After two and a half season with the New York Yankees, it looks like Ichiro Suzuki is being shown the way out. One of the best hitters in Baseball over the last 15 years is reaching a stage where he’ll only work out in a limited role, something that might help him find a job with the Detroit Tigers and Los Angeles Angels, showing some interest.
The Yankees don’t seem to have room for him in their outfield. Their starters next season will probably be Carlos Beltran, Brett Gardner and Jacoby Ellsbury. They also signed Chris Young on a one-year deal to be the backup outfielder, which means that the 41-year old Suzuki who has been playing Major League Baseball since 2001 probably doesn’t have a room on this team anymore, and won’t be re-signed.
Rumors suggest that he isn’t planning on retiring, but has no idea where he’ll be playing. Suzuki has spent most of his career with the Mariners, making the All-Star game 10 times, winning an MVP, three Silver Slugger awards and the Golden Glove 10 consecutive times, while leading the league in total hits seven times.
He doesn’t have the speed of the past, and simply isn’t the defender he used to be up until 2010. But his never fading hand-to-eye coordination keeps him a useful weapon for teams to use, at least in a limited role.
In 143 games last season for the Yankees he appeared in 359 at bats, hitting a .284 with one home run and 22 RBIs.