Ichiro Suzuki isn't done with Major League Baseball just yet.
The 41-year-old outfielder reportedly signed with the Miami Marlins, according to Craig Mish of MLB Network Radio, via Jon Heyman of CBS Sports:
The fact that Ichiro is planning on playing at least another season shouldn't come as a surprise. The two-time batting champion made it clear in March 2014 that walking away from the game hadn't been a topic for consideration.
"Retirement from baseball is something I haven't even thought about," he said, per ESPN.com.
Ichiro added that he had a lot left in the tank.
"Not just a few, many," he said about the number of seasons he planned to play beyond 2014. "I feel there's no reason for me to retire right now."
In September, his attitude hadn't changed, per Daniel Barbarisi of The Wall Street Journal:
Despite climbing into his 40s, Ichiro hasn't suffered the kind of massive decline that has afflicted other aging stars in the past.
In 2014, the 2001 MVP boasted a slash line of .284/.324/.340 with one home run, 22 runs batted in and 15 stolen bases. While his power numbers were down slightly from 2013, his batting average and on-base percentage jumped by 22 and 27 points, respectively.
According to Baseball-Reference, Ichiro also had a 1.4 WAR, which isn't great but impressive nonetheless for a 41-year-old, and also up from 2013's 0.8 WAR.
It's easy to see why Ichiro would want to prolong his MLB career for at least another season. Although his defense has undoubtedly suffered as he continues playing, the Japanese star remains a solid hitter in the right circumstances.
Ace of MLB Stats unearthed one of the most telling statistics when it comes to describing Ichiro's offense:
Ichiro is a bit like Paul Pierce in that he'll never really become a terrible player in his advancing age like you see happen to other stars. His talents will wane, but he'll always contribute to his team in some meaningful way.
By now, the Marlins know what to expect from Ichiro. As long as the surefire Hall of Famer isn't tasked with being an everyday outfielder and used near the top of the order, he should be a solid addition for the 2015 season.
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