Ichiro is a Yankee!!!

[Blunder19]

Yanks looked ready to make another run at it...

[ullmandds]

holy cow...how awesome is that!!!! although I can't seem to confirm this from any news source!

[ullmandds]

confirmed! I repeat...woooo hooooo!!!

[Mikehealer]

That's too bad. He was one of my favorite players.

[oldjudge]

http://content.usatoday.com/communit...1#.UA3W32t5mSM

This is really interesting. I have thought for a while that the Yankees would benefit from picking up an outfielder, now that Gardner is out for the season. With Swisher hurt, the Yankees outfield weakness is apparent. They can get by with a platoon of Jones and Ibanez, but they need a steady force out here. Ichiro is no longer the player he once was, but he still has a great arm in right and still has speed. I would bat Ichiro leadoff and Jeter, instead of Granderson, second. Granderson could bat sixth after Arod, Cano, and Teixeira, or jump ahead of one of them if they cool off. I love this deal.

[daves_resale_shop]

Ichiro? to the Yanks?

[rjackson44]

Got him for two pitchers and 2.5 million oh my..

[Vegas-guy]

Originally Posted by ullmandds

confirmed! I repeat...woooo hooooo!!!

[Matthew H]

Originally Posted by Mikehealer

That's too bad. He was one of my favorite players.

+1 (at least it's not 2004 anymore)

[chaddurbin]

5 years too late.

[packs]

I'm excited. I've felt like Ichiro just hates playing for a loser like Seattle. I think he's going to kill the ball in New York and will likely start hitting bombs with that Granderson porch in right.

[Brian Van Horn]

Looks like the Evil Empire got another one.

[barrysloate]

Sounds like a great pickup, but like so many Yankee deals it's short term. Rest of this year and next year they'll get some production, but that's about it. That's the team's philosophy.

[WhenItWasAHobby]

Clearly his better days are behind him. He probably won't leadoff either with Jeter in the lineup - I think? I guess we'll wait and see.

As a Pirate fan, I'd like to give the Yankees a belated thanks for AJ Burnett.

[matty6]

I, too, USED to like Ichiro.

[wolfdogg]

New York Yankees!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Tobacco&Gum]

I just watched the press confrence. Ichiro started off by saying "I'll be taking my talents to the South Bronx"

[barrysloate]

Good one, James!

[Runscott]

Many Mariners seem to regain their past abilities as soon as they change teams.

[Peter_Spaeth]

Originally Posted by WhenItWasAHobby

Clearly his better days are behind him. He probably won't leadoff either with Jeter in the lineup - I think? I guess we'll wait and see.

As a Pirate fan, I'd like to give the Yankees a belated thanks for AJ Burnett.

If Ichiro had started in the majors at 22 or 23 we likely would be looking at a 4000 hit career. He may just be having an off year, look at Jeter's comeback at the same age, although he depends more on leg speed for some of his hits so the analogy may not be an apt one.

[yanks12025]

I'm surprised no one has complained why this thread ins't in the watercooler side. lol

[prewarsports]

I just broke the news to my 6 year old who LOVES Ichiro, and he cried, I got it on video and its pretty awesome/sad at the same time.

Ichiro is a Cash Cow to Seattle and as a fan who watches every Mariners Game every night and has for years you need to understand that the Mariners never would have traded (dumped) him if there was much left in the tank. I would not be too excited about what you Yankees fans are getting. The Mariners were basically begging for someone====anyone to take him and provide a graceful end to an era. We all know the prospects are crap and wont do much if anything and if Ichiro was even a third the player he was, the M's would not have done this deal. Dont get me wrong, I love Ichiro and have for 12 seasons, and I wish him the best despite playing for the most Evil Franchise in all of Sports, BUT he is what he is now and that is a .250 slap hitter with one of the worst OBP in the majors for a top of the order guy. I hope he turns it around I really do because I am a big fan, but dont hold your breath Yankees Fans.

[packs]

So evil they picked up an aging veteran to go along with four other aging veterans on the bench. The horror.

[pitchernut]

Probably his only chance for a ring. I mean that is why they play the game yes?

