News / Sports
Ichiro Inks Five-Year Deal with Seattle Mariners
The Seattle Mariners avoided a potentially disastrous offseason by re-signing superstar centerfielder Ichiro Suzuki to a five-year deal believed to be worth more than $100 million.
A career .333 hitter, Ichiro is currently hitting .355 with five home runs and 39 RBIs. The franchise player has also collected 23 stolen bases this year and was recently named the All-Star game’s MVP after hitting the annual contest’s first ever inside the park home run while going 3-3 in the American League’s 5-4 victory.
In 2004 Ichiro totaled 262 hits during the season surpassing the previous major league mark of 257 hits collected by George Sisler in 1920. Ichiro won the American League MVP award in 2001, becoming the first player since Fred Lynn to win the award in a rookie season.
Mariners’ general manager Bill Bavasi stated “The one thing we have made clear since spring training was that it was our goal to have Ichiro play his entire career in Seattle, retire as a Mariner and go into the Hall of Fame in our cap.”
