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The Marlins are "progressing" towards a deal with free-agent outfielder Ichiro Suzuki and the sides are having ongoing dialogue, according to a major-league source. The source would not characterize a deal as being close, though it appears that Miami has made Ichiro one of their top targets as their search for outfield help intensifies.
Ichiro, 41, has also been a target of the Blue Jays and Orioles this winter, and is likely to land a job as a team's fourth outfielder after hitting .284/.324/.340 with one home run and 22 RBI in 143 games for the Yankees last season. The Marlins are known to be looking for veteran outfield depth behind starters Christian Yelich, Marcell Ozuna and Giancarlo Stanton, and have already added outfielder Tyler Colvin on a minor-league deal this offseason.
Ichiro, a ten-time All-Star, has spent his entire major-league career in the American League with the Mariners (2001-2012) and Yankees (2012-2014). He is a lifetime .317/.360/.411 hitter with 112 home runs and 717 home runs in those fourteen major-league seasons, and has received three Silver Sluggers, ten Gold Gloves, two batting titles and one MVP award in his career.