Yankees closer Mariano Rivera is expected to miss the rest of the 2012 season after tearing his ACL last week. Here are some links explaining the long-term impact of Rivera’s injury on the Yankees’ bullpen:
- Joel Sherman of the New York Post suggests Rafael Soriano may contemplate hitting free agency in search of a long-term contract after the season if he takes over for Rivera and pitches well. Soriano has a $13MM player option for 2013.
- David Robertson will earn considerably more through arbitration next year if he becomes the closer. The right-hander, who is under team control through 2014, could become a candidate for a long-term deal if he can handle closing, Sherman writes. An extension would keep Robertson in place for years to come and help the Yankees keep their payroll under the upcoming luxury tax threshold of $189MM.
- Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports wonders how much of a pay cut the Yankees can expect Rivera to take if they re-sign him this offseason. He suggests a 10% reduction to $13.5MM could work for both sides in 2013.
- The majority of MLBTR readers believe Robertson should replace Rivera according to our weekend poll.
Even if Soriano was to close, I still don’t expect an opt out.
Yeah, I don’t think he’d get 13 or 14MM, even if he repeats his 2010 season as closer.
What is it with GM’s overpaying guys named Soriano?
Cot’s and B-R say Soriano’s option is for $14 million with a $1.5 million player-optional buyout: link to baseballprospectus.com; link to baseball-reference.com
I think there’s a great chance he’d opt-out of his contract if he’s made the closer in place of Rivera; it’s what Boras does. Whether or not it’s a good idea is irrelevant.
Soriano is weird in the clubhouse. He doesn’t have a glittering resume. I’d say the real chances of him improving upon that $14MM a year are slim to none.
Sure, he could score a small bump in total money over a multi-year deal, but he’d probably still get a multi-year deal when his contract is up anyway.
After witnessing what’s happened this year, I would think owners would be a bit gun-shy in expensive, multi-year deals for closers.
If Soriano ops out, it may be some of the worse advice any agent has sold a player since Boris convinced Damon to play hardball with the Yankees. If I recall Atlanta didn’t want to pay him after he won arbitration and after a nice stay in Tampa, the Yankees ownership overruled Cash to out bid no one else to give the current over inflated contract. At best he is looking at 3/$21-24 if they do let him close. If he goes a year later he’ll get 3/$18-20. Personally I’d like to see him opt out an get forced to take a 1/$6.5 pillow deal and be out half what he would have made.
I too would like to see him opt out. The Yankees have more than enough in-house guys down on the farm who can take his spot and do his job.
Heck, look at the job Cory Wade is doing and I’m pretty sure we claimed him off waivers.
agreed, i dont think they should be spending that type of money on any relievers, outside of mariano. He has had some good years and some average years, mo is dominant every year. $13M could be enough to keep swish around, or about 5M from signing an ace like hamels. Both of which are way more bang for the buck than this guy.