Among the numerous changes made since the end of last season, the Mariners' projected starting outfield on Opening Day stands out like another of Ichiro Suzuki's 200-hit seasons.

While Ichiro returns for a ninth season with Seattle, there will be a different left fielder and center fielder in the Mariners' lineup against the Twins on April 6 inside the Metrodome.

Make room for fleet-footed Franklin Gutierrez in center field and a Raul Ibanez replacement in left -- a position that remains unsettled as the team heads toward Spring Training.

General manager Jack Zduriencik continues searching for a productive hitter to replace Ibanez, who led the team with 110 RBIs last season. Among the free agents being mentioned as potential targets are Bobby Abreu and Ken Griffey Jr.

But with the Mariners already nudging the player payroll budget, it appears that one of the team's higher-priced players -- probably a starting pitcher -- must be traded in order to sign any veteran free-agent slugger.

Ichiro has been to the Mariners the past eight seasons what Griffey was during the 1990s -- a perennial All-Star and Gold Glove winner.

Another 200-hit season would be Ichiro's ninth straight, breaking the Major League record he shares with Hall of Fame outfielder Willie Keeler.

Ichiro also is 8-for-8 in All-Star Games (including seven starts), Gold Gloves and 100-run seasons.

He tied American League Most Valuable Player Dustin Pedroia in hits (213) last season, the third consecutive season Ichiro has either led or tied the AL in hits -- the first time that's happened since the late Kirby Puckett did it in 1987-89 with the Twins.

To put it mildly, right field is in good hands.

The same may eventually be said of center field, where Gutierrez takes over on a full-time basis. His defense is regarded as Gold Glove caliber, and his offense is expected to be better than it was during the four years spent with the Indians.

Gutierrez runs well, has a strong arm and displayed a hint of power two years ago when he slugged 13 home runs in just 271 at-bats. His power numbers went down last season, as he finished with eight home runs in 399 at-bats.

Even so, Zduriencik insisted on the 25-year-old being part of the three-team, 12-player trade that stole the show during the four-day Winter Meetings in Las Vegas.

"You don't necessarily have to be a five-tool player to be a good Major League player," said Zduriencik of Gutierrez's lack of power. "He's still young. There's still upside to him. We look forward to the kid playing center field every day."

Gutierrez came up through the Dodgers organization and developed an offensive approach that stresses extended at-bats, something the Mariners definitely need because so many hitters are free swingers.

As for left field, that figures to be a must-follow story during Spring Training.

There are several candidates, including newcomer Endy Chavez, who came to Seattle from the Mets via the trade in Vegas.

Chavez has a strong, accurate arm.

He made just 56 starts for the Mets last season but finished tied for second on the team with seven outfield assists and performed well for La Guaira in the Venezuelan Winter League, batting .328 with a .413 on-base percentage in 17 games.

First-year Mariners coach Lee Tinsley said of Chavez: "He's a real scrappy guy, runs well, puts the ball in play and will bunt. For me, he plays a terrific outfield. He covers and lot of ground, which is important at Safeco Field, and has a great arm."

Over the past three seasons, the left-handed-hitting Chavez has a .289 career batting average against right-handers in 630 at-bats and .287 against lefties in 143 at-bats.

He doesn't walk very often (126 times in 2,076 MLB at-bats), nor does he hit many home runs (17 in his career).

That could create some playing time for right-handed-hitting Wladimir Balentien.

The 24-year-old demonstrated terrific power potential in the Minor Leagues with 286 home runs in 678 games but struggled in the Majors, where he has hit eight home runs in 243 at-bats.

Other outfield candidates that will be competing for roster spots this spring include Mike Wilson, who hit 26 home runs for Double-A West Tennessee last season, and Mike Morse, who is making a comeback from surgery on his left (non-throwing) shoulder.

"Defensively, this could be one of the best outfields in the Majors," Tinsley said. "There is a lot of potential out there."

Next: Starting pitching.