The Marlins have signed outfielder Ichiro Suzuki to a one-year deal.
Suzuki, 41, will have his deal officially announced after the two sides work out a few remaining details. The deal will pay him $2 million for the 2015 season.
With Giancarlo Stanton in right field, Christian Yelich in left and Marcell Ozuna in center the Marlins will begin the season with Suzuki on the bench.
Entering his 15th major league season, Suzuki has 2,844 career hits – 156 shy of reaching the 3,000 milestone. His 4,122 professional hits between Japan and MLB are 134 shy of Pete Rose’s career total of 4,256 but trying to compare the Japan league to MLB has proven to be a failed concept.
Suzuki will almost surely need two seasons to have a shot at the 3,000 hit mark. The Marlins were said to be talking with Suzuki about two year deals hoping to capitalize on the press of him chasing the milestone.