Mariners, Suzuki finalize one-year contract

The Seattle Mariners and outfielder Ichiro Suzuki finalized a one-year contract on Wednesday.

Suzuki, 44, spent his first 11 major league seasons with the Mariners, where he was the American League rookie of the year in 2001. He was traded to the New York Yankees in 2012, played parts of three seasons with the New York Yankees, then spent three seasons with the Miami Marlins.

The former Japanese League star collected 2,533 of his 3,080 hits with the Mariners, including 262 in 2004 to set an MLB record.

Suzuki hit .255 in 136 games last season.

Suzuki has a .312 career average in the regular season and a .346 mark in 19 playoff games.

Seattle has concerns about depth in the outfield following a strained oblique muscle injury to Ben Gamel, who is expected to miss the start of the regular season.

In addition, Mitch Haniger is limited by a hand injury and Guillermo Heredia is working his way back from offseason shoulder surgery.

-- Field Level Media