Mariners star Suzuki may hit trade market

Published January 29, 2007

Ichiro Suzuki can become a free agent after the upcoming season. Seattle’s lack of recent success has been a disappointment for the Japanese star, but Mariners general manager Bill Bavasi doesn’t believe Suzuki is aggravated enough to consider his options elsewhere.

“It’s a top priority, but the timing is not that important,” Bavasi said about getting Suzuki signed to an extension. “It’s not going to be a huge issue. He’s a special player, but I think Seattle is a special place for him too.”

Suzuki is in the last season of a four-year, $44 million deal. He will be 34 in October, so he probably couldn’t command an eight-year deal like Alfonso Soriano. But he might approach the $17 million-a-year average in Soriano’s Cubs contract. If he’s not signed by the July 31 trading deadline, the Mariners’ best option–Suzuki’s local popularity aside–might be to deal him.

What they proposed on WXYT was either Curtis Granderson and Andrew Miller or Cameron Mayben and Joel Zumaya for Ichiro. Not all that bad when you think about it. What do you think Ichiro would do in Comerica at the top of this lineup? I say abandon Mr. Helton and start learning Japanese. If you could get him in a sign and trade, something in the 4 years 20 million per year range, I say “Domo Arigato, Mr Ichiro”.

How far off do you guys think this one’s off the map?

Put Shelton in the package. It gets him closer to his home in Utah and that thin air might reinvigorate his bat.