Just got word from Fox Sports that the Seattle Mariners have traded Ichiro Suzuki and cash to the New York Yankees for two pitchers, D. J. Mitchell and Danny Farquhar.
The New York Yankees have acquired 10-time All-Star outfielder Ichiro Suzuki from the Seattle Mariners for a pair of pitching prospects. The teams announced the trade Monday hours before their three-game series opener in Seattle. Ichiro, who had spent his entire major-league career with the Mariners, will make his Yankees debut in the contest at Safeco Field. Following a brief discussion with the Japanese star, Yankees manager Joe Girardi finalized New York's starting lineup with Ichiro batting eighth and playing right field. The Yankees also received cash considerations from the Mariners, who acquired reliever D.J. Mitchell and minor-league right-hander Danny Farquhar. ESPN.com
I've had better, yeah... We all knew it. We all saw it coming. We all M's fans knew Ichiro would be traded before the deadline. I had made my peace with that... But why the Yankees? WHY?!?! I'm gonna feel so dirty rooting for them for the rest of the year, because I really want Ichiro to get a ring before he retires, damn it he's my favorite baseball player ever!! It's like if Emmitt Smith would've signed with the Redskins instead of the Cards back in '02... So yeah, it's going to be some very dirty 3 months :icon_confused:
If the Sox fail to make the playoffs, and I assume they will, than I will be rooting for the Yankees this year just cause of Ichi.
Both teams win here. Mariners get rid of their oldest, most expensive boat anchor. He is not the .300 batting, rangy all-star outfielder he was two years. Last year he was a bit slower and his average went way down, and the slide has continued even more this year. There was talk about the stupid heckin' Nintendo owners resigning him for next year, too. He isn't part of the long term plan, and getting rid of him frees up $18,000,000 we can put in other places. Much needed move for the team, although it's always sad to let go of an icon. He'll likely kick it into another gear like everyone does when they leave Seattle, but this was a necessary move. If either of the players we got pans out, it's just gravy on top. Yankees add another slightly-above-average bat to their lineup, but a guy with a big name who can draw a crowd.
