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The Seattle Mariners locked up right fielder Ichiro Suzuki on Thursday, signing the three-time All-Star to a four-year contract.
Terms of the deal were not disclosed. He was eligible for arbitration.
The 2001 American League MVP, Suzuki hit .312 last season with 29 doubles, eight triples, 13 home runs and 62 RBI. He collected 212 hits, his third consecutive season with 200-plus hits, and earned his third straight Gold Glove.
"Obviously, we are pleased to get Ichiro under contract for the next four
years," Mariners executive vice president and general manager Bill Bavasi
said. "He is among the best, most exciting players in the game, and we
wanted to assure that he was in Seattle for the long term."
The 30-year-old Suzuki led the majors last season with 66 multi-hit games and also ranked among the American League leaders in hits, batting average, runs, triples and stolen bases.
Suzuki's 212 hits made him just the third player in major league history with 200-plus hits in each of his first three seasons and his .359 average vs. lefthanded pitching was the third best in the AL, tops among lefthanded hitters. One of the most popular players, Suzuki was the leading vote-getter in the All-Star Game for the third straight season and won his third Gold Glove in a row in 2003.
"When you are a manager and you know you get to write Ichiro's name into the leadoff spot for the next four seasons, well that's a great feeling," Mariners manager Bob Melvin said. "He's the best rightfielder in baseball, his teammates love playing with him and he does a tremendous job of preparing for every game."
Suzuki has a career average of .328, with 90 doubles, 24 triples, 29 homers and 182 RBI in three seasons since arriving in Seattle after spending nine seasons with Orix of the Japanese League. He has stolen 121 bases in his first three seasons, while being caught just 37 times.