Ichiro transitions to front-office role with Mariners

Ichiro Suzuki's illustrious playing career likely ended Thursday, as the Seattle Mariners have announced that the venerable 44-year-old will transition to the role of special assistant to the chairman, effective immediately.

He will not return to the active roster in 2018, the club added.

"We want to make sure we capture all of the value that Ichiro brings to this team off the field," general manager Jerry Dipoto said in a statement. "This new role is a way to accomplish that. While it will evolve over time, the key is that Ichiro's presence in our clubhouse and with our players and staff improves our opportunity to win games. That is our number-one priority and Ichiro's number-one priority."

This winter, after two-and-a-half years with the New York Yankees and another three with Miami, Ichiro - who spent the first 12 seasons of his big-league career in Seattle, blossoming into a franchise icon - reunited with the Mariners on a minor-league deal. He was named to the Opening Day roster, but the 10-time All-Star struggled to contribute on the field, hitting just .205/.255/.205 in 15 games as the Mariners' de facto fourth outfielder.

Still, while Ichiro won't be returning to the field this year, the Mariners aren't prepared to let him go, Dipoto said, stressing that the former American League MVP has been integral to their 17-12 start.

"With Ichiro's track record of success, his personality, his unique perspective and his work ethic, he is singularly positioned to impact both our younger players and the veterans in the clubhouse," Dipoto said. "We really don't want him to change anything that he's doing right now, with the exception that he will not be playing in games.

He continued: "We believe that Ichiro's signing and his assimilation into our team has helped us this season and we want to make sure we continue that."

Related: Remembering Ichiro's greatest moments in Seattle

Ichiro's front-office gig with the Mariners is set to conclude at the end of the 2018 campaign, and his future beyond this season has yet to be determined, according to his agent, John Boggs.

"He is not retiring," Boggs told Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic. "He's taking on a different role for 2018, and 2019 has yet to evolve."

Asked if Ichiro could return for the Mariners' season-opening series against the Oakland Athletics in Tokyo next year, Boggs didn't say no.

"There is always that possibility," he said. "The future has yet to be determined."