The best closer on the free agent market is open to being a setup man. Agent Scott Boras told Andrew Marchand of ESPNNewYork.com that Rafael Soriano would consider signing with the Yankees even though it would mean setting up for closer Mariano Rivera.
"I don't think there is a team in baseball where he could be asked to be a setup guy other than the Yankees," Boras said.
Boras said the “door is open” with the Bronx Bombers, but Yankees GM Brian Cashman declined to comment on his team’s level of interest. Jon Heyman of SI.com reports that the sides are in contact (Twitter links). However, talks are preliminary and re-signing Andy Pettitte remains the Yankees' priority.
The White Sox are eyeing Soriano and the Angels seem like a possible fit. The Cardinals don't appear to have much interest and the Rangers are not bidding at the moment.
So they’ll have the best 8
I bet he is open to playing for anyone who will pay him. Bet he was wishing he would have accepted the guaranteed money of arbitration right about now.
Scott Boras should be the next Commissioner of Baseball.
… What, and take a pay cut?
Too true! What a master though. He’s controlled the game for years now anyway. He’ worked his magic taking players into free agency and cashing out to big market teams. His latest strategy is killer as well……take young stars and seek major contract extentions of the Carlos Gonzalez variety. He’ll pull that magic on the Royals here in a few years with Moustakas and Hosmer.
Actually,I think the opposite is true. I read where CarGo sat with him and instructed him to seek an extension. A Boras client signing past FA years is probably the last thing he wants to do. He almost always instructs his clients to go to FA and get the maximum. Don’t expect him to be in a rush to extend any other clients past anything but their arbitration years.
It seems like Boras has had some defections in the past because he seemed to be derailing the wishes of a few clients. The players slip my mind right now. There has to be a little pressure to extend a guy like Gonzalez though. There’s the threat that if he gets too close to free agency he’ll just go on out the door. Colorado’s recent contract strategy is interesting. It’d be interesting to know they whys/hows of it.
That would GUARANTEE that there would NEVER EVER EVER be a salary cap!!! EVER!
Seriously, though….Scott Boras is an incredibly sharp businessman obviously. It’d be interesting to see his strategies working the other side of the fence.
Not! He can’t even determine who the best closer in baseball is, not Rivera, not Soriano, not one of his clients, but Heath Bell with a save ratio of 94%! Scott Boras could possibly be an ESPN analyst!
I’m not saying I love Scott Boras, but he has been INCREDIBLY effective for his clients. I don’t like or agree with him though.
I thought ESPN analysts are the ones who determine the best closer by save percentage.
you keep thinkin that heath bell is better than mo that is pretty funny
Next commissioner of the liars club more like it.
Huh? Not! Boras is only good at representing already established talent, his baseball anaysis is less than admirable. For example Boras said..”I don’t think there is a team in baseball where he (Soriano) could be asked to be a setup guy other than the Yankees”, except that Rivera is not the better closer than Rivera, and Bell is better than both with a save ratio at 94%! Boras should just keep brown nosing huge market teams so that we have somebody to hate in this bird-cage theatre we call MLB:)
“…except that Rivera is not the better closer than Rivera”
I disagree. Rivera is much better than Rivera! lol
Yeah I know, I havn’t figured out a way to edit posts after they are initially added:(
There’s an Edit button on the lower right next to the Reply button.
Its at least a tie
You get a like just for your awesome screen name.
Is there any more info like if they’re actually far in negotiations?
It would fantastic is the Sox somehow pulled this out. As impossible as it seems, maybe the lure of closing for a potential contender will lure him in. Dig deep Jerry! DIG
Not thrilled with giving up a first rounder for a set up man, but would like to sign him very much.
presumably he’d be your closer after Mo retires…and considering that Mo (not Jeter) has been the single most important Yankee over the past 15 years, that’s big shoes to fill.
YESSSSSS, Get it done Cashman!!!!!
Yankees bullpen would be lethal!