[yanksfan09]

Being a Yankee fan Im not expecting too much, he's almost 40 with a 280 on base. However, I think the Yanks could get a couple nice months out of him. Maybe next year too. The stadium will be easier to hit and we may see a few more HR's. The main thing here is that they didn't give up much for him that I'll be missing so it seems like a no-brainer on the Yankees end to me. I like the deal but I'm certainly not expecting vintage Ichiro.

[GrayGhost]

Originally Posted by yanksfan09

Being a Yankee fan Im not expecting too much, he's almost 40 with a 280 on base. However, I think the Yanks could get a couple nice months out of him. Maybe next year too. The stadium will be easier to hit and we may see a few more HR's. The main thing here is that they didn't give up much for him that I'll be missing so it seems like a no-brainer on the Yankees end to me. I like the deal but I'm certainly not expecting vintage Ichiro.

From one Yankees fan to another. Couldn't have said it better.

[drc]

As a Seattle resident I can say he isn't very good any more. I don't know why the Yankees would want him. It will be interesting to see how much playing time he gets.

[brob28]

I'm not familiar with the two prospects they traded for Ichiro. Are they any good? I believe this is the last year of his contract, so this may be a real short term move.

[packs]

They're not very good. DJ Mitchell is a relief / spot starter type and Seattle will be the other guy's fourth organization this year.

[steve B]

I'm happy for the yankee fans out there, and I hope he does well for them.

Even as a Sox fan I have to be happy to see Ichiro playing in the big media market, He's obviously capable of handling it. I think it's a good match.

Off to get the "draft pick" chant going at fenway even though draft picks don't matter as much in baseball.

steve B

[packs]

I've read some cool Ichiro quotes on the board before. I love this one from his interview with Harold Reynolds.

Harold Reynolds: "There were lots of Japanese media when you got here, now that's died off... ready for the New York media?"

Ichiro: "I don't think we have time for useless questions like that."

[Tobacco&Gum]

Ichiro: "I don't think we have time for useless questions like that."

Translation: That's a clown question bro.

[prewarsports]

Yes, the Yankees are Evil. Having 40 Million dollars worth of aging veterans on your bench proves what? That we should like the Yankees because they helping build up old guys social security?

[packs]

Andruw Jones and Raul Ibanez are making a combined 3 million dollars this year. The Yankees traded two C level prospects for Ichiro. If that wasn't the best offer they got, why did Seattle trade their franchise player for a worse deal? They are making good decisions. It was their bench that put them over the top during their run in the late 90s.

[Jay Wolt]

Seattle also threw in some cash to make the deal w/ NY

[CMIZ5290]

Best team money can buy! With that payroll, that should win the world series every year.......

[markf31]

Originally Posted by yanksfan09

Being a Yankee fan Im not expecting too much, he's almost 40 with a 280 on base. However, I think the Yanks could get a couple nice months out of him. Maybe next year too. The stadium will be easier to hit and we may see a few more HR's. The main thing here is that they didn't give up much for him that I'll be missing so it seems like a no-brainer on the Yankees end to me. I like the deal but I'm certainly not expecting vintage Ichiro.

He's 38, he hit just .272 last year which is very pedestrian and is at only .261 this year. He has lost his speed which enabled him to beat out so many infield singles. He has hit 10 or more HRs only 3 times in his major league career. I would have thought there could have been better pickings out there for the pinstripes besides Ichiro.

[bigtrain]

I am in my 50th year as a Yankee fan but I have to recognize that: The Yankees have a platoon of .240 hitters in left, a .250 hitter albeit with power in center, a .250 hitter with some power who disappears in the post-season in right field, a .250 hitter who pads his power stats against bad teams at first base, a .200 hitter behind the plate and two aging stars at short and third. Ibanez/Jones, Granderson, Swisher, Tex and A-Rod will each probably be around 200 Ks.
Ichiro is not the player he once was but he still has some speed. He can field his position and has a great arm. Most importantly, he puts the ball in play, advances runners, doesn't strike out alot and makes productive outs.

