Miami Marlins re-sign Ichiro Suzuki for 2016 season
The pitching. It had to be his pitching.
Or maybe the Hall of Fame resume, clubhouse leadership and a billion other things, but either way, Ichiro Suzuki is coming back to the Miami Marlins. The club announced that they’ve re-signed the future Hall of Famer to a contract for 2016, which will pay him $2-million, and also contains a club option at the same value for 2017.
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At face value, Ichiro’s 2015 season was underwhelming at best. But Marlins players continually voiced how much the 10-time All-Star’s presence helped them this season, and he provided solid value logging 153 games with six triples, 11 stolen bases, 31 walks and 91 total hits for just $2.8-million including $800k in plate appearances incentives.
Ichiro returns next season just 65 hits shy of 3000, and seems likely to reach the milestone in 2016 if he can stay healthy. He will also enter next year just two stolen bases shy of 500 for his career, which he should also accomplish with ease if he can even come close to his 11 stolen-base total from this season.
Ichiro said this week that he wants to play 10 more years, and while that may seem like a stretch, the 41-year-old could prove to be a useful bench option for years to come if he can continue to stay in shape. He checked in as a slightly below-average defender this year, but has the plate discipline to be a solid pinch hitter despite his lowly .229 batting average in 2015. Some have speculated that Ichiro could call it an MLB career after next year if he hits his 3000th hit, however, and return to play in Japan.