He’s 31 years old and has had more seasons in which he has been injured than those in which he hasn’t. Not worth a draft pick let alone a multi-year deal
I think you’re exagerating a bit. 5 healthy seasons where he pitched 47 innings or more and 2 injuries resulting in 3 injury shortened seasons in which he pitched no more than 25 IP. Certainly a risk, but worth at least a 2 year deal and a draft pick. How do you justify giving a 41 year old closer, a 36 year old SS and a 35 year old 3B mega multi million dollar deals and then skimp on a guy like Soriano when you have two gaping holes in the rotation to be filled by virtual rookies and an enigmatic AJ who is a question mark for 2011 in terms of expectations?
Boras is practicaly begging Cashman to throw a 2/$16 deal at Soriano. If we can afford to give Marte and Igawa each $4 mil and get nothing in return (except a great 2009 WS from marte) then I think Soriano is a acceptable risk.
there is no way soriano only gets 16million..not with how crazy overpaid relievers are getting this offseason and Soriano being represented by Boras. I’m thinking closer to K-Rod money.
Since 78 is probably right in ave salary but Soriano gas to get at least 3 yrs when lesser relievers have done so! 3/27 would be about right I think!
3/$24 was what I wanted them to offer him 2 or 3 weeks ago. Now, I would offer him 2/$16 and bump it up to more if needed.
Keep in mind, this is the 2nd straight year it seems he’s had trouble getting the contract he wanted. He had to settle for a 1 year sign and trade deal with the Braves because he didn’t have anyone step up in $$$$ or to give up a pick last year. What has changed from last year really aside from a stronger market for middle relief pitchers?
Again…from who? It was reported that Boras wanted 4/$40. Why is he still waiting and why haven’t we heard of any team making him an offer anywhere near that, let alone at all?
this is what boras always does. Even if there is only one team bidding, he still gets close to the money he wanted for his client. I see 3/30
Cashman has shown little interest thus far. Call up Boras and say this is my offer and it expires in 72 hrs. 2/$16. What harm can be done? Boras will either say no or make a counter offer and IF I’m reading the market right for him, I don’t think he has an offer of more than $20-$24 mil on the table.
Teams w/ closers: 20 of 30 teams
Giants, Padres, Royals, Reds, Cubs, Red Sox, Yankees, Cardinals, Tigers, Mets, A’s, Indians, Astros, Dodgers, Angels, Twins, Jays, Phillies, Rockies, Brewers
Teams that are non-competitive or won’t spend the $$$$: 4 of 30 teams
Pirates, Rays, Marlins, Dbacks
Teams that might want to upgrade or need a closer: 6 of 30 teams
White Sox, O’s, M’s, Angels, Rangers, Braves,
White Sox have Sale so will they use him in the pen as a closer or a starter? Do they have any money left?
O’s missed Gonzalez for most of 2010. Do they want to invest $20+ mil in another closer w/ past arm issues?
Rangers have Feliz and Francisco in the pen. After signing Beltre do they have any money left?
Braves have Kimbrel and didn’t want to bring Soriano back last year so why would they this year?
So that leaves the Yanks, M’s, ChiSox and Angels as they only real teams left and two of those teams (Angels w/ Rodney and Sox w/ Sale) might not really need to upgrade.
I think your read on the market is right on. In another post I thought that Angels should offer 3/$25 or 2/$18. He is designated as the closer and would be pitching in a very solid bullpen. Only would cost the Angels their 3rd round pick (2nd round pick is already lost with Downs – now Tampa gets the 2nd and Toronto gets the 3rd).
If not the Angels then the Yanks would be next in line. The White Sox are a possibility but everything coming from them is that the club has no more cash. I could see them jumping in if the price got crazy low but I don’t think the Angels or Yankees will let him slip that much.
At that point, it was expected there was a limited amount of suitors for him. Coming out in the media and saying “He wants to close, but if the Yankees are interested…” suddenly drives his price way up. Someone will overpay for him with this news out there and I honestly don’t think it will be Cashman.
I don’t buy this AT ALL. You know what this is? This is a shameless attempt to get the yankees in on a bidding war for Soriano because interest is not as high as it should be for the reliever.
I don’t know where you’re getting that from.
