The NY Yankees still have moves to make in spring training and Ichiro Suzuki could be traded to the Philadelphia Phillies before opening day after reports from Buster Olney, while the Seattle Mariners have been scouting David Phelps and that is a deal that could go down as well prior to the start of the MLB season in 2014, as the M's need starting pitching.
The Yankees made a huge splash in free agency this offseason by signing Masahiro Tanaka, Brian McCann, Carlos Beltran and Jacoby Ellsbury, but that loaded up the outfield, leaving Ichiro as the odd man out heading into the season. According to Hardball Talk, ESPN.com write Buster Olney tweeted that the Phillies could have potential interest in Suzuki and that would line up with past rumors during the offseason when the Yankees looked into the possibility of trading the future Hall of Fame player.
Ichiro was acquired before last season and played 67 games in 2012 and he then serves as a starter basically for the team while playing in 150 games last season, but he hit just .262, his lowest full season total and now he could be on his way out, as the team is stoked of outfielders now. Alfonso Soriano is likely playing DH and he will be another player that could push Ichiro and while Suzuki said he understood his place on the team, he also said that he is not planning on retiring anytime soon and that is why a trade could be in the cards.
The Phillies could use some outfield help and while they likely don't need a 40 year old player who is past his prime, it could serve as a good stop gap until later in the season. The Yankees want to do right by Ichiro and Suzuki said he understood that something like this could happen after signing a deal with the Yankees, but he also said he feels that he can still play in the majors. Suzuki is getting close to 3,000 hits and now that he is taking a backseat for the Yankees, that likely will not happen.
Hardball Talk also reported that the Mariners are looking at David Phelps and with the team looking to deal Nick Franklin now that Robinson Cano is gone, the Yankees and M's could have a mutual need. The Mariners had been scouting Phelps in spring training and he comes in after being in the majors the past two seasons on and off and he started 12 games in 2013 and ended up with 6-5 record with a 4.95 ERA.
The Mariners need another starter since Taijuan Walker and Hisashi Iwakuma have been injured in spring training and now it's likely that the two will not make the start of the season. Phelps looked good in his last spring start and he went five innings and allowed no runs against the Rays while giving up three hits and he is battling Michael Pineda, Adam Warren and Vidal Nuno for the final spot in the rotation.
