Ichiro Signing Official! Oh Frabjous Day! Callooh! Callay!
The Ichiro signing is official.
Ichiro is signed through 2012, when he will be 38.
Says Bill Bavasi:
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.Well we couldn't have said it better ourselves.
UPDATE: Here's what Ichiro said in a 1:30 press conference. We've paraphrased the questions, but did our best to capture Ichiro's responses exactly as translated:
Was there a particular day when you decided to stay in Seattle?
I can't say there was a particular day. During the season I go to different places—and there the fans say please stay in here and I was moved by that. And the Japanese people wanted me to come back there. But when I came back to Seattle and the fans asked me to stay here, that's the moment that moved me the most.
Did any one person influence you to stay in Seattle?
Yes, my dog. He said 'ruff, ruff, ruff.' That means 'stay, stay, stay.'"
Did Hargrove leaving make any impact on your decision?
It was not an influence at all.
Did existing relationships with your current teammates on the Mariners make any impact on your decision?
It's hard for my teammates to understand how I think and understand how I feel about baseball. But there are players on this team that understand me and I am grateful for that.
Will you take on more of a leadership role in the clubhouse?
No it's going to be exactly the way it has been. What I've been doing it's the best I can do, and it will continue the way it's been.
Will the fact that you've signed here make it more likely that high-profile free agents will sign in Seattle?
I don't know. Please ask a fortune teller.
