MIAMI — Ichiro Suzuki has decided to play for the Miami Marlins.
Suzuki and the team have agreed to a one-year, $2 million contract, pending a physical, a person with knowledge of the situation told The Associated Press. The person spoke on condition of anonymity Friday because the contract with the 41-year-old outfielder has not been finalized.
The contract is likely to be formally completed next week.
Suzuki’s signing is just one of many eye-catching moves by the Marlins in this offseason, starting with the record 13-year, $325 million contract given to slugger Giancarlo Stanton in November.
Among the other highlights: They acquired pitcher Aaron Crow, a first-round pick in the 2008 MLB draft, from the Kansas City Royals; landed All-Star second baseman Dee Gordon and right-hander Dan Haren from the Los Angeles Dodgers; and picked up right-hander Mat Latos from the Cincinnati Reds.
Now Suzuki figures to add even more buzz to a Marlins team with eyes on competing in the NL East.
The 10-time All-Star batted .284 last year for the New York Yankees. He topped the 200-hit mark in his first 10 major league seasons and has 2,844 MLB hits in his 14 seasons with the Yankees and Seattle Mariners.
He arrived from Japan after spending nine seasons with the Pacific League’s Orix Blue Wave, and he won the AL batting title, Rookie of the Year and MVP awards in 2001. He won a second batting crown in 2004, when his 262 hits broke the season record George Sisler set 84 years earlier.
Combined with his 1,278 hits from nine seasons in Japan, Suzuki has 4,122 in his professional big league career — 59 fewer than Ty Cobb and 134 less than Pete Rose.
Thumbnail photo via Adam Hunger/USA TODAY Sports Images
