Ichiro Suzuki, 45, has reportedly signed a minor league contract with the Mariners that will allow him to be on the active roster for the Japan series in March. (Photo by Stephen Brashear/Getty Images)

When Ichiro Suzuki retires, there’s a definite possibility that he could eventually follow in Mariano Rivera’s footsteps and be unanimously elected into the Baseball Hall of Fame.

Thankfully, it looks like we’ll have to keep waiting for that day to come. The 45-year-old Suzuki isn’t ready to hang up his cleats and glove just yet. Bob Nightengale of USA Today reported on Wednesday that the Seattle Mariners have signed Suzuki to a minor league contract.

Ichiro Suzuki, 45, who also may be a future unanimous Hall of Famer, is set for his comeback with the Seattle #Mariners. He officially signs a minor-league contract with the #Mariners that pays him $750,000 if he makes the major-league roster. — Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) January 23, 2019





Suzuki has said he wants to play until he’s 50, but his future with the Mariners had been up in the air after 2018. He started the season with the team, but hit just .205/.255/.205 through 15 games. The Mariners announced on May 3 that Suzuki would immediately transition to a front office role, but the word “retirement” was nowhere to be found. Suzuki spent the rest of the 2018 season taking batting practice, working with teammates, and mentoring other players, but didn’t play another game.

The Mariners haven’t officially announced the contract yet, but a reunion with Ichiro isn’t totally out of left field. Mariners GM Jerry Dipoto told MLB.com in early January that he plans to have Suzuki on the active roster when the Mariners travel to Japan to play the Oakland Athletics on March 20 and 21. But Dipoto also emphasized that the Mariners already have all three outfield spots filled with starters, and Jay Bruce is likely to DH. But Dipoto knows better than to make any assumptions about Ichiro.

” … one thing I’ve learned with Ichiro, first of all his preparation and focus is the best I’ve ever seen on any player I’ve ever encountered. His single-mindedness in achieving a goal is so real that I won’t put anything past him.”

What happens after that isn’t known. According to Nightengale, the Mariners and A’s will be able to have 28 players on their rosters for the Japan series, but will have to cut it back down to 25 when they return. Dipoto also has no idea what’s going to happen, but he’s open to whatever happens — or whatever Suzuki can make happen. Via MLB.com:

“Frankly if he rolls out in Tokyo and gets seven hits in two games, there’s a pretty good chance he’ll play a third game,” Dipoto said with a smile. “You have to adjust as you go. We’re not going to predetermine anything. We’ll give him the opportunity to come in and do what he does, and prepare the way he prepares.”

Ichiro has played in the majors for 18 seasons, and in Japan for nine. He has 4,367 hits between MLB and Japan, and a .311/.355/.402 triple slash in MLB alone. It will be a great day when Ichiro is elected to the Hall of Fame, five years after he retires. But to the great relief of everyone who loves watching the ageless wonder play, we don’t have to start that countdown clock just yet.

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