Report: Ichiro had to agree to Yankees' conditions to be traded

Although Ichiro Suzuki requested a trade and had the ability to veto any proposed trade, it seems the Yankees were the ones who set the parameters for Ichiro to come to New York.

Before completing the trade for Ichiro, the Yankees gave Ichiro a list of conditions he would have to agree to, according to ESPNNewYork.com.

At 38, Ichiro would have to switch positions from right field to left field if asked. He would have to hit near the bottom of the batting order. He might have to sit against left-handed pitching on occasion.

Ichiro decided he could live with all three, so the deal was made.

"He was fully educated on all our requirements," Yankees general manager Brian Cashman told ESPNNewYork.com. "One by one, every box got ticked off."

Even though Ichiro had requested the trade from Seattle, Yankees officials were not certain a player who was a 10-time All-Star would be willing to make such concessions.

But after hearing what the Yankees expected of him, Ichiro waived the no-trade clause and became a Yankee.

"(Ichiro) was asked to make a lot of sacrifices," Cashman said. "And he agreed to all of them."

In his first game with the Yankees on Monday, Ichiro batted eighth, but played his regular position, right field, while Andruw Jones played left field. But Ichiro is expected to play in left field when Nick Swisher returns.

"He's a fit under the circumstances we're in," Cashman said. "Worst-case scenario, I've improved my outfield situation. Best-case scenario is a tremendous upside. We might be getting a superstar."