Cuz it’s classic Scott Boras. Make the yankees interested when they’ve shown no interest. Cmon, he knows where the deep pockets are. I predict the yanks do NOT bite on this one. If they do, they’ll overpay my millions and sacrifice a 1st rounder!
bidding war against who?
themselves. the yankees always bid against themselves. the reason soriano isn’t coveted is because who wants to give up a first-rounder??
It’s not a question of teams not wanting to give up a 1st rnd pick as much as it is there are very few teams who need a closer at closer costs. Except for the Angels almost all the big market contending teams are set.
Yanks, Sox, Tigers, A’s, Phillies, Mets, Braves, SF, Dodgers, etc
So the yankees are the ONLY TEAM IN BASEBALL willing to pay CLOSER COSTS to a setup man and believe me, scott boras knows it!
That may be true, but maybe now other teams will be willing to pay closer costs for a closer.
The yankees first rounder is protected because they signed Cliff Lee. Oh wait…..
Well if the Angels start to show interest he’s sure to sign with the yanks.
I agree. Seems just a few weeks back, Soriano was adamant that he was a closer and would not set up for anyone. Now with the signings of far lesser relievers and the market drying up, he’s changed his tune. The question remains, what about the salary?
The Yankees were reluctent to pay closer money for a set-up man, has their position changed as well?
Yankees are eager to sign just about anyone at this point. Haven’t done anything significant at all so far.
Sorta reminds me of the Sox backup plans when they failed with their original plans, like the 2009 penny, smoltz,saito, baldelli bargain basement shopping after losing out on Tex. Or the 40 million Igawa signing by the Yanks after losing out on Dice-K before 07! All classic failures!
Saito and Wagner were pretty decent pick ups for the sox in 2009.
Ugghhh. Soraino is a much better closer than closers on other teams (Dotel, Gregg, Rodney etc) and still is willing to set up for the Yankees, the one team in MLB that will have him set up instead of close
Because they have Rivera, and Rivera is better then Soraino, Rivera is one of a kind
Just Borass trying to up the ante.
Sounds like maybe contract talks have stalled with another team and Boras is whipping out the old Yankee whip.
i wish him well where ever he ends up. it’s good to see he’s living up to some of the potential. still love that bavasi traded him for horacio ramirez.
Cashman hasn’t seemed eager to sign Soriano or anyone other than Lee this winter so I’m not sure where you get that from?
Because Lee was a huge need, no they missed out on him, and yankees need a pitcher
Interesting news. Just want to get it out there, but I’m open to playing Right Field for the Yankees. Just give me a call, guys.
Yeah Nick Swisher just tweeted this
What the hell… it says there are 13 comments in here when there are really like 60. Did you all just post in the past 3 seconds?!
Anyway, related topic, anyone familiar with the Yankees farm to know if Brackman has the potential to take over for Mo down the line?
I wonder how long of a contract Soriano is looking for…
No, I’ve noticed that about this site for a while now… it doesn’t always accurately show number of comments.
Same here. Sometimes I come on and all posts say the comments are at 0. I click comments and then there are about 50-60 lol
I really, really, really like the idea of “prospect pitcher A” breaking in thru the pen but I’m convinced NY is the last place to try that after seeing the debate over Joba and Hughes once they showed success out of the pen. I would much, much more prefer to see Brackman, Banuelos, Betances, Nova and even Noesi, stay as starters because with an even weaker 2012 FA class that is what we need to develop.
As a Yankee fan I would love to see this, assuming the deal is fair, but I can’t imagine this being anything but boras putting pressure on the Angles. They have already missed on two big FAs, they can’t afford to miss out on soriano too.
My bet is Boras will still want Soriano paid like a closer. I’m guessing a 3-4 deal with a belief that he’d be heir to Mariano’s throne. Possibly even incentives on number of games finished.
See, I thought that too. But… he’ll be 33 when Mo’s contract is up. He can possibly still be the heir to the throne, but I think the Yankees are headed towards an age where kings have short reigns.
Every two or three years, change the closer like other teams. – Difference being they’ll probably pay top dollar to get the best possible option for the next 2-3 years, and so on.
