MLB

Agent: Yankees are Ichiro’s first choice

How much did Ichiro Suzuki dig being a Yankee? Enough to wait and see if the defending AL East champions want to bring him back after they finally get Andy Pettitte and Mariano Rivera in the fold.

Suzuki is a 39-year-old free agent whose 2012 season was regenerated following a July deal that lifted him out of a losing situation in Seattle and dropped him into the fierce AL East pennant race between the Yankees, Orioles and Rays.

In 67 games for the Yankees, Suzuki batted .322, immediately hit if off with teammates — particularly Derek Jeter — and appeared in a postseason game for the first time since 2001. He also moved from right field to left without a trace of disappointment.

Those 67 games showed the baseball world Suzuki is far from done being a productive player. And given his wish, the man with 2,606 big-league hits (1,278 in Japan) would prefer to add to a strong Hall of Fame resume in The Bronx.

“They are going after pitching first which is what the Yankees normally do,’’ Tony Attanasio, Ichiro’s well-respected agent, said yesterday. “There has been a lot of interest [from teams], but he enjoyed playing for the Yankees so much it’s hard for him to say no to the Yankees. His preference is to stay there instead of going someplace else, but we will wait and see.’’

The Yankees are focusing on getting Pettitte and Rivera signed. Rivera has told the team he plans to pitch next season, and the Yankees would be stunned if Pettitte doesn’t return. Then the question becomes: How much money will it take to secure the pitching icons? Though Rafael Soriano is likely headed out of town via free agency, Soriano’s arrival in The Bronx was a longer shot than him returning.

“Nothing to report,’’ general manager Brian Cashman said yesterday when asked about Pettitte and Rivera.

Cashman also could tinker with the pitching staff via a trade, but the headliners are Pettitte and Rivera.

Pettitte, who is represented by Casey Close and Jim Murray after years of being with Alan and Randy Hendricks, is likely to inform the Yankees of his plan next week.

With free-agent Nick Swisher looking for multiple years, the Yankees have a void in right field Suzuki could help fill. The Yankees have talked to Close about right-handed hitting outfielder Scott Hairston and aren’t against bringing back Raul Ibanez as a left-handed hitting outfielder/DH.

Suzuki has to understand if the Yankees seriously want him back it won’t be for the $17 million he made last season. Nor will there be a multi-year deal presented to him, because the Yankees are looking to get their payroll to $189 million by the start of the 2014 season.

* According to Close, who is also Jeter’s agent, the shortstop is “doing well, in good spirits and waiting to get further along in the rehab process.’’

Jeter suffered a fractured left foot in Game 1 of the ALCS against the Tigers. Earlier this week, Cashman said Jeter would be limited to non-weight bearing activities until January.