on his last year in his contract. Especially when you’re dead last in everything anyway. Mariners already had this season lost, and adding two guys who are in their mid 20s and are mediocre at best is pretty low. Mariners could have easily ate this season and keep a franchise player. Then sign him again for 2013 as a back-up roll or let him walk. Way to treat your franchise players, Mariners.
Mariners owners and management are setting things up for an organization sell and the only person of any substantial contract they will keep is Felix. Expect it to happen in 2015 after a new TV deal is made.
You must have missed that part about Ichiro having to approve the deal…
I’m a Yankee fan and even I wouldn’t dare call Suzuki an offensive liability. Say what you want about his lack of power and the fact that he isn’t hitting .330 + anymore but in THIS lineup that can all change. If I’m Girardi then I bat him 1 or 2 in this lineup and he should see nothing but fastballs.
Right now Ichiro is .261/.288/.353 which is the definition of an offensive liability. Unless pinstripes have magical rejuvenating properties, the Yanks got themselves another DeWayne Wise.
Raul Ibanez, Andrew Jones, Chavez, etc. Not the first, buddy.
@chief00 and Bitlocker: Jones and Chavez both are coming off the bench and are fine as part-time players.
Is that what you’re expecting from Ichiro: Better play than Wise in two or three games a week?
You’re essentially saying that if you put any hitter, no matter how much of a current liability, in the Yankee lineup, they will see an increase in production. That’s all fine and well, but Ichiro’s been terrible. Just how much better is this lineup going to make him? And why not trade for a more productive player who would experience a similar effect?
Ichiro will go from terrible to passable, but any decent player would go from passable to decent. Playing in that bandbox (and lineup) may boost a player’s production, but as nearly all players would be subject to the same boost, the net affect in player value is zero. In other words, an increase in production is not a good reason for acquiring Ichiro.
I’m saying that IF you put a historically great contact hitter with speed in a professional lineup filled with power hitters with patience then he stands a chance of seeing better pitches and making better decisions vs being in a lineup which boasts exactly ONE (John Jaso @ .287) hitters with a bat avg over his .261 or an OPS above above .780.
I don’t expect him to hit .350 but in THIS lineup where it’s difficult to pitch around anyone it’s not hard to see him hitting around .290 and stealing some bases with his current success of 15/17. I can also see an up tick in his obp too.
Honestly, Ichiro is playing for a lot more than he’s been playing for in Seattle. Would not be shocked to see the emotions alone put some pep into him.
it is proven that batting in front of a good hitter doesn’t mean you get more fastballs because they rather pitch to you, instead pitches stick to their game plans. e.g. eric thames batted in the #2 hole in front of jose bautista last season and he was not thrown more fastballs, instead the opposite happened, he was thrown more breaking balls because he was a pure fastball hitter.
ichiro can still get on base at an .320 clip but he has no power, his speed is nearly gone and the yankees already have guys that can play the corner positions well. i don’t understand this trade other then it being a cheap replacement for victorino. they should of just went for him instead.
Why would they get 2 crap pitchers in return for Ichiro when EVERY OTHER team gets to overpay
We must be in the seventh circle of Hell right now, Ichrio getting traded for… virtually nothing of worth. Jack Z, be prepared to take PR hell for this one. I mean, trading Ichiro does make sense, but for that return? I think not.
Seriously. I would think keeping Ichiro around this season for the sake of PR and ticket sales is worth more than those 2 pitchers.
@Cankersly:disqus
It’s July, the M’s are not going anywhere and falling further away from 1st place. You really believe he’s going to sell tickets, as the season progresses?
Wow!!!!
Wow, indeed!
WAAHHH!!!!!!!!! Glad to see Ichiro get a shot on a contender, but its going to be weird to see him in a different uni, I wonder where he bats for them, I’m assuming this means Swisher to left
Bench
2001 Mariners not a contender?
That was the last time Seattle was a playoff team.
Yeah. I know.
“Glad to see Ichiro get a shot on a contender”
i totally saw this coming
What the hell?
Normally I wouldn’t care if a washed up player gets traded but who would have ever thought Ichiro wouldn’t finish his career with the M’s… Now he can finally have that 70 home run season everyone has been alluding to.
in that park ichiro could easily hit 25+ bombs
Obligatory: he could in Safeco too, he just doesn’t want to.
false
He’ll play the remaining few months there and then go into the Hall of Fame a Yankee like a bunch of others shouldn’t have.
Right……….
Ichiro 2012 road split .297 BA and .716 OPS
makes no sense. Mariners have no bats but tons of pitchers.
