Mariano Rivera informed Yankees General Manager Brian Cashman that he wants to return next season, tweets Erik Boland of Newsday. The closer is now a free agent after finishing up his two-year, $30MM contract.
Rivera tore his ACL while shagging fly balls in May, bringing his season to an end. The closer vowed to return to action but Cashman recently disclosed that Rivera was considering retirement. Rivera has earned $15MM in each of the past five seasons, but the Yankees may look to push that number down as he closes in on his 43rd birthday.
Gaining some clarity on Rivera's situation will almost certainly influence the Yankees' stance on Rafael Soriano. Soriano is expected to decline the one-year, $13.3MM qualifying offer he received yesterday and the Yankees likely won't pay a steep price for him unless it's to bring him back as closer. Boras is said to be seeking a four-year pact in the neighborhood of $60MM.
Rivera’s a class act and a hall of famer. Heading into 2013 – I hope they can sign Rafael Soriano, in case Rivera gets hurt again.
Lets hope not, soriano will want 4 years at too high a price, money is not infinite for the yankees now.
My guess is the Yankees will keep him from shagging balls if they’re worried about injury.
Rivera returning to his old role as Soriano leaves is a small upgrade at best. Assuming Rivera’s injury does not affect future performance.
It’s not like the pen was an area of need…
impossible to do better than eppley and rapada.
I can think of a lot of guys who were better than Eppley and Rapada.
Im not sure of how many loogys did better than rapada but he did pretty great.
Keep on truckin’ Mariano
it’s nice to see him make a quick decision, hopefully pettitte follows suit.
Hopefully he doesn’t sign any where else if he does I will hate cashman for life
Do you really expect Cashman to not make him an offer??
Well two years ago he threatened to be a red sox. I’m just saying
He turned down more money from the Sox just to be a Yankee…he wasn’t threatening anything
Mo is coming back as a Yankee and a Yankee only. That is why he informed Cashman. Would love to bring back Sori since he would be the closer in 2014 but not at that asking price.
Its amazing that he’s still one of the best relievers at 43 years old. A career WHIP under 1.00. Career goes back to 1995. Amazing.
Considering he pitched 8 innings this past season and pocketed $15 M, Rivera should man up and sign for the ML minimum.
Or on the flip side, the Yankees should offer him a 1-year $105 million contract, considering the surplus value he provided for the Yankees throughout his career, in terms of dollars per WAR.
He’s the greatest closer this sport has ever seen, you’d think fans would be a bit more appreciative of his career. He tore his ACL this year, it’s not like he benched himself because nagging knee or back issues or something.
EDIT: I meant ACL, not ACLU haha. My point still stands, though.
No wonder Mo was so durable for so long. He had the entire American Civil Liberties Union holding his knees together.
Woops, thanks for pointing that out, haha.
Soriano for 60 mil, just Boras being Boras, no way any team pays 60 million for a closer….unless it is Rivera in his prime…..
Rivera is still in his prime it seems.
I believe it’s been said before, but machines don’t have primes…
I would have agreed, until one day I saw a machine tore its ACL
Psshh I saw this one movie with a Robot NAMED Prime. Apparently there is a long line of Primes too. It was weird and confusing but was cool to look at.
Papelbon got 50M and soriano’s career year much better. Don’t think he is worth it, just mentioning that it only takes 1 team.
4 year pact? Let’s see… 43, 44, 45, 46. LOL Not even the Yankees are that stupid, I don’t think. But if they can’t make this deal work, they could probably get Jamie Moyer on a 2 year deal.
Soriano is seeking the 4 year deal…..not Rivera.
I had the privilidge of meeting Rivera when I was younger. He made a guest appearance at a Christian Convention and was talking about how his life in Panama shaped who he is today. Great man of faith and an even better closer. I’m so happy he’s returning.
Is it true that in the offseason he takes some of his own money & builds churches in Panama?