[novakjr]

Originally Posted by bigtrain

I am in my 50th year as a Yankee fan but I have to recognize that: The Yankees have a platoon of .240 hitters in left, a .250 hitter albeit with power in center, a .250 hitter with some power who disappears in the post-season in right field, a .250 hitter who pads his power stats against bad teams at first base, a .200 hitter behind the plate and two aging stars at short and third. Ibanez/Jones, Granderson, Swisher, Tex and A-Rod will each probably be around 200 Ks.
Ichiro is not the player he once was but he still has some speed. He can field his position and has a great arm. Most importantly, he puts the ball in play, advances runners, doesn't strike out alot and makes productive outs.

.250 hitters aren't that big of a deal. It's just 1 hit a week from .300. The one thing I'll agree with you though, is that the team isn't as good on paper as they appear. The one thing you're not noting about those players though, is how much they work the counts. Ichiro also can work the hell out of a count.. These guys can wear down a pitcher quickly.

Now as far as Ichiro goes, I think to an extent, that he was somewhat bored in Seattle...Sure he's aging, but I think it's possible that this could spark a new interest for him, and he could end up batting .300 for the rest of the year, and with the majority of that lineup killing fastballs, I can see an increase in steals for Ichiro, due to the higher volume of offspeed pitches. Plus he should score more runs when he does get on...I'd take any Yankee batting behind him, over any Mariner...

[jimross]

This whole deal is all about selling Yankee to Japan/Japanese so Yankee can sells more jerseys and stuffs once again.

[nolemmings]

It's a low-risk move for the Yanks with some nice upside potential. It can't hurt adding such a class guy to the roster. I've never been a huge fan of Ichiro, but now that he's a Yankee it would be nice to see him get a ring.

[timzcardz]

The biggest problem with this trade was that ARod wasn't part of it.

[Tobacco&Gum]

Delete wrong thread

[shaunsteig]

Originally Posted by nolemmings

It's a low-risk move for the Yanks with some nice upside potential. It can't hurt adding such a class guy to the roster.

As a Yankees fan, I relished the fact that he immediately announced that he would not keep his jersey number (51), out of respect to the last Yankee who wore it -- Bernie Williams. Always has been a class guy, and I think he adds some needed focus and personality depth to this team as they proceed through the second half of what's otherwise been a less-than-expected-challenge of a season.

As for his current capabilities, sure he's not the 200-hit machine that he used to be. But the current Yankees lineup has plenty of power (leads majors in HR) -- what they need is the consistent base hit guy, as well as speed on the bases. He should be able to provide that.

--S

[CW]

Not sure if the seller thinks the time is right to sell, or is simply done collecting Ichiro now that he's a Yankee, but someone is liquidating quite a collection if Ichiro cards.

[Matthew H]

Originally Posted by CW

Not sure if the seller thinks the time is right to sell, or is simply done collecting Ichiro now that he's a Yankee, but someone is liquidating quite a collection if Ichiro cards.

Wow, that just brought back many memories of 2001.

I remember my local hobby shop telling me, back then, that there were a lot of collectors up in Seattle paying top dollar for his rookie cards. I'm going to guess it's one of those guys. I remember selling one of his numberd rc's for 150$. I probably should've hung on to it.

2001 was a good year for the shiny stuff. Lot of good football RCs that year too.

[barrysloate]

Just a little update: since Ichiro has been traded to the Yankees, he is 64 for 194, a .330 batting average. He has been a huge asset and a terrific pickup.

[E93]

Originally Posted by barrysloate

Just a little update: since Ichiro has been traded to the Yankees, he is 64 for 194, a .330 batting average. He has been a huge asset and a terrific pickup.

Thanks for the update.
JimB

[barrysloate]

Originally Posted by E93

Thanks for the update.
JimB

I guess you were disappointed to see him go.

[novakjr]

Originally Posted by barrysloate

Just a little update: since Ichiro has been traded to the Yankees, he is 64 for 194, a .330 batting average. He has been a huge asset and a terrific pickup.

The trade and the rejuvenated Ichiro helped me win my fantasy league. I love the trade...