Ichiro Suzuki strongly wants to re-sign with the Yankees, a person close to the free agent outfielder told Joel Sherman of the New York Post. Ichiro enjoyed playing in a winning atmosphere with players in his age range this past season, Sherman reports. It sounds as though Ichiro could be retained for a one-year deal in the $5-8MM range.
The Yankees still intend to build around left-handed power, Sherman reports. This will make it difficult to accommodate both Ichiro and Brett Gardner without shifting Gardner to a reserve role. Yankees GM Brian Cashman recently said the Yankees will have a better sense of how Ichiro fits in their plans when they hold their upcoming pro scouting meetings.
It’s nice to hear that he is happy in New York. This is one M’s fan that appreciates what he did for the Mariners over the years, as well as what the M’s did for Ichiro (granting his trade request).
This will make it difficult to accommodate both Ichiro and Brett Gardner without shifting Gardner to a reserve role
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Not if Swisher is gone, because then it’s Gardner in LF, Granderson in CF, Ichiro in RF. Obviously Ichiro and Gardner are both LHB who lack power, but Cano and Texeira (when he faces a RHP), and obviously Granderson, bring power from the left side. They can also sign a LH DH with power such as Ibanez again, although I don’t know if they’ll go in that direction.
Obviously 2/3rd of the Yankees OF have little to no power but those 2/3rds are 2 of the best defensive OFers in the game.
you would definately need a strong back-up outfielder alsoi.e. Raul ibanez comes to mind, but a younger version
An OF *younger* than Ibanez…. oh, Bernie Williams!
” The Yankees still intend to build around left-handed power ”
unless there is some buzz in the front office in replacing swisher with josh hamilton. hopefully it wont happen, but who knows.
Wouldn’t mind seeing hamilton, I just don’t want them to overpay for him. If they can get rid of soriano and swish that instantly creates room for his salary.
God forbid we get Hamilton…You’re talking about a guy who isn’t even allowed to carry money on his person because of his addictions to drugs and alcohol…You have any idea what it would do to him to put him in the middle of this city? He’d lose it within a week
I love Ichiro, but he is nowhere near one of the best defensive OFers in the game. Speed doesn’t mean you’re a great defensive OFer. Per BR, Ichiro has a TOTAL DWAR of 3.8 over 12 seasons, only once having a single-season DWAR above 1.0. That’s nowhere near one of the best in the game. He had -1.1 as a Yankee in 2012 (SSS).
Ichiro was 6th in UZR amongst all OF this year. 2011 was his first and only year with a negative UZR
I still refuse to believe that defense can be accurately measured by any stat.
Yeah, all those gold gloves were gifts from some other player.
Yeah, probably gifts from Jeter…he hasn’t deserved any of the ones he’s won in recent years.
Maybe 2009, but that’s all
Gold Gloves? That’s your argument?
Why would you move Gardner from CF to LF? He’s the best defender in the league, leave him in CF and shift Granderson to LF, keeping Ichiro in RF.
Id be all in favor of that but I doubt the Yankees do it so that’s kind of why I didn’t say it
Seems like it could be a win for both sides. He gets to keep chasing 3000 hits and the Yanks get a real talented player they can put in each OF spot.
Though maybe I’d rather see him elsewhere so I wouldn’t have to root for the Yankees, I’m happy if he’s happy where he is. I want to see Ichiro thrive and play like the ballplayer he is, and if that requires a highly competitive environment – as his numbers as a Yankee suggest – New York is certainly the way to go. Seeing Complacent Ichiro on the Mariners or another likable-but-challenged team < seeing Competitive Ichiro on the Yankees, in my opinion.
you do not need to root for a team because of a player
I chose to root for the Yankees in the postseason this year because, as a fan, I want Ichiro to be able to get that ring he desires. What kind of a fan would I be to Ichiro if I wished failure upon everyone around him? What good does that do for him if they fail? None–it puts him back into the situation that he was in with the Mariners. Neutrality doesn’t help either because, again, the team succeeding seems to be the key to his vigor and success at this point. If I truly want Ichiro to succeed to the highest degree, I have to want his team to succeed.
