Bomber Bites With Jumping Joe–The Case to Bring Back Ichiro

Ichiro Suzuki wants to play baseball next season.  At 41, he knows he is only about two seasons away from 3,000 hits (currently sitting at 2844) and seems determined to get there.  And why not, he had 102 hits in limited playing time in 2014 for the Yankees and is only two years removed from having 178.  If he could duplicate that 2012 season, he could reach 3,000 next September.  However, while he may be capable of reaching that milestone, should he be reaching for it in pinstripes?

Mandatory Credit: Chad R. MacDonald.

Ichiro was actually not that bad of a player for the Yankees last season.  In fact he had the highest batting average on the team of players with at least 150 at-bats.  Of course, the fact that his average was only .284 drums home the offensive ineptitude of the 2014 Yankees.  Because of injuries to Carlos Beltran and others, Ichiro saw a lot more playing time this season than anyone imagined, appearing in 143 games.  For an older and limited player like Ichiro, that is simply too many.  Ideally, Ichiro would be needed in only about a 100-120 games.

Another key aspect of Ichiro’s game is speed and the man can still run.  Ichiro stole 15 bases in 18 attempts in 2014, the lowest output of his career but still among the Yankee leaders.  And even at age 40, Ichiro played a solid defensive outfield and can play all three positions effectively.  There is a lot of value for a role player who can play all three outfield positions at any time.

Of course, the downside of Ichiro is the fact he has zero power. He does not have little power; he has no power. He had only 22 RBI to go along with his sole home run in 2014. Corner outfielders are generally a power position and Ichiro provided none. Not even the short right field porch of Yankee Stadium could help his numbers. With a lineup as deficient at scoring runs as it is, can the Bombers afford to have such a one-dimensional player on the roster?

More from Yankees News

• Yankees chose worst possible player to ring in New Year on 2023 team calendar
• Yankees make upside play, sign former Rangers top prospect outfielder
• Michael Kay’s Anthony Volpe story will get Yankees fans amped for Opening Day
• No, Yankees should not acquire Trevor Bauer for 2023
• Yankees’ Marwin González replaces Red Sox LF in Japan in logical next step

Ichiro’s future most likely lies in another city. However, there is a better than average chance that he will still be looking for work in mid-January and that is when GM Brian Cashman might give him a call. Ichiro made $8 million in 2014, the second year of a two-year deal he signed with Yankees after being traded to New York from Seattle in 2012.  It is not outside the realm of possibility that Cashman give Ichiro a major league deal worth $1-2 million to be the 4^th or 5^th outfielder in camp.  The once touted Yankee outfield prospects of Slade Heathcott, Mason Williams and Tyler Austin have been delayed in the minors and are unlikely to see the majors anytime soon.  Thus, even though the Yankees are trying to get younger, it might make sense to bring back a 41-year-old Ichiro on a low-risk, high-reward one-year deal.