Rafael Soriano will decline the Yankees' qualifying offer, reports Jon Heyman of CBS Sports (Twitter link). The move ensures that New York will receive a compensatory draft pick for Soriano should he sign elsewhere. Soriano was one of nine players who received qualifying offers from their teams, and the nine have until tomorrow to accept or decline the one-year, $13.3MM offers.
It was no surprise that Soriano declined the offer, as the Scott Boras client already opted out of the final year of his Yankees contract last week, leaving $14MM on the table in search of a multiyear contract with a team that could guarantee him the full-time closer's job.
It's hard to see how the Yankees could necessarily bring back Soriano given his desire to close and the fact that Mariano Rivera has said he will return in 2013. Rivera's health status is questionable after he missed most of last season with a torn ACL, though since Rivera will obviously have priority in closing games in New York, Soriano would find himself as a set-up man again unless Rivera were to suffer another injury. There's also the possibility that the Yankees could re-sign Soriano to close and let Rivera go as a free agent, though that move would be hard to fathom given Rivera's legendary status with the team.
Dear Mr. Dombrowski,
Please don’t throw away our 1st round pick on a closer when others are available without giving it away. If you insist on signing a closer instead of trying out Benoit, Dotel, Coke, AlAl, and Rondon… please take a look at Soria. Broxton, or Madson.
Thanks,
Your barren excuse for a farm system
You took the words right out of my mouth… I was going to post something very similar to this!
I think he might end up in washington, but I also think he wont get what he wants. 3 years/39 million
I don’t think he will either, but he’s easily the best closer out there, teams have a lot of money to spend with the new TV contract, and the addition of the second Wild Card will encourage more teams to try and improve. A team sitting on the fringes can make quite a bit of money by making the postseason. So it wouldn’t shock me at all if he did get the money.
No matter. He comes out ahead regardless. He walked away from $12.5M after taking into account the $1.5M he gets for opting out. Even if he only gets a 3/30, or even a 3/27 deal, he’s still $15M to $18M richer with guaranteed money, and that’s key considering both his injury history and the short life of relievers.
“There’s also the possibility that the Yankees could re-sign Soriano to close and let Rivera go as a free agent, though that move would be hard to fathom given Rivera’s legendary status with the team.”
Were you even able to type that nonsense with a straight face?
Yankees really caught a break on this one. The signing turned out pretty well. I have a feeling that Soriano is going to be disappointed with what he finds on the market.
Yeah, what team is gonna give up a first round pick AND pay Soriano a contract that’s worth at least 25/2 years or 30-33 mil for 3 years (I assume Soriano is prepared to lower the annual value for a multi year deal).
A team like Washington have decent enough internal options. Although, I think Washington is the most likely destination.
I think the same thing…but Boras undoubtedly put out feelers to test the market before he leaves that kind of money on the table. But then again, look what he did to Damon a few years back, screwed him royally in the same scenario..
Soriano’s average WAR per season is around 0.9.
I’d say any team paying more than 8 mil per season for him is grossly overpaying. A fair salary for Soriano would be 20-24 million/3yrs. He’s a good late inning reliever, but he’s not so much better than the average reliever that you would pay him 10+ mil per season.
Teams would be much better off investing their money in young arms.
Agreed, but alot of teams invest big money in closers. Doesn’t make sense with WAR, but it’s an older baseball way of thought.
I wouldn’t pay a ton of money for a closer, but I also wouldn’t use WAR as a way to value them.
Yep, WAR is based on the xFIP and innings. There definetely is a premium for the late innings with your team having the lead. How much I really can’t tell you, but that’s all a team’s preference. Just some teams are willing to shell out big money for a closer, when maybe it isn’t the best use of resources.
The Yankees just saved themselves $12.5M for 2013. Thank you Scott Boras.
Question, if Soriano and Swisher decline their offers and sign elsewhere, do the yankees get 2 supplementary picks after the 1st round or 1 after the 1st round and 1 after 2nd round.
I believe as long as 2 different teams sign them they get 2 sandwich picks between the 1st and 2nd rounds.
I thought they would get back to back picks (also could get 3 straight picks if my theory is correct, if Kuroda goes too)
I agree with you completely, so the following is irrelevant, but … did I completely miss news of the Yankees making Rivera a qualifying offer?
Wouldn’t have actually minded him accepting, since it is 2014 payroll they care about. They could have offered arb next year and let him go, but nonetheless it’s ok. He was making too much money anyways as a reliever.
I’m much rather hoping they look into signing soria. He is better when he is healthy, younger, and maybe even cheaper. And he said he would like to be mo’s setup man for 1 year.
See ya Sori!!! It was a great relationship. Now beat it!!!