Ichiro Suzuki retirement rumors are making their way around social media. It’s a hot topic within some Seattle Mariners Facebook groups right now. Among the stories, is a claim that he will hang up his cleats by the end of the current Mariners’ homestand. But is Ichiro about to retire?

After spending the past few seasons with the Miami Marlins, Ichiro signed with the Mariners as a free agent. The team brought him on to add depth to the outfield, as there were several injuries the team was trying to deal with to open the 2018 MLB season. The end result was Ichiro in the Opening Day lineup.

But with struggles at the plate and the roster getting healthy, his tenure with the Mariners may be coming to an end.

Are Mariners moving on from Ichiro?

Guillermo Heredia, Ben Gamel, Dee Gordon, and Mitch Haniger are all healthy and ready to produce for the Seattle Mariners. That’s already four outfielders, with Haniger and Gordon guaranteed to be in the lineup of nearly every game. That leaves very few at-bats for Heredia, Gamel, and Ichiro to each receive in games. In the short-term, the Mariners even sent Heredia to Triple-A Tacoma, but now he is back on the 25-man roster.

The Mariners are left with a few options. The front office could decide to just release Ichiro or to designate him for assignment.

That would go badly in the eyes of some fans, especially the ones who were extremely excited when he re-signed with the team. As he doesn’t have any trade value, the final option is for Ichiro to simply decide to walk away from the game. If Ichiro retires from Major League Baseball, it also takes the pressure off the front office.

Addressing the Seattle Mariners rumors

Nothing has been confirmed about what the Seattle Mariners and Ichiro Suzuki plan to do this weekend. It’s interesting to note, though, that the Los Angeles Angels are coming to Safeco Field for a weekend series. It means that Shohei Ohtani will be on the field, possibly allowing Ichiro to pass the torch to the next great Japanese baseball player.

It would certainly add a level of excitement if Ohtani was on the mound to face Ichiro at the plate. Ichiro’s retirement would also start the clock for when he is inducted on the first ballot to the Baseball Hall of Fame.

More Mariners news

Major League Baseball messed up on a call for the Seattle Mariners, taking a home run away from Robinson Cano earlier in the season. The Mariners also completed a trade with the Boston Red Sox. In that deal, the team brought back starting pitcher Roenis Elias in order to add some depth to the team. Heading into the games on May 2, the Mariners are 17-11 and second place in the American League West.
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