New York Yankees Acquire Ichiro Suzuki From Seattle Mariners

The New York Yankees traded for two pitchers long-time Seattle Mariners outfielder Ichiro Suzuki on Monday in a deal that puts Suzuki on a team in a much better position to play deep into October.

The Mariners got two young pitchers and a chunk of cash out of the deal for 38-year-old 10-time All-Star and 10-time Gold Glove winner Ichiro Suzuki, according to the Associated Press, which, in an odd twist, reported the trade just a few hours before the two teams faced off against one another Monday evening.

''I am going from a team with the most losses to a team with the most wins,'' the AP reports that Suzuki said after the trade was finalized. ''It's hard to contain my excitement for that reason.''

In exchange for Suzuki, the Yankees -- which are in first place in Major League Baseball with a 57-38 record -- dealt 25-year-old right handed pitchers D.J. Mitchell and Danny Farquhar to the Mariners, which are currently in last place with a 42-55 record.

Suzuki started in right field fpr the Yankees in place of injured outfielder Nick Swisher on Monday night against his former teammates in Seattle. The Associated Press reported that it is the first game Suzuki has ever started at a slot below #3 in the batting lineup for his team.

Despite the fact that he is playing his first game in pinstripes in right field, Yanks manager Joe Girardi indicated Monday to the AP that Ichiro Suzuki will be mainly playing left field in place of Brett Gardner, who may miss the rest of the season with an elbow condition.

''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 Gardy had surgery,'' Girardi said. ''So this is a big day for us.''

Monday was also Suzuki's first game for any team but the Mariners. He has a .261 batting average, four home runs, 28 RBIs and 15 stolen bases so far this baseball season.