PEORIA, Ariz. — Could Ichiro Suzuki return home to the Seattle Mariners?

With Monday’s announcement that Ben Gamel has a strained oblique and will miss four to six weeks, the Mariners need outfield help. Plenty of outfielders are available.

But USA Today’s Bob Nightengale is reporting that the Mariners will bring back the 44-year-old Ichiro, a fan favorite. He played for the Mariners from 2001 to 2012, during which he was a 10-time All-Star selection and won 10 Gold Gloves. He was the 2001 American League MVP and rookie of the year, and in 2004 he set the major league season record for hits with 262.

Some news outlets in Japan also have reported that the Mariners and Ichiro could reunite. Mariners sources declined to confirm Nightengale’s report.

Ichiro is working out in Japan, so he would have to fly to the U.S. and pass a physical exam before anything could be official.

He played in 136 games for the Miami Marlins last season, predominantly as a pinch hitter. He hit .255 with a .318 on-base percentage, a .322 slugging percentage, six doubles, three homers and 20 RBIs. He has a good relationship with current Mariners and former Marlins teammates Dee Gordon and David Phelps.

—The Seattle Times