The New York Yankees are reportedly shopping Ichiro Suzuki with reports indicating that the team is willing to pay a portion of his $6.5 million salary in a favorable deal.
CBS Sports reported that the Yankees are looking to acquire a promising prospect in exchange for Suzuki. And if given a good offer, the Yankees will offset a portion of the veteran outfielder's salary to sweeten the deal.
"The Yankees are said willing to offset a part of Ichiro Suzuki's $6.5-million salary in the right deal," MLB insider John Heyman wrote. "The Yankees would seek to receive a good prospect back but are said by rival executives amenable to paying down a portion of his $6.5 million salary under those circumstances."
The 40-year-old Japanese is reportedly the odd man out as the Yankees bolstered their outfield in the offseason with Jacoby Ellsbury, Carlos Beltran, and Brett Gardner expected to play significant roles.
Alfonso Soriano will also reportedly play a big role for the Yankees next season as reports indicated that the 38-year-old veteran has been performing very well this spring, leaving the Yankees with no choice but to give Suzuki a limited backup role next season.
Yankees general manager Brian Cashman has yet to confirm whether or not the trade rumors involving Suzuki are true, but sources said that talks could intensify in the next few days if teams looking for outfield help express intention to acquire the 13-year-veteran.
"Yankees general manager Brian Cashman declined comment about any possible trade talks, though there is no evidence anything's hot at the moment. That could change depending on team needs. The Tigers are one team that suffered a loss in the outfield when the lefty-hitting Andy Dirks was lost for a few months after having back surgery," Heyman noted.
Cashman said, though, that he sees no problem in Suzuki being a fourth outfielder. Analysts also said that Suzuki could offer a lot of relief to the Yankees, considering the fact that they are one of the oldest major league teams in the upcoming season, and it is inevitable that some of their players will need a lot of days off.
"He's a great defender and he can steal a base. He provides us with options," Cashman said of Suzuki, who batted .262 last season with seven homeruns.
