The Baltimore Orioles are looking to add outfield help after losing Nelson Cruz to the Seattle Mariners in free agency, and may turn to the rival Yankees' former player to provide it. According to Jon Heyman of CBS Sports, the Orioles may be interested in bringing in Ichiro Suzuki this offseason.
The 41-year-old Suzuki has spent the last two and a half seasons with the Yankees, slashing .281/.314/.364 with 13 home runs, 84 RBI and 49 stolen bases. While Ichiro has had respectable batting averages during his time in the Bronx, his impact has been limited because of low on-base percentages. His OBP bottomed out in 2013, when he hit .262, and reached base at a sub-.300 clip. His career OBP is a more robust .360.
In addition to losing Cruz, Nick Markakis also left via free agency to join the Atlanta Braves, meaning a combined 54 home runs are gone from the lineup. Cruz is expected to be replaced by Steve Pearce in right field, while Alejandro De Aza slots as their left fielder and leadoff hitter.
Pearce mostly played first base in 2014; he was a designated hitter for a while before being pressed into everyday duty after Chris Davis was suspended for violating the MLB drug policy. He had his best season ever, swatting 21 home runs in a career-high 383 plate appearances.
While Pearce and De Aza appear to be capable replacements on paper, them being forced to play everyday is limiting to Baltimore's depth. Adding Ichiro helps them not only deepen the roster, but allow Pearce to transition back to first base if Davis' 2014 struggles spill into the new campaign.
Ichiro also brings the added benefit of potential history being made in Camden Yards. He's 156 hits away from 3,000 in the United States, and has averaged 138 a season the past three years in semi-limited action.
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