The Mariners announced today that future Hall of Famer Ichiro Suzuki has is moving to a front office role where he’ll serve as a special assistant to the chairman, effective immediately. While the Mariners’ release does not formally declare that Ichiro is retiring, the new role precludes him from returning to the active roster in 2018, per the team. The Mariners have selected the contract of right-handed reliever Erik Goeddel from Triple-A Tacoma to take Ichiro’s spot on the 40-man and 25-man rosters.
“We want to make sure we capture all of the value that Ichiro brings to this team off the field,” Marines general manager Jerry Dipoto said in a press release announcing the news. “This new role is a way to accomplish that. While it will evolve over time, the key is that Ichiro’s presence in our clubhouse and with our players and staff improves our opportunity to win games. That is our number-one priority and Ichiro’s number-one priority.”
The plan for the current season appears to be that Ichiro will remain with the MLB club, but will not be on the roster. As MLB.com’s Greg Johns explains things (in a tweet), Ichiro will “continue doing everything he’s doing now (taking BP, mentoring, working with teammates, advising, etc.),” but won’t be utilized in a playing capacity. But that’s not to say the arrangement will continue in that precise form past the current season.
Dipoto goes on to add that the Mariners hope to retain Ichiro in some capacity into the 2019 season and beyond, noting that the remainder of the current season will “inform the team and Ichiro on his best fit” with the organization moving forward. However, Ichiro’s agent, John Boggs, tells Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic that his client is not yet retiring as a player (Twitter link).
“He is not retiring,” says Boggs. “He’s taking on a different role for 2018, and 2019 has yet to evolve.” Asked by Rosenthal if Ichiro could potentially return to make an appearance next year, when the Mariners and A’s will kick off the 2019 season in Tokyo, Boggs replied: “There is always that possibility. … The future has yet to be determined.”
Though Ichiro clearly remains open to continuing his playing career, it nonetheless seems possible that this could mark the end of the road for one of the game’s most beloved figures. The 44-year-old debuted with the Mariners back in 2001 and promptly won both Rookie of the Year and MVP honors, kickstarting what will unequivocally go down as one of the greatest careers of this generation or any other. In parts of 18 Major League seasons, Ichiro batted .311/.355/.402 with a whopping 3,089 hits, including 362 doubles, 96 triples and 117 home runs. He went 509-for-626 in career stolen-base attempts (81.3 percent success), scored 1420 runs and 780 RBIs despite roughly 80 percent of his MLB plate appearances coming out of the leadoff spot.
That, of course, only covers Ichiro’s career in North America. Prior to coming to the United States, Ichiro had already achieved legendary status in Japan’s Nippon Professional Baseball, where he debuted as an 18-year-old and went on to spend nine seasons starring for the Orix Blue Wave. Ichiro batted .353/.421/.522 in 4098 NPB plate appearances, tallying 1278 hits in establishing himself as one of the most gifted players on the planet and a generational talent that is nearly peerless.
Ichiro’s accolades are virtually limitless. Before even coming to Major League Baseball, he’d racked up seven NPB All-Star appearances, three Pacific League MVP Awards, seven Pacific League batting titles and seven Gold Glove Awards. His achievements in MLB closely mirror that mountain of hardware, as in addition to Rookie of the Year and MVP honors in 2001, Ichiro made 10 MLB All-Star Games, won 10 Gold Gloves, collected three Silver Slugger Awards and won a pair of American League batting titles as well.
Ultimately, while the 2018 season may not have been as productive as either team or player would’ve hoped, it’s still all too fitting that Ichiro received an opportunity to once again don a Mariners jersey and to receive a hero’s welcome upon being introduced at Safeco Field on Opening Day. And whether Ichiro plays another game in MLB or NPB again — he did have interest from multiple Japanese clubs this offseason — he’s already ensured that Hall of Fame enshrinement awaits him on two different continents.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
What the heck. I just saw him play against the A’s last night. Good luck Ichiro!
Lucky guy. Probably got to see his last ever game in MLB.
Tremendous career. Hard to compare to others given the years in Japan. The length, the speed, the arm. Wow! The bat control of Tony Gwynn, the arm of Dwight Evan’s and the speed of Willie Wilson. Not to shabby…
I would have liked to see him in a player-manager role like Rose and Robinson.
NOOOOOOOOOO
Glad he got to stay with the Ms in some capacity
Finally.
Didn’t Ichiro spoke Japanese only? Little English
tealmartin, what’s your point?
There will be a language barrier
Is there no such thing as interpreters in Seattle?