I like it. What does it mean shift Gardner to a reserve role? Really? They aren’t pursuing Swish so move Ichiro to his vacant RF spot. Now you got Ichiro, Grandy, & Gardner in the OF
I really don’t see gardner being a backup at this point in his career. He is an established CFer that has great speed, and can get a .350 obp. Over the past 3 years he has been better than ichiro. The Ichiro trade was good because he was hurt, but he is healthy now. More likely they trade him than benching him.
if they have to keep ichiro, he can play right, while gardner plays left, once they inevitably and stupidly let swisher go.
Wouldn’t mind swish coming back, it is just he may price himself out of NY. He is not worth $17M+ a season.
According to the article, Ichiro would choose the Yankees over the Giants because they have players closer to his age.
Then perhaps he should take a look at the local retirement home softball team…
Ichiro has signed with the New York AARP’s
Which happen to be one of the best team’s in baseball.
Thanks for the update!
That got SWEPT in the playoffs. So much for being one of the best teams in baseball. Remember regular season means nothing.
Right…nothing at all except that it decides whether or not you make the playoffs.
They got swept in the 2nd round. 4 teams (6 if you count the Wild card losing teams of the Rangers and Braves) who made the playoffs did not make it to the 2nd round.
Who cares if Ichiro and Gardner lack power? It’s a one year deal and Granderson hits enough home runs for two normal outfielders anyway. New York could use Ichiro and Gardner’s ability to make contact and run the bases with Tex, Grandy and A-Rod playing everyday. It’s a balanced offense that made the Yankees a WS champ in 2009.
Send Gardner down to learn how to bunt,steal and where to throw the ball!
Still has a career steal rate over 80%. Sure he doesn’t always get great reads off of the pitcher, but he can handle it because of great speed.
I would rather get Melky for RF on a one year deal (to rebuild value) than Ichiro, if their salaries are comparable.
Really melky over Ichiro? Ichiro has been one if the best out fielders since he came into the game, he clearly got back to form with the Yankees and a full season at Yankee stadium he could hit 15-20 while playing great d with a cannon arm ad gets on base and can still steal. Melky on the other hand has no proof of being able to play at an elite level without peds. There is a reason he isn’t on the World Series roster
There is a reason he isn’t on the World Series roster” bc players that miss 50 gms generally have to go to the minors to get their swing back. Saying that melky isnt a star is one think but he’s better than huff and blanco and ichiro.
Everything you say about Ichiro could also apply to Melky. He can hit 15HRs, swipe double digit bags, plays good D, and also has a cannon for an arm. And he’s much, much younger. Melky will be on a mission to prove he CAN play without PEDs, there’s a lot of motivation there.
Your assessment he cannot play at an elite level without PEDs is fair, but unknown. We don’t need him to be “elite.” It’s a high risk move, but the payoff could be HUGE if his talent level is closer to his KC/SF days.
I think it’s worth the risk.
There’s nothing unknown about it. His first five full seasons were below average. Either he was not on PEDs and was a below average players, or he WAS on them, and was a below average player.
It’s far more likely that his success in KC and SF was a result of taking drugs than a late blooming star who never really showed much sign of anything special in the first place.
And Ichiro is 39.
Yeah right, No team would had a player to their WS roster that missed the last 50 games of the season. He would be rusty as all hell.
Gardner is just as good as Ichiro, he’s ten years younger, and he’s probably half the price. How is this a tough decision?
Injury history of Brett Gardner; Ichiro has not been on the DL since 2009, while Gardner missed most of the season.
Yet Ichiro is 39 whereas gardner is only 29. Sure he had a rough year, but going forward I think gardner has a much better chance of being healthy over Ichiro.
Yes Ichiro is 39, but he can bring a lot to the plate still. He may have to be DH sometimes, but his on-base percentage is why I’d want him back—Ichiro is one of the best contact hitters of this era, and one of the most disciplined hitters too.
Brett Gardner isn’t bad either—but he has to show that he’s fully recovered from his injuries.
Gardner played 309 games in 2010-11. How is that part of an “injury history”? Facts don’t back up your narrative.
