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Seattle Mariners

Mariners trade Ichiro to Yankees

Ichiro Suzuki tugs at his sleeve during a July 15 at-bat against the Texas Rangers, just like he did during every one of his 7,858 at-bats as a Seattle Mariner. Ichiro was traded to the Yankees on July 23, 2012, after 11 1/2 years as a Mariner. (Associated Press)
Seattle Times
Ichiro Suzuki tugs at his sleeve during a July 15 at-bat against the Texas Rangers, just like he did during every one of his 7,858 at-bats as a Seattle Mariner. Ichiro was traded to the Yankees on July 23, 2012, after 11 1/2 years as a Mariner. (Associated Press)
SEATTLE — The Mariners traded 10-time All-Star outfielder Ichiro to the New York Yankees on Monday for two minor-league prospects and cash considerations. The Mariners received right-handed pitchers D.J. Mitchell and Danny Farquhar from the Yankees. Both will report to Class AAA Tacoma. Ichiro asked the team several weeks ago to consider trading him, according to the Mariners and Ichiro’s agent. “He knows that the club has to grow,” Tony Attanasio, Ichiro’s agent, told The Seattle Times. “He knows they have to play the younger guys and get them more playing time. The only way he knows to do that is to move on. He doesn’t want to stop playing. He wants to continue.” Howard Lincoln, Mariners CEO, confirmed that scenario in a Mariners release. “Several weeks ago, Ichiro Suzuki, through his longtime agent, Tony Attanasio, approached Chuck Armstrong and me to ask that the Mariners consider trading him,” he said in the release. “Ichiro knows that the club is building for the future, and he felt that what was best for the team was to be traded to another club and give our younger players an opportunity to develop. “Ichiro will be missed. He owns a long list of Major League Baseball and Mariners club records, has earned many prestigious awards, and in my opinion, he will someday be a member of the Baseball Hall of Fame.” Mitchell, 25, has spent most of the season pitching with AAA. Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, going 6-4 with a 5.04 earned-run average. He was rated the No. 16 prospect in the New York organization by Baseball America entering this season. Farquhar, 25, has split the 2012 season between the Toronto, Oakland and New York organizations. This season he has combined to go 2-3 with five saves and a 3.33 ERA. Ichiro, 38, was the American League Most Valuable Player and Rookie of the Year in 2001, his first for the Mariners after nine seasons in Japan. He led the American League in batting average twice and the major leagues in hits seven times. His 10 consecutive seasons (2001-2010) with 200 or more hits is also a Major League record, including a record 262 hits in 2004.