Let's take a look at some items out of the American League East..
- Mariano Rivera says that he isn't sure if he wants to return in 2013, but Buster Olney of ESPN.com (Insider sub. req'd) cautions that it may just be part of negotiations with the Yankees. The closer is coming off of a deal which paid him $15MM in each of the last two seasons and the Bombers will likely try to shave that number down on a new contract. Rivera and the Yankees have a history of tough negotiations, including a couple of years ago when he threatened that he would sign with the Red Sox.
- The Blue Jays are not considering Brad Ausmus, Jim Tracy, or Manny Acta for their managerial vacancy, according to Shi Davidi of Sportsnet. Dodgers third base coach Tim Wallach is in the mix along with DeMarlo Hale, Sandy Alomar Jr., and Blue Jays third base coach Brian Butterfield. Along with Butterfield, bench coach Don Wakamatsu is another internal possibility.
- Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times believes that the Rays will wind up extending a qualifying offer to B.J. Upton as he will most likely turn it down, putting the club in position to net a compensatory pick. Last month, more than 61% of MLBTR readers polled said that the Rays should extend Upton a qualifying offer.
- Meanwhile, the Rays also have a decision to make on Jose Molina's $1.8MM option, which can be bought out for $300K. While the catcher hit just .223/.286/.355 last season, Topkin notes that his work with the pitchers was strong and he could be worth keeping.
Why aren’t the Jays considering Manny Acta as the manager? He has experience.
Ozzie Guillen has experience to.
I was wondering about this too. I would have liked to see Acta get a shot with the Jays.
I wonder why? He was fired from the Indians for a reason…duh. Sandy Alomar, or Butterfield should get it hands down.
virtually every manager has been fired at one point or another.
True, but also I would rather go Hentgen for manager, Alomar Jr. 1st base coach, Butterfield 3rd base again and the rest of the staff the same too. Murphy as hitting coach, Walton as pitching coach and Wakamatsu as bench coach.
I’m pulling for Alomar, with Butterfield a close 2nd. And I’m not sure who safari_punch is calling The Bean Counter (AA? Beeston?), but I really don’t see money being an issue. Rogers has repeatedly shown a willingness to pay for talent, just not to pay for a name alone.
The Bean Counter wants someone dirt cheap.
Can’t see Rivera even thinking about making his comeback in another uniform, but that simple quote was putting Cashman on notice that cutting his salary isn’t going to work either.. He isn’t going to play any part in Cash’s newfound austerity plans.
Right you are! And why should he? He was on pace to have his usual super season before he was hurt. Soriano is most likely not coming back, so what’s the big deal? Pay the man, Cashman!
It would be insulting to offer him a cut. Jeter? Yeah, I can’t see the best closer in the game (still) getting offered a pay cut. IMO? He’d retire 1st.
For next year I am taking Kimbrel over Rivera for sure. Probably Chapman as well.
Craig Kimbrel would like a word with you
Jeez.. The guy has done it for 2 years and Mo was the best for like 15 straight before that.. Nobody tried to say Papelbon was better than Mo after ’06 when nobody could score, much less get on base off of him..
This isn;t Hoffman trying to hang on with fringe everything at the end, but someone who has the single, best 1 pitch in the game..
Get over it Atlanta fans.. Kimbrel shut down everyone a few more years and maybe he will get that halo that Rivera wears.
2 years better than Mo. Who cares about the previous years?
Craig Kimbrel
Aroldis Chapman
Fernando Rodney
Jim Johnson
And I’m a Yankee fan…(observe username)
Cool you’re a yankee fan but that doesnt mean rodney should be counted on.
Rodney has a terrific year, but I don’t buy into him being elite until he repeats. He is 35, and the previous 5 years of his were very mediocre. Sure he could have bloomed, but big chance he 1 good good year and thats it.
Rodney has 1 good year and he is better than mariano? His era was good this year, but his xFIP puts him back up at 2.67 and his history odds he goes even higher.
JJ isn’t even in the same league as mariano, era over 2.70 combined 3 seasons, whereas mariano’s over same time is under 2.00 over same timeframe.
Kimbrel and Chapman could be good, but Mariano has been doing this for 18 years now, They both only have 3 seasons under their belt
I’m not saying they are having a better career or gonna have a better overall career, I’m saying right now, Rivera isn’t the shut-down closer.
If mariano says he is ready, I wouldn’t hesitate to put him back in the closers role. He has the 2nd lowest era over past 5 years for reliever, at 1.72, which is lower than his career era. If he is healthy there is no reason to think that he can’t still be a good closer. Other players maybe, but mariano knows how to pitch, and is good with his 1 pitch.
Odds are pretty high that Rodney regresses, JJ is not nearly as reliable as mariano. Chapman and Kimbrel are the only ones that can even compete in same league as Mariano at this point.
fernando rodney??? puhleeezz. and i’m a Yankee hater
Tim Wallach is a lock for the blue jays manager position. He was a star player for AA’s Expos in the early 90’s.
I don’t get why people even think that mariano would leave
The Red Sox or Jays should sign BJ Upton and not have to worry about losing their first draft pick. Both teams finished with the worst 10 records.
I don’t think an upton signing will be that good anyways. He is way overrated. Incredibly talented, but has never lived up to that potential. $14M aav is way overpay in my view. He struggles to make contact all the time, and he’s not that great with the glove. Only reason he is good is because speed.
Don’t see how much leverage Rivera has for his next deal. He’s coming off a major injury and really won’t sign with another team. Yet, the yankees know that they will pay him.
I don’t think they will mess around though. He can always go to another team (improbable) but the yankees want him to retire with them.
Love Mo, but he was paid 15 mil to pitch 8 innings last year, and he’ll be 43 years old. I offer him 7 mil. He can take it and pitch, go to another team, or retire. Robertson can close just fine.
thats flirting with disaster. plenty of teams would offer more than 7MM/1yr i imagine..
As a Tigers fan, I would offer him 15 mil. Granted that is illitch’s money, but still!
That is alot of pizza.
I’d go up to 10. Maybe 5 + 1 mil for each 10 innings pitched. In no case should they go over 10. The Yankees do have a budget, even in 2013. The more they spend on Mo, the less they have for other players. Hal doesn’t spend like his daddy.
i assume that insurance paid for the majority of that 15 mil
We never hear if insurance covers these situations so who knows. Anyway, it’s more about his age and missing last year.
I say just pay him. It isn’t my money, and it will have no effect on the 2014 payroll $189 limit they set for themselves. 2 year contract I would hesitate offering that much.
People saying Mo has no leverage is just wrong. Look this guy is a yankee, can you imagine the NY media if he pitched for Boston because the Yankees lowballed him? He is worth more to the Yankees than anyone else. Sign him up on a for 1 year at 12m plus incentives. This guy is worth way more to them than that.
I don’t even think it would be possible for him to go to boston. He is either coming back to the yankees or retiring.
it would be cool to see the fair well tour for all 3 of them mo,jeter,an petit ,throw in a-rod also ichiro just saying
Does anybody else find it pathetic that the Yankees have had horrible contract discussions with both Jeter and Mo? Pathetic on the team’s part and pathetic/greedy on the player’s part.