The Marlins announced that they’ve declined a $2MM club option on outfielder Ichiro Suzuki and also claimed catcher Chad Wallach off waivers from the Reds. The pair of moves leaves Miami’s 40-man roster count at 34 players.
Ichiro, who turned 44 two weeks ago, will see his three-year tenure with the Marlins come to an end as the team’s new ownership begins to trim salary in a reported effort to shed $40-50MM off the payroll for 2018. The future Hall of Famer had a productive second year with the Marlins in 2016, hitting .291/.354/.376 in 365 trips to the plate. However, the 2017 season saw Ichiro receive the smallest amount of playing time he’s had in Miami — just 215 plate appearances — and resulted in a dreary .255/.318/.332 batting line.
The 10-time All-Star is a Cooperstown lock, but he’s had just one season of above-average production (by measure of OPS+) in the past seven years. While it’s natural to wonder if the beloved Ichiro is nearing the end of his playing days, he recently told Tim Healey of the South Florida Sun-Sentinel that he’d continue to play until he’s “at least 50” if he continues getting opportunities. He may very well have to settle for a minor league pact this offseason, but it’s not out of the question that a team would look to bring the veteran into its outfield mix — particularly an NL club capable of carrying a deeper bench.
Wallach, who will turn 26 tomorrow, was originally drafted by the Marlins in the fifth round of the 2013 draft. Miami shipped him and right-hander Anthony DeSclafani to the Reds in exchange for a one-year rental of Mat Latos in what now looks to be a lopsided deal (DeSclafani’s injury status notwithstanding).
The son of former big league infielder Tim Wallach, Chad turned in a respectable .240/.363/.410 batting line in 243 Double-A plate appearances in 2016. However, his bat took a big step back in 2017 upon reaching Triple-A Louisville, where he batted just .226/.280/.398 and saw his strikeout rate jump nearly seven percent in the same number of PAs (243). He did make his MLB debut with the Reds in ’17, going 1-for-11 with a single and five strikeouts.
He could be a good leader in a young Phillies clubhouse.
Ichiro is good and all but is he really even close to HoF? he only has 117 career home runs and780 career RBIs?
Dumbest comment I have ever seen. First ballot HoF. He came over when he was 27. Among greatest of all time.
Trivia question: Name the two major leaguers who got 3,000 hits after 27th birthday?
Answer: Pete Rose, Ichiro Suzuki.
Trivia question: Name the only two major leaguers who have Ten 200+ Hit seasons?
Answer: Pete Rose, Ichiro Suzuki.
Trivia question2: Now, Name the only major leaguer to have done it consecutively.
Answer: Ichiro Suzuki (Seattle 2001-2010)
He’s a no doubt hall of famer. His job wasn’t to hit the homers or drive guys in. He was an above average hitter for 10 years though with over 500 steals and gold glove defense.
Lol nice
He could easily have hit 500 home runs if he wanted to. He chose not to. Simple.
“He could easily have hit 500 home runs if he wanted to.”
Gotta assume this is sarcasm.
“He chose not to.”
If so, that was a dumb choice.
“Simple.”
Yes, it is.
It’s a long-running debate. He used to regularly belt HRs in batting practice, but not in the game. link to sbnation.com
If we’re using dumb logic like that, Nolan Ryan has 2 career home runs and 36 career RBIs and he’s a hall of famer
That’s why he used the dumb passwordispassword account. Not brave enough to say something that dumb on his own account.
3000 hits, nobody with 3000 hits isn’t in except PED guys and Rose, who’s ineligible.
The only retired 3000 hit guy besides Rose not in The HOF is Palmeiro, and we know why he isn’t. He’s an absolute lock with all his richly deserved Gold Gloves.
So only power guys should get in? Ichiro was a leadoff hitter. They don’t get many RBIs
OMG! Ichiro is one of the best hitters in history!!
Too bad Derek and Co are on a shoe string budget. Classy guy played with spirit and did a nice job filling in. The intangibles make him worthy
Since when is .240/410 respectable?
You left out the most important number there. A 363 OBP (not to mention a 410 SLG%) is great for anyone, especially a backup catcher. Backup catchers can’t hit at all as a rule.
Good pick up for Miami. Chad Wallach is a really good defensive catcher that has potential at the plate. I’ve been a fan of his since he was drafted … by the Marlins.
“Really good defensive catcher”? Not from what I’ve heard… he plays 1b a bunch because he’s not well regarded defensively. Wallach is a bat first C/1b. I wonder if the Marlins will keep him or DFA him again.
Maybe you should actually watch him play.
Btw Marlins never DFAd him. He was a part of a trade a few years ago.
Please, please, please keep playing, Ichiro.
You’re an inspiration and your performance this year was anything but embarrassing.
The epitome of a true professional.
I concur.
