Would Mariano Rivera Move On?
It wasn’t much of a story six days ago, stuck at the bottom of a Bergen Record article from Pete Caldera. The New York press was much more interested in Alex Rodriguez‘s book signing. But yesterday Mariano Rivera gave eager reporters some scary quotes and the story resulted in six different newspaper articles. The key quote from the impending free agent:
"I definitely want to finish my career here, but if they don’t give me the respect that I deserve…I’m not going to stay at my house crying. I have to move on."
That led various NY papers to create the possibility that Mo could jump over to the Red Sox in 2008. Mass pandemonium. But as many of the articles stated, the Yankees have leverage here and baseball is a business. Rivera likely wants to stay, but he needs to prove himself for the first time. The Bernie Williams situation is not exactly a parallel, since Rivera has retained his skills well. But it’s clear that the Yankees won’t make decisions based on nostalgia.
Brian Cashman and Co. will wait to see if Rivera’s elbow holds up this season. If they can get him for two years and $24MM after that, as Ken Davidoff suggests, he’ll finish his career as a Yankee. If he gets injured this year or demands a three-year deal, there’s a good chance the team turns to its numerous internal options.
Bernie Won’t Take Minor League Offer
Slow news day, so I’ll update you on the Bernie Williams situation. A bunch of reporters followed him to a Connecticut concert to get a few quotes last night.
The New York Times says Williams will stay in shape and wait for that guaranteed offer from the Yankees. The story indicated that he’d turn down guaranteed offers from other teams. Scott Boras said this week that several other teams have expressed interest in Williams.
Williams does not believe he’ll play with the Yankees this year, but wants a more definitive answer. He’s not ready to retire. He had his uses as a fourth outfielder last year, hitting .281/.332/.436 in 420 ABs. Many teams would have a use for that.
Bernie Won’t Take Minor League Offer
Slow news day, so I’ll update you on the Bernie Williams situation. A bunch of reporters followed him to a Connecticut concert to get a few quotes last night.
The New York Times says Williams will stay in shape and wait for that guaranteed offer from the Yankees. The story indicated that he’d turn down guaranteed offers from other teams. Scott Boras said this week that several other teams have expressed interest in Williams.
Williams does not believe he’ll play with the Yankees this year, but wants a more definitive answer. He’s not ready to retire. He had his uses as a fourth outfielder last year, hitting .281/.332/.436 in 420 ABs. Many teams would have a use for that.
Pavano On The Trade Market
Pretty much anyone you ask would tell you Philip Hughes is likely to outpitch Carl Pavano this year. Any projection system or scout would tell you that the Yankees will win more games with Hughes as the fifth starter than Pavano. Why then is Pavano, and not Hughes, penciled in as the team’s fifth starter? The reason is that Pavano is due $23 million over the next two seasons. The Yankees want to get something out of him.
Best move for everyone would be to trade him. Jon Heyman of SI.com tells us that the Rockies wanted the Yankees to cover $15MM of the $20MM remaining on his deal. (Although I do believe Pavano is owed $23MM if you include his buyout). Maybe that means Colorado would take Pavano at the price of $8MM over the next two seasons? Who wouldn’t? Ramon Ortiz just got three mil. However, at this point the Rockies don’t need any more starters.
Heyman goes on to say that if Pavano can show promise this spring, the Yanks might get a team to take on $12-13MM of the money owed to Pavano. So, the team would pay $10MM over the next two seasons. Still not too bad, especially for an NL club looking to get creative (Cardinals?)
Pavano is on a rigorous workout regimen in hopes of returning to a Major League mound and redeeming himself.
Pavano On The Trade Market
Pretty much anyone you ask would tell you Philip Hughes is likely to outpitch Carl Pavano this year. Any projection system or scout would tell you that the Yankees will win more games with Hughes as the fifth starter than Pavano. Why then is Pavano, and not Hughes, penciled in as the team’s fifth starter? The reason is that Pavano is due $23 million over the next two seasons. The Yankees want to get something out of him.
Best move for everyone would be to trade him. Jon Heyman of SI.com tells us that the Rockies wanted the Yankees to cover $15MM of the $20MM remaining on his deal. (Although I do believe Pavano is owed $23MM if you include his buyout). Maybe that means Colorado would take Pavano at the price of $8MM over the next two seasons? Who wouldn’t? Ramon Ortiz just got three mil. However, at this point the Rockies don’t need any more starters.
Heyman goes on to say that if Pavano can show promise this spring, the Yanks might get a team to take on $12-13MM of the money owed to Pavano. So, the team would pay $10MM over the next two seasons. Still not too bad, especially for an NL club looking to get creative (Cardinals?)
Pavano is on a rigorous workout regimen in hopes of returning to a Major League mound and redeeming himself.
Yanks Not Working On Rivera Extension
According to Pete Caldera of the Bergen Record, the Yankees aren’t seeking to enter contract extension discussions with Mariano Rivera‘s agent during spring training. Rivera will be a free agent after 2007. Rivera is 37.
