Yankees Trade D.J. Mitchell and Danny Fahrquar for Ichiro Suzuki

That just happened. With Brett Gardner being out for the year and Nick Swisher missing time with a hip flexor injury, the Yankees finally made their move for an outfielder, but it was one that no one expected. No Justin Upton, no Shane Victorino, but the Mariners' Ichiro and significant cash considerations. The Yankees will pick up $2.25M of his remaining salary.

I guess the timing is pretty convenient, with the Yankees starting a three-game set in Seattle tonight, but that should only serve to make this whole thing more awkward. Ichiro will be active for tonight's game and DeWayne Wise was designated for assignment to make room on the roster.

Ichiro has hit .261/.288/.353 in 95 games with the Mariners this season, making it a second lackluster season for him in a row. Hopefully the short porch entices him to put up some of those homers he chose not to hit before. D.J. Mitchell's season in AAA had been nothing to write home about so far with a 5.04 ERA. The last time the Yankees sent a fringe major league pitcher to the Mariners, things didn't work out so well for them, but clearly Seattle remains undeterred. Perhaps they knew something about Mitchell that the Yankees don't. Seattle always knows.