Buhner: A Big New Ichiro Contract Makes No Sense
Former Mariner Jay Buhner has never been one to mince words. Recently on a Seattle radio station, "The Bone" made some pointed comments about the 2012 Mariners and Ichiro Suzuki's future.
Ichiro Suzuki isn't quite the ballplayer he used to be. After 10-straight 200-hit seasons, he batted .272 last year and is now struggling around .260. That still makes him one of the best batters on the Seattle Mariners, but that’s not saying much this season.
Ichiro is in the final year of his current contract. Fans are beginning to wonder if the Mariners will re sign him for 2013. He likely wouldn't get the $18M he's getting now, but what about maybe $30M over three years.
Here's what Mariners legend Jay Buhner had to say about it on a Seattle radio station.
“I’d vomit. I mean, really, no offense. No offense. I mean, we’ve got to get this organization turned around. You can’t be spending all the money on one guy.”
"You know what? Ichiro is not necessarily the problem. He’s getting all the feedback and the flack. I understand if you want to bring him back and he’s part of the equation, but at the same time, you’ve got to save some money. They need help desperately, man. They need some veteran leadership in the clubhouse. Wedgie can’t keep growing a beard, growing a mustache, shaving it off — that’s not the answer. There’s some help that needs to be done.”
Usually a strong vocal supporter of his old team, Buhner was critical of a lot of the moves that the M's have made this year. He mentioned accountability and a need for veteran leadership in the clubhouse.
A lot of Mariners' fans would probably agree.
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