Mariners, Suzuki Come To Terms
After paying more than $13 million to get rights to Ichiro Suzuki, the Seattle Mariners agreed to pay the outfielder $14,088,000 in the next three seasons.
Suzuki, a seven-time batting champion in Japan, gets a $5 million signing bonus and salaries of $4 million in 2001, $2 million in 2002 and $3 million in 2003, according to contract details obtained by The Associated Press.
The right fielder, who joins AL Rookie of the Year Kazuhiro Sasaki on the Mariners, can earn an additional $5 million in performance bonuses.
He also gets a $10,000 moving allowance and housing allowances of $25,000 in 2001, $26,000 in 2002 and $27,000 in 2003.
According to the contract, Seattle must provide him with a car during spring training and the regular season, an interpreter, a personal trainer and four round-trip, first-class plane tickets from Japan to Seattle twice a year.
But the Mariners will be able to defer about half the money it pays to Suzuki, with interest: $4 million of the signing bonus, $2 million of this year's salary and $1 million of his salary in 2003.
After Suzuki said he wanted to play in the major leagues, the commissioner's office put his rights up for auction, and the Mariners submitted the high bid, agreeing to pay the Orix Blue Wave of Japan's Pacific League $13,125,000 for his rights.
While many Japanese pitchers have made the jump to the majors, Suzuki will be the first position player.
A career .357 hitter, Suzuki can earn an extra $2 million this year, getting $400,000 each for 200, 250, 300, 350 and 450 plate appearances. While there aren't any performance bonuses available in 2002, he can earn an additional $3 million in 2003: $600,000 each for 200, 250, 300, 350 and 450 plate appearances.
He would get $50,000 if elected to start in the All-Star game at Safeco Field July 10, $75,000 if he gets the most votes in fan balloting, $50,000 if he gets the most votes among AL players and $25,000 if he's picked as a reserve.
He would get $150,000 for winning the AL MVP award, $200,000 for winning it a second time and $250,000 for winning it a third time. In addition, he would get $75,000 if he is AL Rookie of the Year, $100,000 if he's MVP of the World Series, $50,000 if he's MVP of the AL championship series, $50,000 if he wins a Gold Glove and $50,000 if he wins a Silver Slugger.
Sasaki, who saved 37 games for the Seattle last year, agreed to a $9,040,000, two-year contract before the 2000 season, a deal that includes a $5 million team option for 2002.
His contract also calls for an interpreter, personal trainer (whose salary is not to exceed $50,000 annually) and ground transportation. He gets a $20,000 yearly housing allowance and two round trips per year for his amily to travel from Japan to Seattle.
While Suzuki received a full no-trade clause, Sasaki can block trades to 10 teams.
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