Popular Former Seattle Mariners Slugger Signs Deal to Head to Japan

After excelling in his role for the Seattle Mariners in 2023, slugger Mike Ford has signed a new deal to head to Japan. He had played with the Cincinnati Reds in 2024.

Seattle Mariners designated hitter Mike Ford (20) watches his two-run home run against the Kansas City Royals during the third inning at T-Mobile Park in 2023. / Joe Nicholson-USA TODAY Sports

Former Seattle Mariners' slugger Mike Ford has signed a deal to go to Japan and play in the NPB.

The deal was announced on Thursday. Per the Yakyu Cosmopolitan on social media:

The DeNA Baystars are signing 1B Mike Ford.

Ford, 32, is a career .205/.298/.402 hitter in 251 MLB games with 37 home runs.

The DeNA Baystars are signing 1B Mike Ford.

Ford, 32, is a career .205/.298/.402 hitter in 251 MLB games with 37 home runs.

https://t.co/KikCJ7gNna

— Yakyu Cosmopolitan (@yakyucosmo) July 5, 2024

Ford has spent parts of six years in the big leagues with the New York Yankees, San Francisco Giants, Mariners, Atlanta Braves, Los Angeles Angels and Cincinnati Reds. He spent two different tenures with the Mariners, appearing with them in 2022 and 2023. His 2023 tenure was memorable for fans because he provided some much-needed thump in that lineup.

In 83 games last year, he popped 16 homers and drove in 34 runs. He also had several key home runs late that fueled victories. That was his most successful major league season, and also represented the most games he'd played with a team in a major league season.

He became a free agent this past winter and signed a deal with the Cincinnati Reds but did not make the roster out of spring training. He played 17 games for Cincinnati this year and hit one home run while driving in four.

Ford will hardly be the only former Mariners player to be playing in a non-major league setting. Former M's second baseman Robinson Cano is currently leading the Mexican League in hitting and former M's outfielder Guillermo Heredia is battling it out for the batting title in South Korea.

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