PECOTA says Rivera is worth about $23 million over the 2008-2010 seasons. He’ll make $10.5MM in 2007. Something tells me he’ll do a wee bit better than Jason Marquis, however. The free agent market after ’07 doesn’t offer anyone better, as Joe Nathan and Trevor Hoffman are likely to have their options exercised. Eric Gagne could be an option if he comes back strong this year.
K-Rod will be a free agent after 2008, unless the Angels give him an extension. It was supposedly a top priority this offseason; the Yankees may be eyeing him up as Rivera’s heir.
Yanks Not Working On Rivera Extension
According to Pete Caldera of the Bergen Record, the Yankees aren’t seeking to enter contract extension discussions with Mariano Rivera‘s agent during spring training. Rivera will be a free agent after 2007. Rivera is 37.
PECOTA says Rivera is worth about $23 million over the 2008-2010 seasons. He’ll make $10.5MM in 2007. Something tells me he’ll do a wee bit better than Jason Marquis, however. The free agent market after ’07 doesn’t offer anyone better, as Joe Nathan and Trevor Hoffman are likely to have their options exercised. Eric Gagne could be an option if he comes back strong this year.
K-Rod will be a free agent after 2008, unless the Angels give him an extension. It was supposedly a top priority this offseason; the Yankees may be eyeing him up as Rivera’s heir.
A-Rod To Opt Out?
Alex Rodriguez had an innocuous book signing appearance yesterday, but it resulted in no less than eight newspaper columns based on a few quotes. I read all of the articles I could find so you don’t have to.
In response to a question about opting out of his contract after the season, A-Rod replied:
"My situation and my only goal is to win a world championship, and I am going to take it day to day. Everything else will take care of itself."
Classic non-answer. Rodriguez also mentioned that he did not follow the J.D. Drew situation. The New York Times reports that a publicist from HarperCollins tried to stop reporters from asking questions and that a Newsday reported was pushed away by police. Newsday’s Jim Baumbach doesn’t mention that, perhaps preferring to leave himself out of the story.
Scott Boras talked to the AP yesterday, saying that A-Rod was happy in New York but also going on about how revenues in baseball have doubled and elite position players haven’t been properly rewarded. Boras and Rodriguez won’t discuss the opt-out clause until season’s end, according to the Post. If you’re Rodriguez, it’s a no-win situation. He’s not going to give up a contractual right he earned, nor is he going to make a definitive statement in the press so that he can be villainized later for it.
The New York Daily News reports that Rodriguez did mention a desire to represent the Yankees in the 2008 All-Star Game at Yankee Stadium.
The latest reports are that A-Rod has three years and $72MM left on his deal. While the AAV is probably close to what he could get on the open market, Rodriguez would obviously get a longer deal for more security.
Rodriguez also mentioned that he has no beef with Joe Torre for hitting him down in the order in the playoffs.
A-Rod To Opt Out?
Alex Rodriguez had an innocuous book signing appearance yesterday, but it resulted in no less than eight newspaper columns based on a few quotes. I read all of the articles I could find so you don’t have to.
In response to a question about opting out of his contract after the season, A-Rod replied:
"My situation and my only goal is to win a world championship, and I am going to take it day to day. Everything else will take care of itself."
Classic non-answer. Rodriguez also mentioned that he did not follow the J.D. Drew situation. The New York Times reports that a publicist from HarperCollins tried to stop reporters from asking questions and that a Newsday reported was pushed away by police. Newsday’s Jim Baumbach doesn’t mention that, perhaps preferring to leave himself out of the story.
Scott Boras talked to the AP yesterday, saying that A-Rod was happy in New York but also going on about how revenues in baseball have doubled and elite position players haven’t been properly rewarded. Boras and Rodriguez won’t discuss the opt-out clause until season’s end, according to the Post. If you’re Rodriguez, it’s a no-win situation. He’s not going to give up a contractual right he earned, nor is he going to make a definitive statement in the press so that he can be villainized later for it.
The New York Daily News reports that Rodriguez did mention a desire to represent the Yankees in the 2008 All-Star Game at Yankee Stadium.
The latest reports are that A-Rod has three years and $72MM left on his deal. While the AAV is probably close to what he could get on the open market, Rodriguez would obviously get a longer deal for more security.
Rodriguez also mentioned that he has no beef with Joe Torre for hitting him down in the order in the playoffs.
Posada Not Concerned
Jorge Posada won’t be bothered by his impending free agency as he enters his age 36 season. Last year’s resurgence was surprising given his age and position.
It’s hard to picture the longtime Yankee backstop with any other team. If PECOTA were to re-sign Posada for 2007-09, it would offer $25 million or so. Apparently Posada’s skills will age pretty well. I think the Yankees will get something done for three years and $30 million.
If the Yankees decide to go another route, free agent catchers may include Michael Barrett, Paul LoDuca, and Ivan Rodriguez.