He speaks English he only pretends not to to reporters to keep interviews short and so he could never be misquoted. He could always say he didn’t say whatever it was misinterpreted. You always see him talking with players and umps.
Will be interesting to see what they have him do. Can’t be a hitting coach you don’t want to teach kids to hit like that. His biggest asset is being prepared for the season and games. He could help the MILB kids get ready for the season. Whatever he does will be an asset to the Mariners.
Yeah it’s hard to see him in a front office position due to the language barrier. Glad I had the opportunity to see him a few times.
Just like you it seems
Bigdaddyt, you beat me to the punch. Nice.
Lol
People are so soft lol. What’s wrong with suggesting there could be a slight language barrier with him working with guys in a front office role? Not the players because he’s used to that but maybe some scouts or other coaches? Wish him the best though.
Ichiro speaks English fine, but still prefers to speak Japanese to the media
The irony here knows no bounds
Japanese schools teach english almost as a requirement so I’m betting his English is perfectly serviceable. I’d read once he didn’t like being interviewed in English, so maybe that’s what you are thinking of.
Speak?
Do you speak English?
What is the relevance?
Consider that he’s been playing in the MLB for 18 years. Do you think he might have learned some English during that time? SMH
I like this move, and I feel fortunate to have watched his last game as a player last night vs OAK when Ichiro played LF. Not so thrilled that Goeddel was called up to take his spot.
Great career sir. Good luck in the future.
Hell of a career!
Not too many careers like his. Started off in Japan in 1992, and has collected 4367 hits between both The Japanese League and The MLB. I wish him luck in his retirement from playing the game.
Today, a legend retired.
2 did.
The mariners should do something similar to what the Red Sox did with Ortiz last season
How does this work? Why doesn’t he still need to get DFA’d and exposed to waivers if he’s removed from the 40-man and not retiring?
He’ll likely be released from his contract.
They released him
They may have to do that. But who would claim him? He would just say no thanks.
It was more of a procedural question because I can see how the process can be exploited if you avoid putting a player on waivers unless there are other rules governing that. (i.e., player and team agree to release a player so that the player can be resigned and go into their minor league system without being exposed to waivers)
If I remember correctly, when the Pirates released Jim Fregosi in 1978 and the Angels hired him as manager, Fregosi had to have special permission from the commissioner to manage the Angels for the first several games, because he hadn’t cleared waivers yet and another team could have claimed him as a player.
That’s crazy and so sad. First ballot hall of famer and gonna be sad to see him go. Loved having him in pinstripes.
NOOOOOOOOOO
Great career! Hope Ichiro does a farewell from playing/retirement tour with the team so fans throughout the league can express their appreciation to a great player!
Ichiro strikes me as the kind of guy who is above that stuff. He doesn’t need to go on some highly publicized farewell tour telling everyone “look at me and how great I am! Give me attention!” Everybody already knows that he’s one of the greats.
Culturally, that is not in his make up. The Japanese aren’t big on touting their own accomplishments or needing affirmation from the public to make them feel whole or successful.
It is almost an embarrassment to them.
What they look for is winning & being the your best. Quiet humility is better than flashy “farewell tours”.
Wow, that’s a very surprising move but kudos to the M’s and Ichiro for figuring out a way to bow out gracefully; he was not an asset on the roster anymore. I would say it’s sad, but the guy had two hall-of-fame careers in two countries, made 170 million dollars in MLB and more in Japan and probably a ton more in endorsements, he was a really fun player to watch in his prime and a funny weird dude, which baseball always needs more of.
I remember years ago we were visiting family in Arizona and caught a Diamondbacks game, where they happened to be playing the Mariners that day. We had seats right down the foul line in right field where Ichiro was playing that day, and it was awesome to actually see him live and up close.
The thing is, there was some meathead sitting a few rows away from us who was heckling Ichiro, which included him making some racial remarks and comments involving sushi. Ichiro never even turned around, and the guy was eventually removed from the game after a couple of innings. Out of all players, why would you heckle Ichiro?!
Good question, but not at all surprising in Arizona. Trump has strong support there now.
It was an honor to watch you play. Though I was not lucky enough to watch you play during most of your prime, and from the beginning, but still feel privileged to seen you play.
You and Pete Rose are the only players in history to have ten 200-hit seasons, but you’re the only player, Who did it 10 years in a row.
Surprised Ichiro voluntarily stepped down. Assumed he wouldve played until his legs fell off
The most overrated hitter I have seen in my life.