He’s a big name, but honestly he sucks at baseball. He doesn’t have much left in him and the Yankees were smart not to give up anything of value for him.
uh, what?
Wow…didn’t see this one coming either. Yankees made a good trade, didn’t give up much in return
Why….
Yanks 2012 World Series . Should hand it over now.
Because they acquired a deeply regressing and aged OFer?
I like the trade from the Yankee’s standpoint, but it really doesn’t make them that much better.
I disagree. The 2012 Yankees are Jeter, Martin and seven clean up hitters.
They have won only two games this year that haven’t hit a home run.
Ichiro may not be a .320 hitter anymore but he brings a good arm on defense and his speed can only help on the bases. His style of play will help them.
What is Robinson Cano?
It’s interesting that you compare Ichiro to Jeter.
The only three things they have in common are:
ā¢ old age
ā¢ being average players as their careers twilight
ā¢ being said average players for at least 1Ā½ seasons now
Adding a 1.8 fWAR player who can’t get on base really isn’t that special of a move. But I do like the move because he can still play defense very well.
Lousy trade for the M’s steal for the Yanks. Ichiro is worth more than 2 mid tier nobody’s just for what he brings to NY for marketing and the Asian population.
Don’t like the yankees but glad Ichiro will finally get a chance to play in the post season. Could see this move recharging him and we see at least a glimse of the Ichiro from just a few years ago.
He played in 2001
What’s next? Yovanni Gallardo for Tommy Hanson? I’m a little overwhelmed.
okay so Ichiro is in the last year of his contract, hasn’t been to a world series. so the M’s decide to trade him to the yankees because there in the playoffs every year, and give Ichiro a chance to win a Ring!
It’s actually too bad the Safeco fans won’t, at the very least, get to cheer him off in a Mariners uniform.
this came out of no where, but that’s what they said Godzilla when attacked
Next thing you know we’ll be seeing Yankees just acquired Felix Hernandez also lol
After seeing how the Michael Pineda trade worked out, I’d be careful.
They traded their best prospect for a pitcher with a sore arm.
No Felix stays
What the what?! Well that came outta right field…
And now Ichiro’s going to take its place
You are right… Ichiro plays RF.
That was the joke…
Depends on the cash moved. Prospects are C-level guys. Kind of weird for the Mariners. Yankees needed some outfield help, but Ichiro is done.
now send felix to the red sox and i will be satisfied
Crazy thing is…these two teams play each other tonight.
Gonna be a lot of confused fans there.
Not all of them.
same thing happened with Delmon Young and the Tigers/Twins last year
Going to be one amusing game. Some will think it’s April the 1st in July.
He’s hitting like 250 for 20 mil a year
they play each other tonight too
Great move by the Yanks, they get a veteran HOFer for two minor league pitchers.
Dang, and Ichiro’s goatee was just starting to come in pretty good after 13 years too…
I think Upton will be traded now
So the yankees are going to come pick him up
this is the biggest shock of my life. crazy crazy stuff…..it will be really cool seeing ichiro do really well for the yanks tho and playing in the playoffs. good dec for the mariners to let him go and do well before his amazing career comes to a end
“The 38-year-old Ichiro has never known life outside of Seattle in the Major Leagues “
Hope he wins his first with the Yankees.. he deserves one.
The Yankees adquiring simbolic team players since unmemorable times
Wait wait wait.
We gave them Ichiro AND cash considerations for 2 new pitchers?
If you’re going to trade Ichiro to the Yankees, TAKE THEIR OFFENCE.
I’m going to need a good explanation from Z.
They’re paying Ichiro 18 million this year, there’s no way the Yanks were going to pay that
They’re getting a good player in a little league park.
If they tell him to let out bombs, he’s going to let it fly.
The M’s should have gotten something WAY better than 2 rookie pitchers.
Did the Yankees get another player besides Ichiro? Who is the good player you’re referring to?
A new ballpark isn’t going to change you from a .640 OPS guy to an MVP candidate.
Career .322 hitter with 2500 hits isn’t good?
Man.
Yes. 2009-2011 (ESPN), .380 hitter at Yankee stadium.
Safeco .315 hitter.
It won’t make you an MVP, but it’ll make a difference.
Mariners undersold.
No they shouldn’t of, hes making 18 million and is having a bad season. A player at his age with that contract isn’t going to command much of a return, no matter who he is.
Good move by the Mariners front office and one I didnt think we’d have the stones to make. Ichiro was great while here, but you don’t rebuild from the ground up with 40ish year old outfielders in decline that will likely command 8-10 million a year. Not to mention going to the NYY gives Ichi a legit chance at a ring. Good luck and thanks for the Memories Ichi!
