The Blue Jays announced that they have signed right-hander Rafael Soriano. The reliever is represented by Octagon, as shown in the MLBTR Agency Database. Soriano will earn $750K if he makes the major league roster, Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com tweets.
Soriano, 36, was said to be pitching well in the Dominican League and drew attention from a few MLB teams. The veteran missed most of the 2015 season, not signing until June and then dealing with shoulder troubles, and the Cubs released him in early September. Prior to that, however, he had two relatively successful seasons as the Nationals’ closer and was terrific in ninth-inning work for the Yankees in 2012.
Soriano has a 2.89 ERA, 9.1 K/9, and 2.8 BB/9 in 14 seasons spent with the Mariners, Braves, Rays, Yankees, Nationals, and Cubs. Prior to the 2015 season, Soriano was drawing interest from the Blue Jays, but ultimately did not sign with them. Now, he’ll try and crack the roster in Toronto for 2016.
hard worker needed last year after that QO screwed him like others. He will make the club as a setup man
It’s hard to say the QO screwed him when he declined a guaranteed 15 million dollars…
First he declined the QO in 2012 after the Yankees offered him one and then signed with the Nationals who proceeded to give him a multi-year deal. Secondly, he was never offered a QO last year when he hit Free Agency, he struggled to get a deal because he was horrendous with the Nationals for the second half of 2014 and in 2015 his shoulder was a mess.
Typical Jays signing, driftwood.
Shapiro, dumpster digging.
For a no risk signing? All teams sign players to minor league contracts for Spring. This is not something new.
Exactly. There is no risk on this signing, only upside. If he doesn’t make the team he either goes to Buffalo where they obviously need pitchers in the bullpen or he gets released. No roster spot used, money so insignificant it’s covered by their coffee budget. The worst case scenario is he makes the team out of spring training causing someone else to be bumped from the roster who might be useful and then falls flat on his face. But that is a risk all teams take with non-roster invitees.
So you will be happy then right? Isn’t that why everyone liked AA so much?
It’s a depth signing with no risk but high upside. This is a great move. Relax.
This post smells awful like Tim Dierkes gas