Snappy newsletters. Simple Facebook sharing. Spirited comments. Sweet features are waiting… GET THEM NOW!

Hot on Facebook
Guy Buys $123 Safe on eBay, Finds $26,000 Inside Seller tries to get half the cash back, fails »

Mariners Lock in Ichiro for 5 More Years

All-Star MVP jumps to No. 5 on MLB salary list with $90M deal

By Joseph Fasano,  Newser User

Posted Jul 14, 2007 3:05 PM CDT

(Newser) – Ichiro Suzuki is officially the highest-paid Mariner of all time. The 33-year-old Japanese import signed a 5-year extension worth $90 million this week and is now sewn up through 2012. Seattle worked hard to secure its leadoff man, who was a hot item with deep-pocketed clubs like the Yankees even before hitting the first inside-the-park homer in All-Star Game history.

Seattle's CEO called the deal—which makes Ichiro becomes the fifth-highest-paid major leaguer, behind Alex Rodriguez, Jason Giambi, Derek Jeter, and Manny Ramirez—a "very acceptable risk." The Post-Intelligencer reports the usually reserved player said at a press conference yesterday that his dog helped him make up his mind: "He said, 'Ruff, ruff, ruff.' That means 'Stay, stay, stay.'"

Seattle Mariner's Ichiro Suzuki talks to the media, Friday, July, 13, 2007, at the Mariners headquarters in Seattle. Seattle's leadoff man signed a $90 million, five-year contract extension Friday, three days after he was the unanimous MVP of the All-Star game. (AP Photo/Andrei Pungovschi)
Seattle Mariner's Ichiro Suzuki talks to the media, Friday, July, 13, 2007, at the Mariners headquarters in Seattle. Seattle's leadoff man signed a $90 million, five-year contract extension Friday, three...   (Associated Press)
American League's Ichiro Suzuki, of the Seattle Mariners, hits an inside the park, two-run home run in the fifth inning of the All-Star baseball game in San Francisco, Tuesday, July 10, 2007.  (AP Photo/ Eric Risberg)
American League's Ichiro Suzuki, of the Seattle Mariners, hits an inside the park, two-run home run in the fifth inning of the All-Star baseball game in San Francisco, Tuesday, July 10, 2007. (AP Photo/...   (Associated Press)
American League's Ichiro Suzuki, of the Seattle Mariners, runs to first after a single to right field in the first inning of the All-Star baseball game in San Francisco, Tuesday, July 10, 2007.  (AP Photo/ Eric Risberg)
American League's Ichiro Suzuki, of the Seattle Mariners, runs to first after a single to right field in the first inning of the All-Star baseball game in San Francisco, Tuesday, July 10, 2007. (AP Photo/...   (Associated Press)
« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow
Insane Ichiro Suzuki Fans   (hd524 (YouTube))

« Prev« Prev | Next »Next »
To report an error on this story, notify our editors.
A snapshot of the day's best news stories.
 
COMMENTS
Be the first to comment on this story.

More Newser Stories

MLB's Midterm Report Cards

Yankees, Angels Wrap Up Series Sweeps

$1.5B Yanks MLB's Most Valuable Team

M's Avoid Sweep, Beat Rangers in 12

Ibanez Leads Mariners Over White Sox


NEWS FROM OUR PARTNERS
Other Sites We Like:   24/7 Wall St.   |   Betty Confidential   |   BuzzFeed   |   Cracked   |   Fark   |   Timelines   |   The Frisky   |   Geek Sugar   |   NewsOne