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M's Pay To Negotiate With Suzuki

November 9, 2000 / 1:21 PM EST / CBS/AP

The Seattle Mariners won the rights to negotiate with Ichiro Suzuki, Japan's seven-time batting champion, with a high bid of $13,125,000.

The Orix BlueWave, Suzuki's team in Japan, accepted the offer Thursday, a day after bidding closed among the 30 major league teams.

"It's an unbelievable number," Suzuki said from Japan. "I'm relieved that there's been a show of interest in me."

Seattle has 30 days to negotiate a contract with Suzuki, and the Mariners pays the fee to Orix only if they sign Suzuki. If Suzuki doesn't sign, he will remain in Japan for at least one more season.

Suzuki, 27, hit .387 this season to win his seventh straight Pacific League batting title. Suzuki is a career .353 hitter with 118 home runs and 529 RBIs in nine seasons in Japan.

"He has ability to be a starting outfielder for most major league teams," said Mets assistant GM Omar Minaya, whose team made one of the sealed bids for Suzuki. "He has the ability to be a good player, but it is too early to say if he can be a star. It's not fair to put those labels on him."

The Mariners were considered to be the favorite. They have Japanese ownership and Japanese reliever Kazuhiro Sasaki, who won the AL Rookie of the Year in his first season after leaving Japan.

There also is a large Japanese population in Seattle an important factor to Suzuki, according to agent Tony Attanasio. Suzuki also has a history with the Mariners, having worked out with them during spring training in 1999 as part of an agreement with Orix.

Suzuki made about $5.5 million this season in Japan, and the hefty price tag for an untested player scared off some teams.

"I don't know how to judge him because there haven't been any other Japanese hitters that have come here," Boston GM Dan Duquette said.

Cleveland bid for Suzuki, as a possible replacement for free agent Manny Ramirez.

GM John Hart has yet to respond to Ramirez's $200 million contract proposal, but said an offer would probably come before Friday. After that, Ramirez is free to sign with any team.

"There's nothing new today," Hart said. "We're at the same place we were."

In other news, White Sox manager Jerry Manuel made a plea to owner Jerry Reinsdorf to make a run at Alex Rodriguez, the top free agent on the market.

Rodriguez, 25, will likely command a salary in excess of $20 million a season about half of Chicago's 2000 payroll.

"I have no idea how far Jerry wants to go," Manuel said. "I don't get ivolved in those conversations. I just say, 'Oh, please get him. Please get him."'

Atlanta, Los Angeles, Colorado and the Mets are believed to be the front-runners if Rodriguez leaves Seattle, but A-Rod has said he would enjoy playing for Manuel.

Also, Colorado acquired left-hander Ron Villone from Cincinnati for two minor league pitchers to be named or cash. Villone went 10-10 with a 5.43 ERA this season.

"He had success this year in Coors Field," GM Dan O'Dowd said. "Obviously, he's still a younger guy. He's got a great changeup. We're looking to build depth as we start this offseason."

O'Dowd also said the team agreed to a one-year contract with Masato Yoshii.

Mets right-hander Rick Reed filed for free agency after receiving what his agent called an "insulting" contract offer from the team.

"We gave the Mets every single opportunity. But after Rick saw the Mets latest offer, he wanted to file," agent Phil Tanenbaum said. "The offer was out of line, inappropriate and didn't recognize Rick's many accomplishments."

Reed, who went 11-5 with a 4.11 ERA this year, is seeking a four-year contract in the $32 million range. The Mets were believed to have offered Reed an $18 million, three-year deal.

"I'm not surprised," Mets GM Steve Phillips said. "We'd still like to bring him back. We'll keep working toward that."

Phillips also talked with agent Mark Rodgers for the first time since left-hander Mike Hampton filed for free agency.