W wh wha what?!

The Phillies apparently offered Ichiro a two-year, $14 million deal:

 

That’s news, and it indicates that the Phillies are bargain (and old man?) hunting this winter. Ichiro is 39 and at the very tail end of his career. He’s durable, yes – he played in all but one game since since 2010 – but he's far from the player he once was, with his OBP dipping to .310 and .307 the past two seasons, respectively (though he did hit .322 with a .340 OBP for the Yankees the second half of last season).

For the final outfield spot, the Phillies have been linked to everyone from Josh Hamilton to Cody Ross, with Ichiro falling somewhere in the middle of that aged and curious spectrum, whose membership I would imagine requires a wrinkly body and old balls.


Alfonso Soriano, Nick Swisher and other assorted players who were much better options in 2010 are also included in that group.

Odd.