SEATTLE — Ichiro Suzuki is headed to a new team and, after all these years, maybe a shot at playing in the World Series.
The New York Yankees acquired the star outfielder from the Seattle Mariners in a trade Monday for two young pitchers.
“I am going from a team with the most losses to a team with the most wins,” he said. “It’s hard to contain my excitement for that reason.”
The Yankees also got cash in the deal that sent 25-year-old right-handers D.J. Mitchell and Danny Farquhar to the last-place Mariners. The trade was announced a few hours before the Yankees played at Seattle.
The Yankees made the trade a few days after learning that the speedy Brett Gardner would likely miss the rest of the season because of an elbow problem, and Manager Joe Girardi said Suzuki will mostly play left field.
“We’re very excited with the caliber of player we are getting. We feel that he brings the speed element. He’s a tremendous hitter. That speed element is what we lost when [Gardner] had surgery,” Girardi said. “So this is a big day for us.”
Suzuki was given No. 31 because the number he wore his entire career with the Mariners, No. 51, has not been worn since four-time World Series champion Bernie Williams last played.
“No. 51 is a special number to me, but when I think about what 51 means to the Yankees, it’s hard for me to ask for that number,” Suzuki said.
Mitchell made his major league debut this season and pitched four games for the Yankees. Farquhar made his big league debut last year with Toronto and was claimed last month on waivers by the Yankees from Oakland.
The 38-year-old Suzuki had spent his whole big league career with Seattle. The 10-time All-Star and 10-time Gold Glove winner is batting .261 with 4 home runs, 28 RBI and 15 stolen bases this year.
Suzuki is a career .322 hitter, a former AL MVP and holds the record for most hits in a season. He had batted over .300 in every season until dipping last year.
The Mariners had been in a delicate situation with Suzuki. A long time star and fan favorite, Suzuki’s skills have been eroding. He’s in the final year of a five-year contract, paying $18 million this season. There has been much debate in the Seattle media whether he would be back next year with Seattle, a team that is rebuilding with young talent.
Suzuki put an end to the speculation when he approached management around the All-Star break and asked to be traded.
TIGERS Infante, Sanchez acquired
DETROIT - The Detroit Tigers acquired second baseman Omar Infante and right-hander Anibal Sanchez from Miami on Monday in exchange for 21-year-old right-hander Jacob Turner and two minor leaguers.
The deal, which also includes a swap of 2013 draft picks, gives the Tigers a likely solution to their season-long problems at second base and adds another experienced arm to their starting rotation.
Turner was considered the Tigers’ top pitching prospect and earned his first major league victory Sunday.
“We gave up a lot,” Detroit General Manager Dave Dombrowski said. “It hurts to do what we did.”
Miami also receives catcher Rob Brantley and left-hander Brian Flynn in the deal.
Infante arrives after hitting .287 with 10 stolen bases for the Marlins this year. It’s his second tour of duty with Detroit. He played there from 2002-07 before the Tigers traded him.
“I am happy to go to Detroit,” Infante said through a translator. “I know Detroit, they are in first place. I am happy to go back and hopefully do good there.”
The 28-year-old Sanchez was 5-7 with a 3.94 ERA for Miami this year. Sanchez threw a nohitter at 22 and has shown flashes of the ability that had him touted as a top young talent. But he’s had trouble staying healthy over a full season and has won more than 10 games only twice in his seven big league seasons.
RANGERS Lewis out for season
ARLINGTON, Texas - Texas Rangers pitcher Colby Lewis will miss the rest of the season because of a torn flexor tendon in his right elbow that requires surgery.
Lewis was evaluated by team physician Dr. Keith Meister before Monday’s game against the Boston Red Sox. Meister will perform the operation later this week.
Texas Manager Ron Washington called Lewis the team’s “anchor.”
“You always knew what you’d get when you put Colby Lewis out there, and it’s usually pretty great,” Washington said.
Lewis is 6-6 with a 3.43 ERA in 16 starts this season. The right-hander has been a key member of a rotation that helped Texas win consecutive AL pennants the past two years. He is 4-1 with a 2.34 ERA in eight postseason starts.
The Rangers put Lewis on the disabled list Monday.
He first went on the DL because of the injury from June 24 to July 17. Lewis made one start after returning, allowing three hits and one run in five innings against Oakland last Wednesday. He had a no-decision in Texas’ 4-3 loss.
The Rangers had another pitching injury Monday when Roy Oswalt missed his scheduled start because of back stiffness.
NATIONALS Desmond put on DL
NEW YORK - The Washington Nationals have put All-Star shortstop Ian Desmond on the 15-day disabled list because of a strained left oblique.
Desmond’s move was retroactive to Sunday.
He was hitting .286 with 17 home runs, 53 RBI and 15 steals for the NL East-leading Nationals. He had been trying to play through the injury, but a magnetic resonance imaging Sunday revealed a tear.
Sports, Pages 15 on 07/24/2012