Everybody knew this day was coming. After A-Rod signed his $250 million, 10-year deal seven years ago, there were a few other huge contracts ($19 million a year for Jeter; more than $20 million for Manny Ramirez), but the market basically went flat and even retracted for half a decade.

It had to change, and A-Rod again is the person driving a new round of salary inflation. I’m not saying you have to approve of it, although I can’t imagine why any fan really cares what a player is making. People said that Babe Ruth wasn’t worth $85,000 75 years ago. But that’s what the Yankees were willing to pay him. And what someone is willing to pay you is what you’re worth.

If the Mariners didn’t give Ichiro the money, somebody else would have. The very stats everyone uses against him can also be used to support him.

His lifetime on-base percentage is .379 — too low, the critics say. But this year it’s .410, which is sixth in the league. He’s second in the league in hitting at .359, and is tied for third in getting on base 160 times, just two behind league leader Magglio Ordonez. His 23 stolen bases are third in the AL.

Ichiro is not Rickey Henderson, who is called the best leadoff hitter ever, but you might be surprised how close he is to the Man of Steal. Rickey is the all-time leader in stolen bases, and you can’t overstate how important that was to the teams he played for. But his 162-game averages show 121 runs against 114 for Ichiro, a .401 on-base percentage against Ichiro’s .379, and 59 RBIs against 62 for Ichiro. And Ichiro is a far better outfielder.

Maybe you like Jose Reyes, the Mets’ shortstop and leadoff hitter. But Ichiro stacks up very well against Reyes: .379 on-base opposed to .333 for Reyes; 62 RBIs to 68; 114 runs to 112. If it were Reyes going for $20 million after seven years in the Bigs, I don’t think you’d hear many arguments, yet Ichiro has been better by most measures.

The Mariners saw all that, and they wanted to keep him. The price is $90 million for five years. They paid it. That makes him worth it.

MORE FROM BASEBALL

Baseball Section Front

Cuban ‘not on prowl’ for Dodgers, or any team   Sosa’s skin undergoing color change Blyleven: Pitching to be had beyond Halladay Damon, Matsui and Pettitte all could return Yankees’ Jeter, Teixeira win Gold Gloves Scully to broadcast in 2010, then decide future Baseball GMs pass on expanding instant replay Martin, Herzog, Murtaugh and Mauch on Hall ballot Free agents Circling the Bases: Blogging on news, rumors, buzz Baseball Section Front   Add Baseball headlines to your news reader: