He leads off, has great speed, has the Major League Baseball record for most hits in a single season, can steal a bag and set the record for most consecutive steals, is good for 200+ hits a year and plays great right and center field. He’s Ichiro and we may lose him here in Seattle.

Things are going better than expected with the Seattle Mariners this season so far but looming in the distance is whether or not the club hitting star Ichiro will return. His contract is up in November and he’s not talking, but his agent is to the Dodgers GM and others.

Ichiro says he wants to play for a “winner” which one could argue that the M’s haven’t been a winner in the post season. Seattle is a great hitter’s park for a player like Ichiro and I hope that plays into his decision somehow. The way the whole A-Rod situation ended has an ominous cloud hanging over the situation.

The Seattle PI ponders What is Ichiro worth?:

When asked to predict what Ichiro would command on the open market, industry people are consistent in putting the number between $15 million and $20 million per season, with the length of the contract likely to be the key variable in a bidding war.

Understanding this is coming from a homer, I hope the Mariners can lock Ichiro up. Seattle doesn’t need to get the reputation — and maybe we already have it — that we can’t hold onto the good ones. While we’re at it and if this isn’t be too greedy oh honorable gaming gods, we need a world series title too.

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