If you haven't already heard, I'm sorry to be the one to break the news to the White Sox, Sawx, Yankees, Mets and any other team's fans  that had designs on Ichiro entering free agency this fall and being signed by  your favorite team.

It has been reported today that Ichiro (though the man himself, in typical Ichiro fashion, answered all questions abut it in some sort of riddle/haiku), will be signing a 5 year contract extension with the Mariners in the neighborhood of $100MM.

That said and done, he proceeded to go 3-3 for the American League in the annual summer classic, including (both his own personal first and the first ever in the All Star Game)inside the park home run that put the AL ahead to stay, and cementing himself as the Most Valuable Player of the game.

How big is this?  In a word, HUGE!!!  The face of the franchise will be under contract through the 2012 season, which would make him nearly 38 years of age and probable retirement (though he has said recently that, after retiring from the outfield, he plans to pitch, and to play until he is 50).  If nothing else, this should mean that he will enter the Hall of Fame as a Mariner, he will have set and/or broken more records, and will likely have proven to himself everything that he planned to.

$100MM is a lot of money for a guy his age, but we have to remember, too, that this is Ichiro, and he is like no other player in recent history.  His workout routine, work ethic and physical conditioning are unlike any other player, so trepidations in that area may well not apply.

I am wondering if he knows something that the rest of us do NOT know (i.e what trades might be being disc ussed to better the team for the stretch run)?  It is certain that his teammates standing up for him during "the Incident in Oakland" this weekend pleased him and indicated that the winning attitude he was waiting to see in the M's had finally arrived.

He was also extremely happy at the elevation of John McLaren to the manager's position, as he had been the first person to meet and work with him when he arrived from Japan in 2001, and he is very fond of him.  This, too, surely had something to do with the agreement being reached so soon after McLaren took over the reins, after a season long worry session on whether it would get done or not.

So, all of you other teams and fans that had hoped to find Ichiro in your center field next season, you have my sincerest commiserations (well, no, not really, but.......), and you'll have to figure out someone else to put out there.