I love me some Melky in spite of himself, but that isn’t going to happen. I, too, will not be sorry to see Swisher go. On the fence where Grandy is concerned. Would be nice if he could make some contact, we don’t need 40 homers out of CF.
I am surprised that no one has made fun of this comment yet ‘players in his age range this past season’.
too easy
What you do? You don’t resign Nick Swisher and you allow him to take his at least one strikeout a game to another team. You keep Gardner in left field, keep Granderson (as you probably cannot trade him) and you move Ichiro Suzuki to RF. You go out and you get a backup 1B and you still have got Ibanez and Jones that can fill in for Suzuki, Granderson or Gardner – whenever necessary.
The Yankees will stay as far away as possible from Andruw Jones.
I agree with you too about Jones – but I would much rather have him on the roster than Nick Swisher and his strikeouts and horrible fielding abilities.
Jones struck out in 26.2% of his plate appearances. Swisher was at 22.4%
@MB923, I think you switched a couple numbers (very minor). Jones struck out in 26.4% of his plate appearances. Swisher was at 22.6%. To add to it, Granderson was at 28.5%. That’s a whole lot of Ks there.
Yes my mistake on those numbers being off a tad.
Whitesox would gladly take granderson and his 40+ home runs for de aza. Have the Yankees eat half his contract. Plus granderson is from Chicago. It would be nice to see him play for his home.
I would rather they had kept Austin Jackson and not traded him for Curtis Granderson.
What you do? You don’t resign Nick Swisher and you allow him to take his at least one strikeout a game to another team. I would gladly take Swisher and his one strike out per game over Mark Reynolds multiple strike outs per game. Everday of the week and twice on Sunday.
I know other Oriole types don’t agree with me at all, but that won’t change my opinion here!
PS As for Ichiro, he would drive me crazy watching him play in person, all he does is stretch out there in the field. It’s annoying.
HAHHAHA. Liked merely for your last sentence.
That’s true about Ichiro Suzuki.. LOL!
I get it that Yankee Stadium III has a short porch compared to Safeco. But I still don’t understand how a stadium makes so much difference to a slap hitter. Until 2012 in fact it didn’t… Ichiro had the same stats at Safeco as he did on the road. So if the Yankees sign Ichiro don’t be shocked if he drops to a .280/.320/.370 slash line.
You’re ignoring the fact that the Yankees lineup is much stronger than Seattle’s. Plus he went from a losing to a winning atmosphere. I’m sure that atmosphere alone helped and will help again if he’s back with the Yanks.
First off, as a Yankee fan, let’s hope they can pull the trigger on a trade with Granderson. Second, you move Granderson to LF and Gardner to CF. Gardner is the best defender in baseball and having him in spacious CF is a plus for the Yankees. With the additions of Ichiro and Gardner in the lineup, we will see a faster Yankees team. Lastly, do you guys find it disturbing that Cashman seems to be adamant with this HR philosophy. We have already seen this blow up in our face the last two Octobers.
Would trade grandy if the return is big enough. As it is he is their best offensive outfielder. HR philosophy is big because of the short LF line, it is a much easier way to get offense. I wouldn’t say that philosophy doesn’t work just because they didn’t make it to the WS. Just 3 years ago the Yankees won the WS, and they had this philosophy then. You shouldn’t expect to win every year. Sure it was painful to watch the team this year, but they still made it to the ALCS and led the AL in wins.
There isn’t one way to win the WS, you just have to go out there and put the best team you can on the field. If that means having to rely on big hr hitters then that is what you have to deal with.
Explain St Louis’ departure from the playoffs since they don’t have a “HR philosophy”.
Simple, they got out pitched in 3 straight games. And their D was less than stellar in those 3 games. It doesn’t matter if you’re a Yankees fan or not, you have to admit they do tend to lean on the HR ball.
This deal would be a must for the Yanks. He was one of the few bright spots on offense the past two months and in the playoffs. The free agent class of outfielders is low on power anyways, so they Yankees are forced to either resign Swish or sign some other speedy outfielder to a much longer contract. Singing Ichiro to a 1 year contract is a no brainer.
