Seattle Mariners Make the Most Sense for Ichiro Suzuki

In his 12 seasons with the Seattle Mariners, Ichiro Suzuki won two batting titles, led the league in hits seven times and collected 2,533 hits. He was an MVP, Rookie of the Year winner and a 10-time All-Star and Gold Glove winner. Star players came and went, but he remained the steady face of the franchise. Entering the twilight of his career and looking for a job, it makes perfect sense for the Mariners to bring back Ichiro for a farewell tour.

The Mariners already added their big bat this offseason by bringing in Nelson Cruz, but Ichiro would be the perfect fourth outfielder on the roster. With the current make up of the roster, he would be an upgrade over players like James Jones and Stefen Romo.

Although he is 41 years old and his best days are behind him, he proved last season that he is not finished. Appearing in 143 games, Ichiro batted .284 with a .324 on-base percentage. With a roster looking to get back to the postseason, his veteran presence off the bench could play a major factor.

Even with his numbers last season, there has been little to no interest from teams looking to bring in Ichiro. He is not the same difference-making bat that he was for years, but adding a player with nearly 3,000 hits in the MLB couldn’t hurt. He was a fan favorite during his glory days in Seattle and with interest lacking, there could not be a better feel good story than seeing him have one more chance to bring a title to Seattle.

Pete Schwichtenberg is a MLB writer for Rantsports. Follow @schwick26_pete, Like him on Facebook, or Add him to your Google Network.