Ichiro Suzuki to Retire, Will Transition Into New Role in Mariners Front Office The Seattle Mariners General Manager, Jerry Dipoto, made the announcement on Thursday. Ichiro, who is one of the few layers to reach 3,000 career hits, will become the Special Assistant to the Chairman effective immediately. We want to make sure we capture all of the value that Ichiro brings to this team off the field. This new role is a way to accomplish that. The 44-year-old will continue to travel with the team and utilize knowledge from his playing career that spanned two continents and 26 years. 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.