Mariners star Ichiro Suzuki is being treated for a bleeding ulcer and was placed on the 15-day disabled list yesterday, sending Seattle into opening day minus one of baseball's best players.

The Mariners said the ulcer is no longer bleeding. Doctors have restricted the 35-year-old outfielder's activity but are optimistic he'll be ready to play when he's eligible to come off the DL on April 15.

Suzuki played for Japan in the World Baseball Classic. He complained of severe fatigue earlier this week and missed Seattle's final three spring training games in Arizona, and was diagnosed with the ulcer — a relatively rare condition for an athlete — after seeing doctors Thursday.

"I know how much (Ichiro) cares. This is the first time in eight years he's been on the DL," Mariners manager Don Wakamatsu said last night in Las Vegas before the team opened a two-game weekend set against Colorado. "Every indication is that it will be 15 days. We'll see how he is after that."

The All-Star right fielder didn't accompany the team to Las Vegas, instead staying in Arizona and having a light workout at their spring training complex in Peoria yesterday. Seattle opens the season Monday at Minnesota.

NEW PARKS

RAIN DAMPENS THINGS FOR YANKEES, METS

Beautiful, majestic — or just plain awesome.

New York fans put up with damp seats yesterday to watch the Yankees and Mets test their plush and pricey new ballparks in exhibition games, a double debut in a city that hasn't had a new Major League Baseball stadium in 45 years.

The faithful were awed.

"When I pass, I want my ashes to be buried here. That's how beautiful it is," John Zozzaro said as he admired the $800 million Citi Field, home of the Mets.

Across town, Frank Sinatra songs played as fans took in the new Yankee Stadium, bedecked with old Yankees memorabilia and pictures of team titans such as Babe Ruth. At $1.5 billion, it is the costliest baseball stadium ever built.

"It looks great. I think the word is 'majestic.' It's awesome," said Mike Generose of Allentown, Pa.

Joe Sherman, 58, an attorney from West Orange, N.J., arrived at Citi Field so early that the gates were still locked.

A season ticket holder for 31 years at Shea, Sherman said he couldn't afford his old seats behind home plate at the new Citi Field. But he didn't care.

"I'm in the ballpark, and that's what counts," he said.

The Yankees defeated the Chicago Cubs, 7-4; the Mets beat the Boston Red Sox, 4-3.

Both teams open the regular season Monday on the road.

METS

SHEFFIELD TO PURSUE NO. 500 WITH N.Y.

Gary Sheffield plans to go for No. 500 with the New York Mets.

One home run shy of the milestone, Sheffield reached a contract agreement with New York yesterday, three days after he was released by the Detroit Tigers in a surprising move.

Sheffield is expected to be in New York today and the deal is contingent on him passing a physical, general manager Omar Minaya said.

"Gary gives us another element in the lineup and he gives us a different intensity, just because of the competitive guy that he is," Minaya said.

The 40-year-old slugger provides the Mets with a right-handed power bat, something they need to help balance the batting order.

Sheffield is one big swing from becoming the 25th player to reach 500 home runs. The Tigers will have to pay $13.6 million of his $14 million contract this year while the Mets get him for the major-league minimum of $400,000.

ELSEWHERE

Braves: Jordan Schafer's rise to the major leagues became official when Atlanta set its 25-man roster and named the 22-year-old rookie its starting center fielder. Schafer won the job even though he has never played above Double-A Mississippi and was suspended for the first 50 games of the 2008 season for a violation of baseball's drug policy.

Royals: Kansas City outrighted first baseman Ryan Shealy to Triple-A Omaha, trimming its roster to 30. Shealy hit .262 with four homers and nine RBIs in 23 spring training games.