In what regard? His .311 lifetime batting average? His 3,089 hits after starting in MLB in his later 20s?. His three Silver Slugger Awards? His two AL batting titles?
The best hitters hit for power and draw plenty of walks. Ichiro hit singles and wouldn’t take ball four to save his own life. The amount of hits a player gets in a season or in a career are based on the number of at bats the player receives. A great hitter like Mike Trout will never get 200 hits in a season because he walks a lot. Ichiro averaged 675 at bats per season during his first 10 years. Therefore, it was easy for him to collect 200 hits per year.
It was EASY to get 200 hits? Can we get some of that stuff you’re smoking? It has to be REAL good
The only thing he had to do was stay healthy and he was a lock for 200 hits. A leadoff batter starting 162 games has a great chance at reaching 200 hits.
Is that why a lot of these HR hitters with low averages are having a hard time getting jobs in today’s game?
They are having a hard time because there are too many homerun hitters with low averages.
” A leadoff batter starting 162 games has a great chance at reaching 200 hits.”
Well that would explain the absolute plethora off 200 hit seasons throughout MLB history /s
The season has only been 162 games long since 1961. Also, not all leadoff batters start all 162 games. If he started 144 games, he may not reach 200 hits. Also, if he is like Rickey Henderson or Tim Raines; he won’t reach 200 hits due to his excellent walk rate.
Trout had 190 in 2013 with 110 walks.
Wow…really? Only since 61!!! /s
BTW…Ichiro only played 162 four times in his MLB career with 3 of those years coming during his first 10 years aka 10 consecutive 200+ hit .
Have a nice day….this is circular and useless.
It is useless, but I’m having fun.
Then how come the other 29 Lead off hitter is don’t get 200 hits
So your argument is that he is not a good hitter because he gets too many hits? I’m not saying you’re a moron for saying that, mainly because I think it goes without saying.
If a player gets injured and misses two months, he is not going to get 200 hits. If Ichiro only got 500 at bats in a season, he could bat .380 and still not get 200 hits. His ability to avoid injury was more important than his greatness as a hitter.
I never said Ichiro was not a good hitter. I said he is an overrated one. A player can be overrated and still be good.
575 Xbh, 507 sb, .311/.355 lifetime, 2 batting titles, 47.8 oWAR
Yep, easy to get 200 hits , facing pitchers throwing 90+ every single inning of his MLB career. I found it so easy, I decided not to play, as I am sure you did Ty.
4,300 hits. A real clown, that Ichiro fella.
Yeah, and Picasso never painted a straight line, and you can’t dance to Tchaikovsky.
Measuring Ichiro solely by stats is an exercise in missing the point.
So he’s an overrated hitter, but if he draws plenty of walks then he’s a great hitter. So instead of drawing walks, he hits the ball. Sounds overrated to me
Ichiro’s career oWAR of 47.8 puts him behind baseball legends like Ellis Burks (53.8), Fred Lynn (53.4), and Bobby Bonds (51.9).
Yeah it’s super easy to get 200 hits. That must be why only 8 different players have had 200+ hits at least once in the last 5 seasons (including nobody in 2013, when the max hit total was 199).
lol
Way to change your tune. Just because you prefer a slugfest to an actual baseball game doesn’t diminish Ichiro and hit talent.
Home run hitters are the flash and glitz of the game. But the meat & potatoes is GETTING ON BASE. FYI: Ichiro did both.
If your argument is that you don’t like that he stayed healthy during his career…..that is stupid.
You just helped drive my point home with that comment. Don’t you see why?
If there are so many of those types of hitters, then they are not anything special!
Ichiro only had one season with an OBP of at least .400. Also, he never led the league in OBP. Even Melvin Mora led the league in OBP once.
Very few players get 200 hit seasons because very few players have the chance to get a 200 hit season. Ichiro would get 675 at bats per season. If more players received 675 at bats per season, they would be more 200 hit seasons. If a player only gets 500 at bats, he has to hit .400 to reach 200 hits. This is impossible in modern baseball.
I never said Ichiro was not a good hitter. 4300 career hits is a great accomplishment. However, there are many hitters that never reach 3000 hits, never win a batting title, and never get 200 hits in a season but are still better hitters than Ichiro.
An 80 hit tool is overrated?
He only hit groundball singles.
youre actually a special kind of stupid.
Thanks!
575 extra base hits would disagree with you.
What? You mean an MVP his first American year and 3000 hits?
Terrible, terrible take
I suppose you think Gwynn was overrated as well.
Yes. I think Tony Gwynn, Pete Rose, and Rod Carew were overrated.
