Ichiro Suzuki's playing days may not be over, after all.
The legendary outfielder is expected to join the Seattle Mariners for their two-game series from March 20-21 against the Oakland Athletics in Tokyo, Japan. Provided Ichiro is healthy, general manager Jerry Dipoto says he will be on the team's active roster for the two games.
"I would stop short of guaranteeing it, because we have to make sure he's healthy. But he'll be on our roster," Dipoto said, according to Greg Johns of MLB.com. "We feel strongly that it's the right thing to do for our franchise and the right thing to do for the NPB and believe it's the right thing to do for Ichiro. What happens thereafter remains to be seen."
The teams will have extra roster flexibility for the series. Instead of a 25-man roster, both squads will expand to 28 for the trip. Dipoto said Ichiro's presence won't result in someone else losing their starting gig, but that the expanded roster gives them more options.
Still, Ichiro could get a shot to swing the bat.
"And frankly, I wouldn't be shocked if (he) shows up and winds up stumbling into a lineup and getting a couple hits along the way, because that's what he does," Dipoto said.
Over 18 seasons, the 10-time All-Star has tallied 3,089 hits, 1,420 runs, and 509 stolen bases. He returned to Seattle prior to 2018 after spending the previous five-plus campaigns between the New York Yankees and Miami Marlins.