Seattle Mariners: 5 Reasons to Trade Ichiro Suzuki
In previous article, I discussed whether or not Ichiro Suzuki was underrated. While that question may forever remain unanswered, the fact that Ichiro is one of the most loved Mariners of all-time is just that.
A fact.
So, while you begin to hate me for even suggesting that the Mariners explore the option of trading Ichiro, realize that I do know what he has done for this city and for this team, and I do know that he has expressed how much he wants to stay in Seattle.
This article is merely a way to express some reasons for why I would be okay with the organization attempting to trade their star right fielder.
Get Him a Ring
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The whole city of Seattle loved Jamie Moyer, but they were willing to see him go because they wanted him to reach the ultimate goal before he retired.
Let's be honest. Odds are, Ichiro won't be winning a World Series with Seattle.
Trading him to a contender will give Ichiro his only chance to accomplish the one thing he has yet to do in his storied career: win a World Series.
If we truly love him, we'll let him go.
Rebuilding
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The Mariners have proven that they can find ways to win games, but this offense is still in rebuild mode.
There are no ways around that, and odds are, the Mariners won't be ready to compete for at least another year. Will Ichiro still be contributing next year—or even the next? Can the Mariners really say that he is part of the future offense?
If Seattle trades Ichiro this year, they could get value for him. Top prospects may be a reach, but getting a couple of young players who could be role players in the majors in the next year or so isn't out of the question.
After Dustin Ackley, the Mariners farm system is pretty thin right now. If the Mariners decide they won't be contending this year, an Ichiro trade will not only speed up the rebuilding of our offense, but it will bolster our minor league system.
Age
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Yeah, okay, Ichiro has proven that he can defy the logic of how a human body should age.
But, he's 37. He should start declining at some point, right?
Well, it hasn't happened yet as Ichiro has never appeared in less than 145 games in a season and has never hit under .300. All this means is that teams would be more willing to take a chance on the 37-year-old.
The decline has to come sometime, and trading him before that decline comes would produce the most value in return.
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Contract
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Ichiro becomes a free agent in 2013, leaving a year and a half on his contract. If a contender is looking to acquire Ichiro, they would like to "rent" him for as long as possible. Letting him go this year rather than next might be the best option.
As with the age factor, if we are going to trade Ichiro, trading him sooner rather than later would produce the most value in return.
If Seattle holds on to Ichiro until the end of his contract, they would have two options: sign him as a 39-year-old for probably too much money to an offense they are still trying to rebuild, or let him go for nothing—while kicking themselves for not getting anything for him a year and a half earlier.
Both are seemingly poor options.
Does He Really Fit Our Offense?
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Ichiro isn't the prototypical leadoff hitter, especially for a team like the Mariners.
They have shown that they win games by drawing walks, getting to opposing teams' bullpens and getting timely hits. Well, Ichiro has shown that he isn't the type of player that will really work a count and get a pitcher's pitch count up.
If the Mariners decide they want to fully commit to a small-ball approach, they might want to go after a leadoff hitter with a high walk rate and OBP.
Of course, Ichiro is walking at the best rate of his career besides 2002, so it appears he is making an effort at fitting in with the Mariners' style.
Conclusion
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This whole debate really comes down to one thing:
Do the Mariners think they will compete this year or next?
If they truly believe they will, then Ichiro should stay, as he can still be a major contributor for a couple of years.
If it becomes apparent that they are still in rebuild mode, then they have reasons to let him go. With his age and contract, he can't truly be seen as the right fielder of the future, and he has the value to bring in important future pieces.
If the consensus becomes to trade him, then there is no better time than now.
Ichiro remains one of my favorite Mariners of all time, and it would truly be unfortunate if he was traded, but if he is, Mariner nation should realize that the reasons behind the trade are valid.
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