Yanks sign Rafael Soriano for 3 yr/$35 million

[Clem Fandango]

They can afford it so whatever, but that's a [expletive] load of money for a set up man

 

Jon Heyman of SI.com reports that the Yankees have agreed to terms with free agent reliever Rafael Soriano on a three-year, $35 million deal.

This one came out of nowhere and the contract seems overly reckless, but it's really hard to trash the move. The Yankees can get away with spending like crazy because their revenue streams are plentiful and they now have the best one-two bullpen punch in all of baseball. Soriano posted a fantastic 1.73 ERA and 0.80 WHIP last season for the Rays while saving 45 games in 48 chances. He can serve as a setup man behind Mariano Rivera for the next two seasons and then take over as the Yankees' closer if Mo decides to retire when his current two-year, $30 million contract runs out after 2012.

[OleMissCub]

Yankees...

[fromthestretch]

Apparently, only the first year is set in stone. 2012 and 2013 are player options for Soriano.

 

http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2011/01/14/nice-work-by-scott-boras-on-the-rafael-soriano-deal/

[rawaction]

Seems like a good fallback plan if Rivera decides to retire anytime in the near future.

[Formerly Snayke]

I think the Rays are up to seven picks combined in the first and supplemental rounds.

[shnsajax]

I think the Rays are up to seven picks combined in the first and supplemental rounds.

 

They are almost like the Patriots in this regard. I don't know what I would ever do if the Cubs had this many picks in the 1st and supplemental rounds.

[davell]

I think the Rays are up to seven picks combined in the first and supplemental rounds.

 

The Rays had the 24th, 32nd, 38th, 50th, 54th, and 57th picks. With the Yankees signing Soriano, you can now add the 31st pick to that. It looks like the supplemental pick for Soriano will be 40th or so as well. Somehow, the Rays can get a supplemental pick if Chad Qualls signs with another team and it looks like the Pads are about to sign him. Which leaves Grant Balfour out there, who was a Type A actually. I figure the only way another team signs him is if it's a team that's already given up their 1st and maybe their 2nd rounders as well, but anyway, who cares? The Rays look like they're going to have NINE picks in the first 65, in the best draft over the last decade. Definitely apparent now as to why they've cut payroll as much as they have, if you ask me.

[daske17]

I think the Rays are up to seven picks combined in the first and supplemental rounds.

 

The Rays had the 24th, 32nd, 38th, 50th, 54th, and 57th picks. With the Yankees signing Soriano, you can now add the 31st pick to that. It looks like the supplemental pick for Soriano will be 40th or so as well. Somehow, the Rays can get a supplemental pick if Chad Qualls signs with another team and it looks like the Pads are about to sign him. Which leaves Grant Balfour out there, who was a Type A actually. I figure the only way another team signs him is if it's a team that's already given up their 1st and maybe their 2nd rounders as well, but anyway, who cares? The Rays look like they're going to have NINE picks in the first 65, in the best draft over the last decade. Definitely apparent now as to why they've cut payroll as much as they have, if you ask me.

 

Can you imagine if they had a respectable payroll? They could make the Yankees look like an also-ran in their own division.

 

All the credit to their scouting and minor league department for making the most of those picks too.

[davell]

And on que, Grant Balfour is about to sign a multi-year deal with the A's. Their pick is protected, so the Rays will get their 2nd rounder and a supplemental 1st for him. This will give the Rays 11 picks in the first 89, according to MLBT......I don't think that includes Qualls either.

[Cubswin11]

I think this is a solid move for the Yankees, dollars aside. They missed out on the best SP(s) available. So they did the next best thing by getting the best RP available so they can shorten games and minimize how long their average SP need to be out there. CC is going to have to pitch into the 8th or 9th inning every start this year and going to rack up like 230+IP. Also bravo on the Rays stockpiling of picks

[cl smooth]

yankee fan at my job is now stating they have the "best bullpen in baseball."

[davell]

Since this is possibly the last year before they go to a true slotting system with picks, I'd expect quite a few teams will spend more than normal on their draft picks, in order to get a true influx of talent. Maybe the Rays spend upwards of 20 million this year? I'd say it's possible with all these picks anyway.

 

However, it's not like in the past, where they typically have gotten their talent from the very front of the draft. Scouting will have much more to do with it this time, even though the draft appears to be great.

[davell]

By the way, if you count Kei Igawa(4 mill, gotta go somewhere), the Yankees are spending around 40 million for their bullpen in 2011.

[erik316wttn]

Apparently, only the first year is set in stone. 2012 and 2013 are player options for Soriano.

 

http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2011/01/14/nice-work-by-scott-boras-on-the-rafael-soriano-deal/

 

He'll take them. He won't get that money elsewhere.