The Angels signed Takahashi and Downs, they could be done adding to their pen
Papelbon is not the 2nd best closer in baseball. Good try Heath Bell, Soriano, Soria, Brian Wilson, Marmol, Feliz Gregg and Marmol all pitched better than Papsmere. And Jenks had an awful year and has been declining, but good try.
Soriano may be a set up guy.
Kevin Gregg?? Really???
At the end of the day , out of all the closers u guys are listing only jenks was available at a cheap price, and i think thats what he meant. That its a move that couldve been made by the yankees. As a mets fan i should have no say but… I do like the yankees as an AL team. And they need to make some moves. Jon Rauch would be nice or Balfour. Bonderman/Francis would be nice fits. Get Keppinger if u must. I think Paul Maholm is Avail. DO SOMETHING!
Soriano is nasty, plain and simple. Here is why I wouldn’t sign him
1)Injury prone
2)Draft pick for the Rays. I haven’t been completely enamored with the Yankees drafts first and foremost. The last thing NY needs to be doing is giving up picks to someone(especially in the division.)
depends on how you want to look at it i guess. you could look at it as giving up draft picks in the division, or you could look at it as in taking a division leaders closer, for a draft pick that has a 50 percent chance of ever breaking into the majors for an established closer with dirty stuff.
I think the longer soriano is out there the more likely the white sox sweep him up. It would really boost their bullpen also.
Do they have the money? They could have around $125M committed after arbitration.
I know this is blasphemy, but if the Yankees didn’t sign Soriano, who would take over if Mariano went on the DL? Chamberlain? Who else? Signing Soriano would be more than overpaying for an injury-risk setup man. It would also be a worthwhile insurance policy.
Blasphemy! That said… has he ever been on the DL? I only found one year where he appeared in less than 50 games.
The yanks have a deep pen, losing Mo would hurt, but it wouldn’t kill the pen.
While he rarely has been hurt, many Yankee fans seem to think he’s invincible. Eventually, he’s going to fall apart – and he’s coming close to the age limit for dominant pitchers. Who do the Yankees have that can come close to replacing Rivera? Soriano probably would be a far safer option.
Well he’s been coming to that age limit for 6 years and has yet to slow down.
I agree, Mo is not likely to get hurt, he’s been nothing but consistent and dominant his whole career.
Sign Pettitte 1yr $12M, sign Soriano 3yrs $30M, sign Fuentes 2yrs $12M, sign Belflour 1yr $2.5M AND sign Vlad for one year $6M.
AND still try to trade for Soria!
Not a scenario I want to see. You remove Mo from the pen and everyone is pushed into a position they may not be ready for…Joba to closer, Robertson to 8th, and then the likes of Mitre and rookies to hold games from the 5th to 8th….ugly.
Here’s a crazy idea. Sign Soriano. 3yrs, 27mil with a team option for a 4th year. Also sign Balfour, 3yrs 15mil with a team option for a 4th year. (He’ll only cost us a second rounder). Then trade Joba for prospects and you more than offset the loss of the two draft choices, plus end up with a lock down bullpen that’s set for the transition when Mo retires (or gets hurt).
If Petitte retires, we also need to pick up a 5th starter such as Bonderman, Millwood or Garcia. MeatTray should be no more than an emergency starter option…
I’m ok giving Nova a decent shot in the rotation. He performed pretty well last year. If he’s struggling at the beginning of June, I’m sure there will be one of our prospects doing well to plug in…
Anyone know if a sign and trade deal has ever been attempted (or would even be legal)? Somebody with a protected 1st-round pick signs Soriano, then deals him to the Yanks for prospects? It sounds a little fishy, and is probably against the rules somehow, but that’s probably the only way Soriano winds up in pinstripes this offseason.
I realize this is a pretty absurd hypothetical, and other teams are not likely to want to help the Yankees out, but I’m intrigued nonetheless.
One of the better closer options in the league is gonna sign a deal to set-up? Not to say he won’t because look at players like Lee, one minute its show me the money next minute its signing for less to win a championship in a warm environment. Who knows? I’m betting this is just more Boras using a lrg market team to create slightly quicker, and larger offers from teams where he could close.