Page 22 - ARUBA TODAY

A22 SPORTS
Thursday 8 March 2018
Mariners bring back 44-year-old Ichiro Suzuki

PEORIA, Ariz. (AP) — Ichiro manager Scott Servais said.
Suzuki's wish was granted. "What he adds in the club-
He is back in the familiar house I think is very, very
white and blue jersey of the valuable."
Seattle Mariners. Suzuki is slated to play left
"Even in the offseason when field and will need a few
I would go back to Japan, I days of workouts and bat-
always came back to Seat- ting practice before he
tle. This was my home ... has plays in a game, Servais
always been my home," said. Suzuki had 2,533 hits
the 44-year-old outfielder with the Mariners, including
said through a translator 262 in 2004 when he set the
Wednesday after finalizing big league season record.
a $750,000, one-year con- His trade to New York dur-
tract. "Somewhere deep in- ing the 2012 season was a
side, I wanted to return and stunning conclusion to his
wear this uniform again." time in Seattle, but gave
Almost six years away, Su- Suzuki the chance to play
zuki returned to help patch in the postseason for the
an injury-depleted outfield first time since his rookie
on the team he played for In this May 29, 2012, file photo, Seattle Mariners' Ichiro Suzuki bats against the Texas Rangers dur- season. Suzuki reunites with
ing a baseball game in Arlington, Texas.
from 2001-12. The 10-time Associated Press former Yankees teammates
All-Star can earn an addi- Robinson Cano and Da-
tional $1.25 million in per- games last year for the er concern. Guillermo Heredia is still in vid Phelps, and he played
formance bonuses based Miami Marlins and hit .255 "It did not take very long to the final stages of recov- with Gordon and Phelps in
on plate appearances: with a .318 on-base per- put a deal together that ery from offseason shoulder Miami. Third baseman Kyle
$200,000 each for 150 and centage. brought Ichiro back home," surgery. Seager, pitcher Felix Her-
each additional 50 through "I still have things that I want Dipoto said, adding that Suzuki underwent a physi- nandez and hitting coach
350, and $250,000 for 400. to do and I want to ac- Suzuki's presence will help a cal in Seattle on Monday. Edgar Martinez were Su-
Suzuki earned the 2001 AL complish," Suzuki said. "I'm young outfield and veteran His return is similar to the zuki's teammates in Seattle
Rookie of the Year and really thinking about this Dee Gordon, who is play- Mariners' reunion with Ken before he was traded.
MVP, with the Mariners and year and what the Seattle ing center field for the first Griffey Jr. in 2009 that was On Wednesday, a stall in
won a pair of AL batting Mariners need, what I can time. good for one year but had the Mariners’ spring training
titles. He was traded to the do to help. Everything that "It's huge for our club and an ugly conclusion. clubhouse awaited Suzuki,
New York Yankees midway I've gained, everything that our ability to step forward," Seattle has significant con- situated between journey-
through 2012, played parts I've done in my career, I Dipoto said. cerns about depth in the man outfielder Kirk Niewen-
of three seasons with the want to just give it all right Projected left fielder Ben outfield. Other options huis and starting shortstop
Yankees, then spent three here in Seattle." Gamel is sidelined for were available, including Jean Segura. The team
seasons with Miami. Mariners general manager at least a month with a free agents Jose Bautista, shop at the Peoria Sports
He has a .312 average and Jerry Dipoto said discus- strained oblique muscle, Carlos Gonzalez and Jon Complex was already
3,080 hits, not including sions about Suzuki's return Right fielder Mitch Haniger Jay. "Bringing him in, what stocked with shirts and jer-
the 1,278 hits he amassed intensified about a week is dealing with a hand injury he can do on the field, still seys bearing Suzuki’s No.
in nine seasons in Japan. ago, when the club's injury that has limited his activity think he's got plenty left in 51. ore merchandise was
Suzuki appeared in 136 situation became a great- for a couple of weeks, and the tank there," Mariners en route.q

AP source: Jerry Jones to pay NFL $2M for legal fees

By BARRY WILNER ing restitution, including Jones said after the owners
Jerry Jones has agreed to members of the finance meetings in December that
pay the NFL more than $2 committee. Some finance he got what he wanted
million in legal fees result- committee members are with an agreement to con-
ing from two disputes the on the compensation com- sider changes to the power
Dallas Cowboys owner had mittee that was at the of the commissioner's role
with the league, a person center of what became a through the league's con-
with direct knowledge of legal back-and-forth over stitution. Jones denied that
the settlement tells The As- Goodell's deal. The restitu- his attempt to scuttle the
sociated Press. tion is rooted in a 1997 reso- contract was tied to El-
The amount to be paid was lution that states owners liott's suspension, but made
resolved Wednesday. The can seek repayment for le- repeated references to
person spoke on condition gal fees if a fellow owner is Goodell's power to pun-
of anonymity because the responsible for getting them ish players. Jones and the
NFL did not announce de- involved in legal action. Cowboys were supportive
tails. Commissioner Roger In this Nov. 19, 2017, file photo, Dallas Cowboys team owner Jones' attempt to derail of Elliott's lawsuit, which
Goodell held an appeal Jerry Jones stands on the field during warm ups before an NFL Goodell's extension, which was led by the players'
football game against the Philadelphia Eagles in Arlington, Tex-
hearing with Jones on Mon- as. came after Elliott was sus- union and resulted in fed-
day. That came a few days Associated Press pended over domestic vio- eral court hearings in three
after Goodell assessed lence allegations, led to a states over a span of two
the financial penalties for star running back Ezekiel Goodell's newly approved volley of threatening letters months. The suit eventually
Jones' lawsuit to overturn Elliott, and for a lawsuit contract. Many owners from lawyers for both sides. failed and Elliott served the
the suspension of Cowboys Jones threatened to stop were consulted on seek- After eventually relenting, suspension.q