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Marlins bring back Ichiro for 2016

Reuters

Ichiro Suzuki will return to Miami next summer to continue his quest for 3,000 hits.

Suzuki, the 41-year-old who's compiled 2,935 hits since making his MLB debut 15 years ago, has agreed to a one-year deal with the Marlins for the 2016 campaign, with a reported base salary of $2 million. The club announced its new pact with the 10-time All-Star on Tuesday, shortly after confirming Dan Jennings will not return as manager next season.

"Off the field, I'd have to say Ichiro is one of the most interesting players that I've personally come across since I've been in this game," Marlins president David Samson said. "Forget his love of the game, the fact that he's in the best shape of any player I've seen at any age. Forget the fact that he's 41, his desire to play baseball the right way. To be respectful of Major League Baseball, to be respectful for the other players, and the game itself."

In 2015, his first year with the Marlins, Suzuki appeared in 153 games but endured the worst offensive season of his storied career, hitting just .229/.282/.279 (56 OPS+) with 12 extra-base hits and 11 stolen bases. Though Suzuki, the most accomplished Japanese-born player in MLB history, will likely see a reduced role in 2016, he remains just 65 hits shy of becoming the 30th member of the 3,000-hit club.

WAR leaders, Japanese-born position players

Player G WAR H BA
Ichiro Suzuki 2357 57.7 2935 .314
Hideki Matsui 1236 21.3 1253 .282
Dave Roberts 832 9.0 721 .266
Nori Aoki 531 8.5 563 .287
Tadahito Iguchi 493 6.3 494 .268

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