TOKYO -- After two days of talks, the Seattle Mariners were still unable to sign Japan's top hitter.

"Both sides worked very hard at the process," Mariners president Chuck Armstrong said Friday from Kobe. "Some progress was made but there's no result yet."

Armstrong and five other Mariners officials are in Kobe, hoping to land Ichiro Suzuki. The 27-year-old outfielder hit .387 this year and has won seven straight batting titles with the Orix BlueWave in Japan's Pacific League.

Armstrong said more talks were planned for Saturday with Suzuki's agent, Tony Attanasio. Attanasio did not immediately return a call.

Suzuki reportedly is asking for a contract of more than four years and an annual salary of about $7.4 million. He made about $5.5 million this season.

Mariners chief executive Howard Lincoln said Friday there is no deadline for a deal.

"We're here as long as it takes to put something together," he said.

Suzuki wants to become the first Japanese position player to break into the major leagues.

Several Japanese pitchers, including Seattle reliever Kazuhiro Sasaki, have gone on to play in the majors. But doubts remain about the power and speed of Japanese position players.

Seattle believes Suzuki will put those doubts to rest. Last week the team bid $13.125 million for the exclusive right to negotiate for 30 days with him.