ManĀ” the yankees Stole the mariners
I like DJ Mitchell, but we needed a OF. Good move, though certainly not expected.
So what if Mariners decide to troll everyone and send Felix to the Rangers for Olt and Profar.
Way to alienate whatever remains of your franchise fanbase! Great job! For one mediocre bullpen arm and for another guy claimed off waivers. Quality stuff. Real nice.
It’ll be cool to see him get a chance at that WS ring.
Dear Yankees,
We’re sorry we traded you an injured Michael Pineda. Please have Ichiro.
Signed,
Seattle Mariners Management
THIS ^^^ Simply no reason for anyone else to comment.. haha.
Now that you have Pineda, please take the rest of Ichiro’s salary. He
has an .288 OBP. Since it’s worse than any of your other starters,
please bat him leadoff.
I could see Ichiro revitalizing his mojo in NYC, but considering his skillset, age and how he’s played so far this year: it is huge for the Mariners to get two legit prospects for Ichiro.
Mitchell is a “decent” prospect but the other guy? no. He was acquired via the waiver wire I think.
So, what, did Ichiro report in today and they were just like “uh, sorry, go hang out in the other dugout ’til your new team gets here” ? This is crazy.
I can’t be the only one that had to do a double take after reading this headline.
People were saying Jim Thome to the Orioles was a great move because he is a Hall of Fame presence. The Orioles gave up more for Thome than the Yankee did for Ichiro. Like Thome, Ichiro is a HUGE name brand player who will attract fans who normally wouldn’t want to go to Yankee Stadium to come see him in Pinstripes. Everyone thought Ichiro would remain and retire a Mariner. This is a humongous trade. The Yankees get cash, give up nothing and get a Hall of Fame presence in Ichiro who will be rejuvinated in New York, under the bright lights, in the heat of a playoff race. Amazing day and a great move to help Yankee fans stop feeling sorry for themselves after being swept by the A’s.
This is exactly the reason this is a good trade for the Yankees. He’s not the same Ichiro he used to be, but he’s a surefire HOF player and could see himself rejuvenated by playing for a new team who is almost assuredly going to make the playoffs. I’m really surprised that the Mariners couldn’t get more in return for Ichiro than what they got from NY.
I’m not a fan of the Yankees by any stretch of the imagination, but I’ve always like Ichiro and this will make it at least a little tougher to root against them.
And damn, I still can’t get over how little the Yankees gave up to get Ichiro. No other team would give up more to have Ichiro? Baffling.
There’s a reason no one was offering more for Ichiro: he’s washed up and has a big price tag (even with the M’s eating a chunk of it). He HAS been a great (if limited) player, but it’s been awhile. I’ve been wondering how the M’s farm system could be so bad that they couldn’t bring up an upgrade for a corner OF spot.
Ichiro was a 10-5 guy, so he could deny any trade. It may have something to do with him wanting to go to NYY.
They should still feel sorry for being swept by the As.
Good luck Ichiro. I certainly won’t root for the Yankees now, but it may not be so bad if they win it all with you.
It was a bright and sunny day in the confines of the teams’ respective GM desks. Until an atom bomb in the form of this trade arrived.
Nice trade Mariners. Yeah Ichiro isn’t putting up the kind of numbers he used to but the Mariners offensive production is embarrassing. You’d think they could have gotten a player someone has heard of in exchange for a guy that got 2,244 hits from 2001 to 2010. Yikes.
What does his production between 2001 and 2010 have to do with the player he is in 2012? Why would the Yankees pay extra because a player used to be good?
Derek Jeter is a prime example to counter your argument.
except the obvious fact that jeter has more intrinsic value to them than ichiro does. same can be said of ichiro to the m’s. you are more likely to overpay your own than someone from outside.
My heart breaks to see my favorite player dealt from the Pacific Northwest. And now, with the words “Yankees Acquire Ichiro Suzuki”, I have suddenly morphed into a Yankees fan. I hope Ichiro rakes and finally has the chance to say that he’s a World Champion in 2012! Gambatte!
I loved, LOVED, Cal Ripken when he played for the O’s … but I might throw batteries at him in pinstripes.
Huh???
I can understand the Mariners trading Ichiro for decent prospects, or for major salary relief, but I don’t understand these prospects and sending the Yanks “around 4.5 million.”
damn the only guy on the mariners i rooted for
It is also reported that the Yankees have traded Cory Wade and a player to be named to Seattle in exchange for the rights to the Ichiroll.
a mariner fan will probably go to the game tonight and faint when he is announced as a yanke
If I were a M’s fan I ‘d be ticked. Yeah, Ichiro doesn’t have too much value anymore, but he is still a HOF’er and team icon. Is it worth trading that for two guys who will probably never make a meaningful contribution to the big league club? Shows you how Seattle treats franchise players. Shame on you Jack Z.
