The Seattle Mariners remain in a transition phase, attempting to undo the messes of Bill Bavasi while playing in a beefed up AL West division that includes two teams ? the Rangers and Angels ? that are throwing money around like they just got some magic pants.
A big part of that transition will involve 38-year-old right fielder Ichiro, whose contract runs out after the 2012 season. He?s coming off his worst season in the big leagues and will make $17 million in 2012, money the M?s would no-doubt like to spend elsewhere.
It seems that manager Eric Wedge is already preparing for life without Ichiro, saying in an interview with 710 ESPN in Seattle on Wednesday that there is ?a good possibility,? he?ll be dropping Ichiro from his customary spot at the top of the batting order.
?I?ve been doing a ton of thinking about that and I still haven?t decided what I?m going to do,? he said. ?I?ve got a vision in mind in regards to what I want to see happen. Obviously I?ve got to work off of Ichiro a little bit, but ultimately I?m going to do what I think?s best to give us the best chance to score runs, because it?s too important for us to make a huge step offensively.?
Pressed on the question of removing Ichiro from the leadoff spot, Wedge admitted that ?if you had to put a gun to my head right now I?d probably be leaning in that direction.?
Wedge said his ideal leadoff hitter gets on base a lot ? which Ichiro used to do (.370 career OBP), but didn?t in 2011 (.310)?? and sees a lot of pitches ? something Ichiro has never done. He mentioned Dustin Ackley, who hit .273/.348/.417 in 90 games as a rookie in 2011, as a possible replacement.
Click through for the entire interview, as Wedge talks about other things, too, including Jesus Montero: ?We think he?s going to be able to catch.?
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