The Seattle Mariners announced today that they have traded 10-time All-Star outfielder Ichiro to the New York Yankees for two minor-league prospects and cash considerations.
The Mariners received right-handed pitchers D.J. Mitchell and Danny Farquhar; both will report to Class AAA Tacoma.
Ichiro, 38, who was the American League's Most Valuable Player and Rookie of the Year in 2001, in his first season for the Mariners after nine seasons in Japan, reportedly asked the team to consider trading him several weeks ago.
In a news release, Mariners CEO Howard Lincoln said that after 12 years with Seattle, Ichiro wanted to give the team the opportunity to build up its younger talent:
"Ichiro knows that the club is building for the future, and he felt that what was best for the team was to be traded to another club and give our younger players an opportunity to develop.
Ichiro will be missed. He owns a long list of Major League Baseball and Mariners club records, has earned many prestigious awards, and in my opinion, he will someday be a member of the Baseball Hall of Fame."
Ichiro's 10 consecutive seasons (2001-10) with 200 or more hits is a Major League record, including a record 262 in 2004.
Mitchell, 25, has spent most of the season pitching with AAA Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, going 6-4 with a 5.04 earned-run average. Farquhar, also 25, has split the 2012 season between the Toronto, Oakland and New York organizations, combining for a 3-2 record and a 3.33 ERA.