IF i was making this trade. I would have at least waited until after the Yankee Series to trade him.
The Mariners are so far out of it, that it doesn’t matter, and if Ichiro got hurt there would be no trade.
One of the good guys has turned to the dark side … just feels dirty.
It’s cute how Yankee fans still think Ichiro is good.
better than any other of our option he is.
Ichiro was the instigator. He demanded a trade
time to switch dugouts tonight LOL
as a yankee fan, not sure how i feel about this. in terms of actual value, including contract, the yankees probably lost. in terms of revenue, and gaining/ losing fans, the mariners just made an awful, awful trade.
so if i owned a team and offered the mariners a bag of baseballs i could have had a chance at landing ichiro?
A bag of Dewayne Wise signed baseballs
I’m just glad it’s the Ichiro of today and not 10 years ago. Still a great trade and on the quiet.
Griffey requested a trade and specifically to the Reds, which gave the Mariners little bargaining power. Randy Johnson wanted to be traded as well.
Not a bad move for the Yankees. More like a “meh” move.
Wow, did not expect this. I think Ichiro will do wonders in New York. If only the Yankees had starting pitching, they’d be scary.
Yankees have the 2nd best ERA in the AL lol
lol and theyre looking for starter better than hughes. lol
In the bullpen, yes. Overall, probably. But not the starters.
Starters have the 3rd best ERA in the AL behind Oakland and Tampa. Not bad for a team many said had medicore pitching and who also plays in a band box.
Based on career stats, their only reliable pitcher is Sabathia. Kuroda is pretty good too, but the others are only half decent in terms of career years. The pitching is more heavy on NL teams like the Giants and Nationals. The Yankees pitching isn’t horrible (better than I thought), but I just don’t see them matching up in the postseason. Rangers are very similar in that they have a great bullpen, possibly a better offense, but slightly worse starting pitching than the Yankees. However, I do see the Yankees trading for another starting pitcher (like Cole Hamels) which very well could put them on top of all other teams.
Mark my words, the Yankees will not and SHOULD NOT get Cole Hamels. The best pitching on paper does not always win. Their rotation is fine. No it’s not the best in baseball but a great lineup and solid bullpen helps win playoff games too (look at Tex and St. Louis for instance last year)
True, nor does the best hitting or bullpen always win. But any ways you can make a team better will increase the chance of winning. Maybe Hamels isn’t the best option, but another capable starting pitcher will only make the Yanks have a better chance at winning. You are certainly right about having a great bullpen, that will provde much help parring the bullpen isn’t tired (which is why starting pitching helps).
This has to sting his former teammates across the field tonight:
I’m going from a team having the most losses to a team with the most wins, so it’s been hard to maintain my excitement.” – Ichiro
I did LOL though..
mlb.mlb.com/video/play.jsp?content_id=23179369…
Ichiro says farewell to Seattle07/23/1207:09Ichiro Suzuki expresses his gratitude to the Mariners’ organization and their fans upon being traded to the Yankees
wow, the most unespected trade this season….
I like this trade
-Signed M’s fan thinking logically who knows Ichiro is 38 years old, has a .288 OBP, a WAR slightly above 1, and wants a 15 million a year extension
Lol what? Two other guys who wanted trades?
so ny basically traded linsanity for ichironic
I totally saw this one coming.
Ichiro, I will always cheer for you regardless of what team you play for. You were an amazing act to see him and wish for a ring for you.
What?! You walk away from the computer for a couple hours and the whole world flips upside down.
Even as a rental, this is a huge surprise to me—and in the New York sports landscape, actually this is the lesser of the two surpries.
Any news on the 10 year, $150 million extension they’ll give him tomorrow?
Any news on Ichiroll?
Thanks for all you have done for the Mariners. Good luck in N.Y.C. Ichiro.
you guys all complain about the seattle management but your forgetting that ichiro requested a trade so that he give younger guys a chance to develop.This wasnt about the organization, it was about giving ichiro what he wanted. IF you are truly a mariners/ichiro fan you would be happy this Future HOF actually has a chance at Championship now. Ichiro will not get worse going the yankees. THE HOF player will be the HOF player we was in seattle. All should be happy for him.
I’m a yankee fan but I was amazed when I read this…. I guess he can hit decently but the age …… still better with him š