Report: Yankees trade for Ichiro Suzuki
According to Jack Curry of YES Network, the Yankees have traded for Seattle Mariners right fielder Ichiro Suzuki. Per Curry’s report, the Yankees will send right-handed pitchers DJ Mitchell and Danny Farquhar to Seattle in exchange for Ichiro and an undisclosed amount of cash.
Ichiro has been a star since breaking into Major League Baseball in 2001. He was named both MVP and Rookie of the Year that season after leading the league in batting average (.350), stolen bases (56) and hits (242). He recorded at least 200 hits in each of his first 10 seasons as a MLB player and has missed just 35 games over the course of his 12-year career. Ichiro is a 10-time All-Star, 10-time Gold Glove winner and three-time Silver Slugger.
In recent years, however, 38-year-old Ichiro’s production has tailed off. Last season, he recorded less than 200 hits in a season for the first time in his career and did not win any end-of-year awards. He also finished the season with a sub-.300 average for the first time in his career. He is hitting just .261 so far this season.
The Yankees are in the market for an outfielder due to an injury to Brett Gardner, who has not played since April 17 when he hurt his wrist.
Ichiro is in the last year of a five-year, $90 million deal and is owed $17 million this season.
Mitchell is a 25-year-old prospect who has appeared in four games for the Yankees this season. The 25-year-old Farquhar was claimed off waivers by the Yankees in June but has not appeared in a game for New York.
The Yankees begin a three-game series against the Mariners Monday night. Red Sox fans will get their first taste of Ichiro in pinstripes when the Red Sox and Yankees square off this weekend.