[fromthestretch]

Apparently, only the first year is set in stone. 2012 and 2013 are player options for Soriano.

 

http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2011/01/14/nice-work-by-scott-boras-on-the-rafael-soriano-deal/

 

He'll take them. He won't get that money elsewhere.

 

I agree that he will probably stay with the Yankees. However, a big hurdle for him this offseason was that he's a Type A free agent. If draft-pick compensation changes, that could change how some teams pursue him and could open up some more opportunities for him. With the needs of other teams changing each year, who knows what he could get somewhere else. Perhaps Soriano decides he wants to close again after the 2011 or 2012 season. He has the flexibility to pursue an opportunity to close for another team.

[Clem Fandango]

Apparently, only the first year is set in stone. 2012 and 2013 are player options for Soriano.

 

http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2011/01/14/nice-work-by-scott-boras-on-the-rafael-soriano-deal/

 

He'll take them. He won't get that money elsewhere.

 

I agree that he will probably stay with the Yankees. However, a big hurdle for him this offseason was that he's a Type A free agent. If draft-pick compensation changes, that could change how some teams pursue him and could open up some more opportunities for him. With the needs of other teams changing each year, who knows what he could get somewhere else. Perhaps Soriano decides he wants to close again after the 2011 or 2012 season. He has the flexibility to pursue an opportunity to close for another team.

 

Speaking of didn't Cashman say they wanted to hold onto their draft picks and that they weren't willing to give up a draft pick by signing a Type A for anyone other than Cliff Lee? Something about he was willing to give up a pick for Cliff Lee but no one else?

[BCVM22]

Speaking of didn't Cashman say they wanted to hold onto their draft picks and that they weren't willing to give up a draft pick by signing a Type A for anyone other than Cliff Lee? Something about he was willing to give up a pick for Cliff Lee but no one else?

 

Word from Olney and a few others is that Cashman was overruled by ownership in this particular matter, draft pick be damned.

[Illini Iceman]

And on que, Grant Balfour is about to sign a multi-year deal with the A's. Their pick is protected, so the Rays will get their 2nd rounder and a supplemental 1st for him. This will give the Rays 11 picks in the first 89, according to MLBT......I don't think that includes Qualls either.

 

Opinions on Beane giving up his second round pick and a good chunk of his limited payroll for a relief pitcher? I can only imagine the outrage if it was Hendry.....

[TruffleShuffle]

Speaking of didn't Cashman say they wanted to hold onto their draft picks and that they weren't willing to give up a draft pick by signing a Type A for anyone other than Cliff Lee? Something about he was willing to give up a pick for Cliff Lee but no one else?

 

Word from Olney and a few others is that Cashman was overruled by ownership in this particular matter, draft pick be damned.

 

it shouldn't matter... they still have later picks and they should just toss lots of money at guys who fall because of college commitments.

[Radar3454]

no other team was offering close to that much, can opt out after both years, lose 1st round pick

 

good player for them to sign given how shaky their starting pitching is but hard to believe they could not have signed him to a more team friendly deal

[TruffleShuffle]

no other team was offering close to that much, can opt out after both years, lose 1st round pick

 

good player for them to sign given how shaky their starting pitching is but hard to believe they could not have signed him to a more team friendly deal

 

it doesn't matter. to them, a team-friendly deal is one that puts very good players on their team. they just gave derek jeter like $18m a year to be the mascot.

[Pushfrog98]

I think the Rays are up to seven picks combined in the first and supplemental rounds.

 

They are almost like the Patriots in this regard. I don't know what I would ever do if the Cubs had this many picks in the 1st and supplemental rounds.

They would probably draft 7 highly athletic kids who aren't very polished in baseball.

[Splendid Splinter]

I think the Rays are up to seven picks combined in the first and supplemental rounds.

 

They are almost like the Patriots in this regard. I don't know what I would ever do if the Cubs had this many picks in the 1st and supplemental rounds.

They would probably draft 7 highly athletic kids who aren't very polished in baseball.

 

 

Check out 2002... 4 picks total in the first and supplemental. Cubs most picks ever in one year. Not one of them did anything...

[Formerly Snayke]

I love Soriano saying that, to him, there's no difference in the eighth and ninth inning. I hope every reliever starts saying that so Murry Chass and Bill Plaschke's heads explode.

[jersey cubs fan]

I love Soriano saying that, to him, there's no difference in the eighth and ninth inning. I hope every reliever starts saying that so Murry Chass and Bill Plaschke's heads explode.

 

There's no difference to them in the 8th and 9th as long as you are getting paid like a closer. If middle relievers regularly got paid as much as the closers they'd all be happy with being something other than a closer.