MIAMI _ The Marlins exercised outfielder Ichiro Suzuki's $2 million option for 2017 on Wednesday, as well as added another option for 2018. They also announced the three-year extension for third baseman Martin Prado, reported last week to be worth $40 million.
Ichiro slots into the same role for next season that he has occupied the past two: fourth outfielder, backing up Giancarlo Stanton, Christian Yelich and Marcell Ozuna. Performing as about a league-average offensive player in 2016, Ichiro hit .291 with a .354 on-base percentage and .376 slugging mark while playing all three outfield positions, mostly right field.
Ichiro, who will turn 43 this month, also collected his 3,000th major league hit in August. He is 25th on baseball's all-time hits list with 3,030.
"He wants to play until he's 50, and he's told me that," Marlins president David Samson said. "And he's serious."
Prado hit .305/.359/.417 this season, his second in Miami, and is considered the team's unofficial captain.
"Martin showed his leadership as far as being the glue within that clubhouse," Marlins manager Don Mattingly said. "I think it's a huge step for us to continue moving forward."
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