[Vision2020] SeattleTimes: Ichiro To Stay With M's!

Fri Jul 13 13:20:16 PDT 2007

It's official.  Tell me this isn't important V2020 news:  Mariners, Ichiro 
agree to contract extension

Seattle Times staff

The Mariners have signed Ichiro to a five-year contract extension, according 
to a statement released by the team.

The deal, which runs through the 2012 season, is for close to $100 million 
in total value, according to sources.

"One thing we have made clear since spring training was that it was our goal 
to have Ichiro play his entire career in Seattle, retire as a Mariner and go 
into the Hall of Fame in our cap," said Bill Bavasi, the team's general 
manager, in the statement. "While I don't believe this is Ichiro's final 
contract, I do think today's signing is a big step in assuring he will spend 
his entire career here in Seattle."

Ichiro, 33, is hitting .355 with five home runs and 39 RBI. He was named MVP 
of the All-Star Game this week, after going 3 for 3 and hitting the first 
inside-the-park home run in All-Star history.

"It's a great feeling to know I get to write his name in the leadoff spot 
every day," Mariners manager John McLaren said. "He's the guy that makes our 
team go. His preparation, dedication and desire to win are a joy for me to 
watch."

Ichiro signed a four-year, $41 million contract before the 2004 season that 
will pay him $11 million this season.

>From: Tim Lohrmann <timlohr at yahoo.com>
>To: Scott Dredge <sdredge at yahoo.com>
>CC: vision2020 at moscow.com
>Subject: Re: [Vision2020] SeattleTimes: Ichiro To Stay With M's!
>Date: Fri, 13 Jul 2007 08:30:48 -0700 (PDT)
>
>Scott,
>   You want to throw poor Ichiro in the Bay(area?)
>   Shocking!
>   And up until now you seemed like such a cool guy.
>
>   I like the A-Rod idea though.
>   Anything to take the future all-time home run record holder out of the 
>American League---most especially out of the clutches of the LA (fallen) 
>Angels of Anaheim.
>
>   TL
>
>
>
>
>
>   "Those 'technicalities' have a name, Bobby. They're called the Bill of 
>Rights."
>                                                                    
>----Hank Hill
>
>
>
>Scott Dredge <sdredge at yahoo.com> wrote:
>           I'd actually prefer that Ichiro (along with A-Rod) sign with the 
>Giants.  I was at the All Star game tonight and he put on quite a show at 
>AT&T Park, going 3 for 3 with the first ever inside-the-park home run in 
>All Star history and winning the MVP award.
>
>-Scott
>
>   ----- Original Message ----
>From: Tim Lohrmann <timlohr at yahoo.com>
>To: vision2020 at moscow.com
>Sent: Tuesday, July 10, 2007 3:08:37 PM
>Subject: [Vision2020] SeattleTimes: Ichiro To Stay With M's!
>
>   Let's hope this report is accurate!
>      TL
>
>   M's set to sign Ichiro to 5-year deal
>
>
>   By Larry Stone
>Seattle Times staff reporter
>   SAN FRANCISCO — One of the Mariners' biggest concerns this season is 
>about to be resolved.
>
>   The club is on the verge of locking up Ichiro, their All-Star outfielder 
>whose contract was set to expire after the season, to a five-year contract 
>extension, The Seattle Times has learned. Indications are the deal will 
>approach $100 million and could be announced Friday.
>   An agreement is said to be imminent. Though it is not yet signed, all 
>sides appear to be in agreement in principle on the parameters of the deal, 
>which would run through the 2012 season.
>
>   Ichiro said during Monday's interview session at the All-Star Game in 
>San Francisco that the team's performance this year had changed his 
>thinking about re-upping with the club. In spring training, he indicated he 
>was leaning toward filing for free agency after the season, but now he is 
>set to remain a part of the club's long-term future.
>
>   Ichiro signed a four-year, $41 million contract before the 2004 season 
>that will pay him $11 million this season. He is making his seventh 
>straight All-Star appearance and his sixth start this season. He will lead 
>off and play center field for the American League squad tonight at AT&T 
>Park.
>
>   Ichiro is a two-time batting champion and was the American League most 
>valuable player in 2001, his first year after coming over from Japan to 
>considerable fanfare. The Mariners paid a $13.1 million posting fee to his 
>Japanese team, the Orix Blue Wave, for the rights to Ichiro, and then 
>signed him to a three-year, $14 million contract.
>
>   In 2004, Ichiro set a major-league record with 262 hits. He is having 
>another strong season in 2007, reaching the All-Star break with a .359 
>average, 61 runs, 128 hits, 39 runs batted in, and 23 stolen bases in 25 
>attempts.
>
>   On Monday, Ichiro said the Mariners' strong first half -- a 49-36 record 
>that left them in second place, 2½ games behind the Angels had "definitely 
>influenced" his decision on his future. He praised the talent of the club 
>and said that it had shed the losing culture that developed from three 
>straight last-place finishes.
>
>   "At this point right now,'' Ichiro said on Monday, "I don't see a speck 
>of that kind of mentality, with this team we have right now."
>
>   And now Ichiro is ready to stay with the Mariners for the long haul.
>
>   Copyright © 2007 The Seattle Times Company
>
>
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