SEATTLE -- Ichiro Suzuki might begin his final guaranteed season with the Seattle Mariners somewhere other than the leadoff spot that he's locked down for the past decade.

Seattle manager Eric Wedge said Thursday during the Mariners' pre-spring training luncheon that he's leaning toward moving Suzuki out of the leadoff spot as a way to try to bolster the Mariners' anemic offense.

Wedge doesn't believe that's a slight on Suzuki's ability to continue being a leadoff hitter, even with the 10-time All-Star coming off the worst season of his career.

"It's as much to do with his teammates as it has to do with him with regard to the collective nine that we're putting down on paper," Wedge said. "I haven't made any firm decisions. I made it very clear over the winter I was thinking about it. I'm even further down the road to where I'm leaning in that direction to have (Suzuki) hit somewhere else."

Moving Suzuki out of the leadoff spot was part of an on-again, off-again debate during the 2011 season as Suzuki struggled. He hit just .272, failed to reach 200 hits for the first time in his career -- finishing with 184 -- and had an on-base percentage 40 points below his previous career worst.