Then I can’t help you. Suffice to say, I believe your POV to be very twisted and I strongly disagree. Many, many others, people who have devoted their careers to baseball analytics would agree with me. “Great hitters only hit for power”? Wow. Wrong on so many levels.
I think you’re taking sabremetrics a little too far. Your view makes for a very boring sport and I’m glad people serious about analytics don’t share your perspective.
I said these hitters were overrated. I never said anyone of them were bad. The hitter with the 250 batting average sometimes is better than the hitter with the 300 average. I would much rather have Bryce Harper batting 265 in my lineup than Dee Gordon batting 325. I am not saying that Gordon is a bad hitter, he’s just not as valuable as Harper.
I’m happy they don’t as well.
Well at least you didn’t crap on Wade Boggs.
Wade Boggs drew a lot of walks. The others I mentioned didn’t. (Rose’s walk rate wasn’t awful).
You’re arguing with a guy who probably supports replay and Mound visit limitations and pitch clocks
Ignorant clearly
Gwynn had 3,141 hits, career .338 BA 17th highest all time, but of that group — only he, Williams, and Lou Gehrig played post-1938.
He won 8 batting titles. Only Cobb won more.
Gwynn batted .300 — for 19 straight years.– Only Cobb had a longer streak.
From 1993-1997, Gwynn hit .368. Williams never hit that high, any 5-year period. And during 5-year period, Gwynn hit an astonishing .335, when had 2 strikes.
In 20 years, Gwynn struck out only 434 times. Some players today reach that in 2-3 seasons. Gwynn never struck out more than 40 times –in any season — 3 players did that in April 2013.
For his career, he had 297 three-hit games, and one 3-strikeout game. He had more 4-hit games, than multi-strikeout games.
He won five gold gloves in RF. He stole 319 bases, 56 in 1987. He’s the only player in last 80 years to hit .338 with 300 stolen bases. He’s a 15x All-star.
Source- His tribute video youtube.com/watch?v=fUlEuv4u65Q
You sound really old.
You’re wasting your time with these media influenced name callers. They can’t see beyond 3,000 hits and 200 hits, not to mention putting words in your mouth.
Gwynn never came close to receiving the amount of adulation as Ichiro did as a player. It’s possible to be a Hall Of Fame caliber player, which Ichiro is, and still be overrated, his less than spectacular on-base % and lack of power being the reasons.
MVP
ROY
10x All-star
10x Gold glove
2x batting champ
Stolen base leader
3x silver slugger
7x hit leader
10 consecutive 200 hit seasons
Most hits by foreign player
Clearly an all-time great
Those are clearly not the stats of an overrated player! By no means!
I said Ichiro was an overrated hitter, Therefore, the ten gold gloves and leading the league in steals are irrelevant to the discussion. Also, if Ichiro was so great, he should have won more than two batting titles. Even Bill Madlock won 4 batting titles and he will never make the Hall of Fame.
I bet if he would’ve been on your team you would consider him the greatest hitter?
If Ichiro is the greatest hitter on a team, the rest of the lineup is quite mediocre.
Ty, your definition of “great hitter” doesn’t seem to give enough credit to actually hitting the baseball. A walk is not as good as a single.
True, but a walk is much better than an out. Ichiro would rather swing at ball four and groundout instead of taking the walk. Also when the bases are empty, a walk is as good as a single.
If there weren’t players like Ichiro, getting on base, the power hitters would only have as many RBI’s as home runs. They wouldn’t have any base runners to drive in. Being a Mariners fan, and seeing Ichiro come up to bat, we were always excited. And his outfield defense and his rocket arm!! There are plenty of home run hitters who can’t play a lick of defense.
No! Not the Ichiro! Why? Whyyyyyy? And you call up some random pitcher to replace? Life is unfair! Bring back Ichiro!
I was there for his very first MLB hit. He is an all-time great whose accomplishments will be missed on the field. Farewell Mr. Suzuki.
So, he can still zip line down from the managerial offices and land in the dugout to pinch hit though, right?
Glad to get Gamel and Heredia back in the OF. I’m certain both Benny G and Heredia would’ve caught two of those blooping fly balls last night. I respect what Ichiro has done in a Mariners uniform but he was past the sell-date
When I lived in Seattle, Jay Buhner was my next door neighbor in Woodinville. His last year with the Mariners was Ichiro’s 1st. After I moved to Tampa, I had the opportunity to see Ichiro play as a Yankee many times vs the Rays. Although I was rooting for the Rays by this time, it was mesmerizing to watch this guy play. Nobody like him! Even at 44, he is better than many of the today’s younger players, and he offered an entertainment value that few of today’s current players can match. Ichiro…you will be missed!