“Must” is an overstatement.
This is a deal that I would do if the price is right. Ichiro can still get on base and unlike Brett Gardner, he has been relatively healthy his entire career. The question is whether to let Swisher walk or trade Grandy—I’d trade Grandy.
I think that’s the best move too, but we know they aren’t going to.
With the exception of ’12, Gardner has been healthy.
“..with players in his age range”
I chuckled
Trade Grandy and Gardner
Sign Bourne and Ludwick
then your 2013 OF is
Ludwick (Left) Bourne (Center) Ichiro (Right)
and why would they do that?
Gardner is a better player than bourn, and cheaper since he still has 2 more years of team control. Career obp is .016 higher, gets caught stealing slightly less, they both have same amount of power.
And I don’t see why they would want Ludwick. He is 34, and is good some years, and then is awful. He has had 2 good years in his career, and this was one of them.
That would be a much worse outfield than they had this year. Granderson strikes out alot, but there is no point dropping him just because. He still hits 43 hr.
If Gardner is made available, I would love the Padres to look into him. They couId put him in RF, or slide Maybin over, and bat Gardner leadoff. I wonder what the Yankees would want for him and Yankee fans please don’t say Chase Headley.
…….Hase Cheadley?
Gardner could bring decent return to a team like the Braves looking for a lead-off CFer. Braves have the farm system to do it. Maybe even trade McCann…Yanks could use a catcher and BMac would thrive at Yankee Stadium and could be LH DH as well. i’m not saying one for one but seems if both teams wanted it then it could be worked out.
Of course New York wants to build through left handed power! That’s why they have that ridiculous short porch in Right field. That’s why Granderson all of a sudden became a Power hitter and Nicky Swish has put up career numbers with the Yanks! Not only do they have to buy their Championships instead of playing a game where every team has the same chance to win. MLB and the NBA are the only pro leagues that cater to large markets and they love to water down they’re product to make it happen! That’s why the NFL is special and the most popular (By Far). Small markets such as Pittsburg and Green Bay can win World titles in the NFL! It also makes the New York Giants Championship seasons so much more impressive! The NBA and MLB could learn allot about how to run a popular and financially viable league that allows everyone to compete on the same level. Half the Yankees titles are a joke everywhere but New York! They buy they’re championships and they just aren’t as important as when a team like Tampa Bay or the Marlins win it with a hand tied behind they’re back! Tampa runs their Franchise better than New York and they don’t have near the loot! That’s why everybody hates the Evil Empire! It’s not because your good!! Believe me……
Wow I haven’t heard stories like this before!!
NFL is more popular becuase you see your favorite team only 16+ times in 365 days. The NFL is more balanced because of revenue because all teams play on either CBS, FOX, NBC or ESPN. There are 2430 baseball games a year, there is obvioulsy no way 4+ networks (an average of over 600 games each) can put that on for 6+ months
And as mentioned, the NFL is 16 games, anything can happen in a 16 game span.
And I hate to break the bad news to you kid, but every team buys a championship, some, like the Yankees, buy it for more money. You can hate them all you want. They don’t break any of the rules. If you want the game to change in regards to payrolls, blame the league, not a team.
Also, Pittsburgh and Green Bay are not small market teams whatsoever in the sport of football. They may be a small city compared to others but they aren’t small market, just like the St. Louis Cardinals.
Has Cash been watching the WS. The Giants’ outfield defense has been huge in their first two victories. Pitching, defense and the ability to play small ball when required has been a winning formula.
“This will make it difficult to accommodate both Ichiro and Brett Gardner without shifting Gardner to a reserve role.”
Gardner in the bigger left field, Granderson in center, Ichiro in right…I did it, I’m a miracle worker.
Stop trying to build this entire lineup around “power”…That’s the problem with this team: all home run hitters and no OBP/speed guys guys…We need top of the lineup hitters like Gardner and/or Ichiro to get on base, steal bases, and manufacture runs, not hit home runs…and the combination of those three in the outfield would make for one of the best defensive outfields in baseball
The Yankees need to start integrating in younger guys not older guys.