Ichiro's $44 million

Is he worth this contract?

Production-wise it's close. Factor in his marketability and it's a definitive yes.

Absolutely.

If he was a free agent he would easily get $13-14 million a year. Of course if that ever happened, the Yankees would be all over him and give him some rediculous offer.

Ichiro is very good, but not that good. For that kind of dough, one has to hit 35+ homers per year. He did very well in this years' market at $11M per year, IMHO.

Sure, but his marketability puts him with the elite as far as salary.

His money, as stated earlier, is not based entirely on his stats. It was not all that long ago that the Mariners were one of the poorest teams in the majors. Seattle was one of the "Have Nots" vs the bigger market teams. At one point, their entire TV deal was in doubt. They had big problems with their media contracts, stadium ad revenue, as well as game attendence. Ichiro has not only been a big part of the turnaound of the Mariners' fortunes on the field, but the M's now have stronger radio and TV deals - including the TV deal that gets their games back to Japan. Ad revenue in the stadium is at an all-time high, while some ads in the Safeco Field are in Japanese. And although there are several other Japanese stars on the Mariners, it was Ichiro who helped propel this additional revenue.

Then there's the difficulty in finding a ticket to Safeco. How many fans around MLB go to M's games to see the phenom that is Ichiro? This is why he gets the really big dough. It's what you can do on and off the field.

Of course it is, he deserves every penny he's going to get the next 4 seasons.

I agree with the definition of value encompassing the whole performance package, on and off the field. Seattle isn't a top 10 TV market, and although the $$ from Japan an PR value is substantial, the dollars accrued to the team don't warrant the kind of $14M per year contract suggested elsewhere.

My point is that, to get more money, one needs to hit more homers. Ichiro-san did very well, and is not being short-changed. He is one of the top players, but not among the elite 3-5 or so that can command the $14+M salary, at least in today's market. Those guys are expected to carry the team. Rodriguez, Guerrero, Sosa, etc.

Well whether he's worth it or not, he would get at least $12-14 million a year, if he were a free agent.

Well we can speculate until the cows come home. Something is worth an amount absolutely equal to what the owner will accept. Ichiro is his own man and he took $11M. That's his worth.

The Cows? What league are they in?

Oh Kiyoshi-san, you are so funny. Moooo to you, too, and happy new year to all.

The cows played on the Kintetsu Buffalos' farm team, I believe. But then, that's milking this joke a little further than udderly necessary (badump rimshot).

Akemashite omedetou gozaimasu to all, and may Okada-kantoku lead the Tigers to glory in 2004.