Let it be known: I still don’t think Ichiro is worth the money the Seattle Mariners will be paying him. While I think this though, I also think that Ichiro negotiated a masterful contract… and you have to give the Mariners their proper credit too for being a little crafty with their money.

For a few years, I’ve told people I know that I don’t understand why more athletes don’t defer large parts of their contracts for their retirement. Too many times you see someone sign a huge deal worth millions of dollars, and three years after retirement (forced or optional) have no money left. So, if they set aside chunks of their deals for later, not only would it give them a salary upon retirement, it also discounts the salary in terms of the official yearly totals for the team… slipping some needed room under the salary cap or avoiding costly luxury tax. If the Yankees used this method they could save millions of dollars each year in luxury taxes. Millions.

Seattle will pay $12 million in salary each year and defer $5 million per season at 5.5 percent interest. Suzuki, who turns 33 in October, will receive the money in annual installments each Jan. 30 starting with the year after his retirement from the major leagues.

I’m just really taken aback by this one… smart, ahead of the curve thinking in the Seattle front office? I know. I’m scared too guys… I think this is officially the second sign of the apocalypse. The first sign of course being Pauly Shore movies.

• Mariners to defer $25 million of Suzuki’s contract, money to be paid through at least 2032 (AP)