The Yankees basically got Ichiro for free. The two AA-AAA pitchers Seattle got are basically the proverbial 'player to be named later' types. Neither will ever have any impact in the Majors.
Ichiro was traded because he knew he wasn't part of Eric Wedges youth movement in Seattle, and his contract is up at the end of the year. He was here when Ken Griffey Jr. was run out of town by the local media (! YES! That Happened !). He and Griffey were close. I'm pretty sure he didn't want that to happen to him. Ownership and the GM had stated that they intended to re-sign him, but over the All Star break, he decided to ask for a trade to a contending team, and the Yankees were a good fit.
It free's up Seattle's right field for some young power hitters to get some at bats, which is what the team needs for the rest of this season (to evaluate existing talent, so they can make off season moves).
Ichiro was the best player in baseball from 2001 to 2004, which I had just come back home after 20 years of military service, and renewed my interest in the Mariners. His 2001 season was incredible (MVP, Rookie of the Year, Silver Slugger, Gold Glove and the team tied the MLB record with 216 wins!), but 2004 was his best season. In 2004 he set the single season hit record (256), and was again the best player in the game. It was a thing to behold. The only players with better numbers over his first 10 years are named Pujols, Bonds, and A-Rod (see reference material at the link below).
He basically locked down right field, rarely missing a game, for 12 years in Seattle.
Here is an article written by Fangraphs and MLB TV contributer, Dave Cameron, posted on the USS Mariner Blog. It's a good read.
http://www.ussmariner.com/2012/07/24/ac ... greatness/Of course as with any player who depends on speed, the fall is usually a quick one. He's still an above average defender, but has lost a step on the bases, and doesn't make as much contact. He's not a risk taker (never has been). Won't dive or crash the wall, and doesn't like to steal. He is still a serviceable player, and the Yankees only have to pay about half of his remaining salary ($2 mil), and then they can cut him loose or re-sign him after the season. I suspect he will thrive in NY as a complimentary/fill in player, and if they can get the right price, they just might pick him up for another year.
Being an avid Yankee hater, and a huge Ichiro fan, seeing him take right field at Safeco in a Yankees uniform two nights ago was jarring. It was like some kind of bizzaro game or something. I am going to be seriously conflicted about the remainder of this season. Basically for my entire life, there has never, ever been a reason to cheer for the Yankees to win... now I have one.. and I DO NOT LIKE IT !!
Login
Register
FAQ
Search
But I guess it's better to be out and getting fixed up than playing through injuries like certain Philadelphia players have a detrimental habit of doing...