Dang
Hopefully Ichiro can find a team. He has still been productive
I actually feel like he will re-sign with the Marlins. He just won’t be making $2 million. Especially since there could be a decent amount openings in that OF next year if they trade Stanton and then one/both of Yelich and Ozuna.
Tigers could use him in the outfield as a mentor. He will be a cheap mentor and could help coaching staff
Agree
He would also have the best OF arm on the team.
A reunion with Seattle would be nice
Wtf first he says Ichiro’s 255 BA is dreary then calls Wallach’s 240 BA respectable???!
The difference between Ichiro Suzuki or any outfielder – and a backup catcher is pretty massive. Backup catchers generally don’t hit at all. And ignore the batting average – the 363/410 is actually quite impressive for a good defensive catcher.
Batting average isn’t the end all stat. The other two numbers are probably more important
.650 OPS is dreary
.744 OPS is respectable
I’d love to see him with the White Sox. A veteran presence like his would be great for the team, especially since they could use a corner outfielder or two. He could be flipped for prospects at the trade deadline if he plays particularly well
Prospects?
Yeah if he gets traded at all it would probably be for a low A nobody
Fair. I guess I still consider a “low-a nobody” to be a prospect, just one with perhaps lower expectations. The Sox would have to have pretty low expectations for a return, but it still seems like a good investment from my vantage point. Plus, I’d probably go to a few more games next season just to watch him!
It’s basically just a matter of semantics about whether a low A nobody is technically considered a prospect, but either way I agree that it’s still at least worth a hypothetical trade because every now and then those nobodies surprise you (even though it’s super rare)…the part about you going to more games to watch him is interesting though, because in the end that’s important to consider too
Agreed. Would love to see ichiro on the south side next year.
He is Japanese, not Korean. Keep your racist comments to yourself.
Triggered much lol? He meant of Chicago not Korea
He had to be making a very weak effort at sarcasm, as no one can be that stupid.
Besides his 3000th hit. His time with the Marlins was the worst part of his career. I hope he signs a day deal with Seattle and retires. I think he can still play but going to a losing no fan base team like the Marlins sucked.
Hoping he resigns with Miami on a cheaper deal… if not, hope he latches on somewhere else
Could he be a Twin?
Ichiro and Molitor have a special bond, they could use his experience (young outfield), and they have #51 available :)
As much as I would love that idea where would he find time to play? Once a week start in right and some ph ab’s just takes from the other young guys imo.
Would be a good fit in Arlington with the Rangers as a 4th outfielder and part time DH. There’s John Daniels lead off hitter.
Come to the braves. Idk why. Just seems cool
Oh please no. Ichiro may have been great once but now he is an extremely limited and likely expensive bench option at best. It is highly likely that better production could be found more cheaply. He is not the player he once was and it is foolish for anyone to hold on to the hope that he has much chance of even remotely resembling that player from the past.
Look at his 2011 stats and then tell me how many AB’s he had this year, then look at his OBP, his BA, and his OPS comparing both years. Taking into account the actual job he was doing, which was getting limited PH’s and limited playing time in the field, his 2017 season was excellent for the way he was used and his limited opportunities. I don’t think you grasp how hard it is to play a day here or a day there and then get a hit or get on base.
No offense Sid, but you can’t seriously compare his stats from being a full time starter six years ago to being an older bench/role player. Ichiro hasn’t even been a league average hitter but in two of his last nine seasons (and one of his last five). The chance that Ichiro gives even league average production is slim.
Actually years ago I faced more than a few guys that ended up pitching in the majors and I have no delusions that I’d be a successful bench player (I’m old, slow and fat because of health issues and have never been able to hit the slider). But I never remotely thought about mentioning my own lack of abilities until you brought it up (although it gave me reason to poke fun at myself). But I do realize that there were several bench/role players who were much more adept than Ichiro was in 2017.
Look the guy had a great career but set that aside and realize that he in most likely not the best option for the Braves bench (which was what my initial reply was about).
He’s six years older than he was in 2011. Ichiro takes great care of himself physically, but he’s still 45. If teams carried longer benches he might have a role still as a pinch-hit specialist/emergency outfielder, but the list of things he can still do on the field is pretty small.
The TV deal, Japanese interest and extra tickets, plus jersey sales are sure to cover a $2 million salary and net a team extra. This is why I’m surprised the Marlins dropped him.
I wonder if his old teammate Jeter told him or if he asked someone he fired to do it? Jeter is continuing a long line of questionable front office decisions from the Marlins franchise.
Sad to see Ichiro’s career fading to a close. It was so much fun to watch him play in his prime.
Next stop Cooperstown.
Wtf marlins
Would love to see him on the Diamondbacks. He’d be great to backup/defensive replacement for Yasmani Tomas (and the rest of the outfield). It’s been too many years they’ve turned to infielders and expected them to cover the outfield.
I’d take 44 year Ichiro over Ellsbury