Rafael Soriano opted out of the final year of his contract with the Yankees today, passing up a guaranteed $14MM in favor of a potential multiyear deal. Team president Randy Levine and agent Scott Boras told Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com that the two sides did discuss a new contract, but they didn't see eye to eye.
"Randy and I had a discussion," said Boras. "He requested us to make an offer. At this time, we thought it best to file before making any proposals to the Yankees … I never make promises as to what the free-agent market might bear. I'm in the business of providing information to my clients and negotiating on their behalf. I'm not in the business of promising my clients contracts."
Levine told Heyman that Boras told Soriano he "could get $60 million for four years" on the open market this offseason, which would be the richest contract for a reliever in history. "People can make logical conclusions. I am happy he feels he has a feel for the value of the player," added Boras of Levine.
Soriano, 32, pitched to a 2.26 ERA with 9.2 K/9 and 3.2 BB/9 this season, and he went 42-for-46 in save chances after Mariano Rivera injured his knee. Jonathan Papelbon signed a four-year, $50MM contract with the Phillies last offseason, which appeared to set the market for high-end closers.
Papelbon was 30 years old when he signed that contract with the Phillies and had/has a longer and better resume than Soriano. Soriano will be 33 when the 2013 pre-season starts unless Boras can find some deaf, dumb and blind GM there is no way Soriano gets 4 years/$60MM from a team. As a Yankee fan I say let let him walk. The Yankees can find a better use for that money then paying Soriano that ridiculous amount.
Levine told Heyman that Boras told Soriano he “could get $60 million for four years” on the open market this offseason
Who in their right mind is going to give Soriano a 4 yr/60 million dollar deal?
Who has that kind of cash laying around and especially for a relief pitcher.
This is definately something I would not do!
You never know. There is always a team that comes out and does the crazy thing
Detroit.
Dodgers
jayson werth
It’s likely just trash talk but I wouldn’t be surprised if Boras can work his magic.
4 years at 15 per is ridiculous for a reliever – even if it is a closer.
Just because Papelbonn lucked into signing an over-priced contract does not mean owners have to keep giving out overpriced contracts.
Once again Scott Boras is trying to SET the market price, rather than let the market establish itself. Boras is the ruin of competitive balance.
So if F. Rodney repeats his 2012 numbers I guess he deserves at least 4/65?
Boras is notorious for $crewing his clients. Soriano had a good thing going in NY. Whatever.
There have been a few cases where Boras clients didn’t get what they were looking for — but I think by and large he ends up doing fairly well by his clients, especially the higher end, medium-range, and amateur clients.
Boras always starts high. This is not surprising. More likely he gets something like 3/30-36, hopefully not with the Yankees.
Will the Yankees offer Soriano the qualifying offer?
If so, will other teams be willing to go 3yr/$30m?
I think Boras is misreading the closer market, but if Soriano gets a deal anywhere close to what Paps got last year, it won’t end well.
He’s not misreading…..he’s trying to spin it into his favor.
Levine told Heyman that Boras told Soriano he “could get $60 million for four years” on the open market this offseason
Scotty is just setting the bar high so his client can end up getting somewhere in the ballpark of 4 years $48 million. Remember when Strasburg wouldn’t sign for less than a $50 million bonus?
And that is why all draft picks now sign minor league deals.
Something like 4yr/48m ain’t out of the question. I can almost guarantee he’s gonna get a better contract than the one he just opted out of. Detroit is pretty desperate…they know their window is open for maybe another 3-4 years…
I’d really like to know the mystery team of which Scott Boras is talking. I think he ends up closer to what I said earlier…3/40. I cannot see a team giving a fourth year to Rafael Soriano. Flash back to the 2008 offseason; Boras thought he could get 5/75 for K-Rod…the price eventually fell to 3/36 and the Mets pounced.
Sounds like Boras being Boras…….AGAIN. Three years….maybe…..four years…..no way. Boras says he has an offer for 4 years…..I’d call his bluff.
Got to say…..I love free agency but also hate it when I hear Boras’ name.
Is Scott Boras the only one taking crazy pills around here?
$15,000,000 a year for someone who literally plays 1/18th of a game 65-70 times a year?
Boras is going to be so stubborn with his negotiation that Soriano is going to wind up with a 1 year deal elsewhere for less than half of what he could have gotten with the Yankees if he stayed.