Am I the only one curious why Seattle didn’t wait 2 days so that Ichiro’s last game was vs the Angels thus creating a bit of history w/ Ichiro & Ohtani in the same game?
What is crazy is that he started playing in 92 when I was 20 I will be 47 in a month. Now that is amazing, think of all the players that have gotten one inning in in the majors since then. Not only that but he hasn’t had any scandal in all that time . I honestly can’t recall even once someone hinting of anything bad about him. I hope the young people realize how special it was to experience and be around such an exceptional person and player
The only regrets I have about this is I wish he had done some sort of farewell tour like what Jeter and Ortiz. Of the 3, Ichiro was the best, he better be in the high 90s first ballot HOF..
He’s not better then Ortiz and most definitely not Jeter. What kind of impact did he have like those two? Mostly singles don’t write the checks.
Ichiro’s much better than Jeter. If Jeter played in Houston he would be Craig Biggio. Still a Hall of Famer, but not nearly as highly thought of. Jeter is the most overrated player of the recent past mainly due to the Yankee spotlight.
Jeter was more valuable than Ichiro. A good hitting shortstop has more value than a good hitting right fielder.
That’s such a tired narrative,
It’s still true.
I didn’t say anything about value. I said Ichiro was BETTER. I stand by that statement.
I disagree.
I will start a big fight not only was Ichiro better than Jeter but Edgar was better than Ortiz. Go look at the SABR metric numbers. Not just the casual ones but dig down into the numbers. Look past HRs and post season stats. Edgar had better numbers overall. Before you call me an idiot look at the numbers and Ty Cobb you are disqualified even if you agree. I don’t want anything I say to agree with your stupidity.
I loved Ichiro, and Jeter’s defense was wildly overrated – he actually was not a particularly good shortstop, but I can acknowledge Jeter was a better hitter – Ichiro was a unique hitter, like Gwynn in that he was always up to swing the bat and he had such a superb eye and bat speed that he was able to get hits with that approach more frequently than almost anyone who ever played. Jeter did get a lot more coverage by being in NYC for a bunch of really good teams, but that’s been true of Yankees throughout history. Jeter was a more valuable player than Ichiro.
Very well said, although Jeters defense was really good during his first 7-8 years. Jeter was a more clutch player on a bigger meaningful stage.
Ah geez! This clown is back.
If Derek Jeter was the centerpiece of an Astros team that spread 5 World titles over 14 seasons, I think he would be just as highly thought of.
You’re a loser to say Jeter was not a good SS. Another Yankee hater, go back to your hole and cry because your team sucks. Boston I presume..LOL
What an idiot, comparing Ichiro to Jeter….you obviously don’t understand baseball comparing apples to oranges…
Hallo habeeb! Art thou gude?
Haboogie!
Jeter was not a good defensive SS! The only reason he had such a notable career was being on those great Yankee teams! Ortiz was nothing special . A chemical enhanced hitter that kept him in the league for past his prime at DH. Ichiro is the much better all-around player than both of them.
They have proven there is no such thing as hitting in the “clutch!” That’s a made up fallacy!
I’ll be in Cooperstown for Jeter’s induction. I’ll be there for Ichiro’s. They were both amazing to watch and both were among the classiest players of their generation.
Agree !!!
“he better be in the high 90s first ballot HOF” if not what happens?
Congratulations sir on having the biggest seeds on here. OK having those doesn’t make your post be in the ballpark of reality. What’s your end game fella? Throw some reasoning in why don’t you. Oh Jeter will set the record for % and I suspect Ortiz will come close.
There is no way Jeter beats Ken Griffey Jr’s % for election to the HOF.
Easily !!!
I’m a Mariner fan and an Ichiro fan, but there is NO way he was better than Ortiz.
say it aint so ichiro!
Beyond all the numbers, the guy was CLASS from day one……and never got enough credit for how smart he was/is…..I think he’ll be more than a functionary in the FO…..
Seems a little strange the way this is all going down. No fanfare; no send-off; no warning; “he’s not retiring”; “2019 has yet to evolve.”
Seems to me that Seattle, the contender, is feeling like his roster spot would be better utilized by somebody else right now.. I’m guessing they have plans for him to be a big part of the season opener in Japan in 2019. He probably suits up and retires after that.
Nothing like giving somebody a job that requires full communication when they spent their whole career pretending to not be able to communicate.
Funny but true