FRIDAY: Soriano’s deal does, in fact, include an opt-out clause that allows him to become a free agent if he’s not in the Majors by the All-Star Game in mid-July, CBS Sports’ Jon Heyman writes.
TUESDAY: The Cubs have signed veteran reliever Rafael Soriano to a minor league deal, adding another option to the team’s late-inning mix. He’ll earn the pro-rated portion of a $4.1MM base salary and can add up to $4MM in incentives (based upon games finished and appearances).
It rates as a surprise that Soriano signed a minors pact, of course. After all, he landed at 37th on the top-fifty free agent list of MLBTR’s Tim Dierkes, who explained that Soriano was still a plenty capable reliever last year. Now, he becomes the final name on that list to sign.
On the other hand, as I wrote back in October, the righty faced plenty of competition in his segment of the market. And while technically a minor-league arrangement, his new pact comes with expectations of a relatively quick call-up as well as a significant salary upon his addition to the MLB roster. Early and frequent opt-out clauses would also seem likely, though they remain unreported.
Soriano’s new deal comes not long after he changed representation. Still on the market with two months of the season in the books, Soriano switched from the Boras Corporation to Octagon Baseball. He indicated then that he hoped to sign in fairly short order, and he had been set to hold a showcase later this week.
Of course, it remains to be seen what Soriano has left in the tank. He faded down the stretch last year after a nice start, ending up with a 3.19 ERA with 8.6 K/9 and 2.8 BB/9 over 62 innings. All said, Soriano has produced solid (but not spectacular) results over the last two years despite a loss of fastball velocity.
Looking further back, the former All-Star has been fairly consistent in terms of his end-of-year production, if not his game-to-game results. Going back to the 2006 campaign, Soriano has thrown at least 60 frames seven times and only once ended a year with an earned run average higher than last year’s final mark. While his save tallies may have boosted his prominence beyond his true talent, Soriano has been one of the more reliably useful pen arms in the game for some time.
Chicago currently sits at 20th in the league in terms of reliever ERA, and its late-inning options (such as Hector Rondon, Pedro Strop, and Jason Motte) have been short of dominant. With Neil Ramirez still working back from injury, it is easy to see the need for another quality arm.
By adding Soriano now, the Cubs will gain some time to assess their pen in advance of the trade deadline. It remains possible that the club will be in the market for higher-end relief talent, though the return of Ramirez will hopefully deliver additional punch from the right side.
Gordon Wittenmyer of the Chicago Sun-Times reported that a deal was close. Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com tweeted that the deal was done. James Wagner of the Washington Post tweeted the contract details.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Even with his second half struggles last year and having Boras as his agent until recently, I’m surprised it took Soriano this long to find a deal. He wasn’t offered arbitration, was he? I imagine he would have taken that offer if so.
You can’t offer FA’s arbitration anymore. That system was replaced by the QO system.
Boras is no longer his agent. My guess is Boras was asking for a good chunk of change and a guarantee of the closers job.
Well good thing is we don’t have to worry about him fading down the stretch
His second-half stats weren’t that bad if you drill into them. He had a couple rough outings that skewed those numbers. Almost all relievers have this happen.
Anytime you have Ben( The Jet ) Revere hit an Home Run off you to Lose a Game, its time to STAY at the House!
Only a minor-league deal? Yikes. Figured some team would offer a MLB deal.
Agreed
Yay???
Can we convince Soriano to wear #12?
Yankee’s what happened???
FINALLY!
How do I claim the free agent contest prizes? 😉
Yuck…no thank you. Supposedly not a good clubhouse guy and I don’t care for his demeanor on the field. Picky? Maybe, but I like to root as much for the guys on the team as much as the team itself. Not this guy. One of the few moves Epstein and company have made I don’t really care for. Sometimes the best moves you make are the ones you don’t.
Let’s see how well he pitches first. I’m not a huge fan of this move but let’s cut Theo n company some slack, at least until we see him in action. He is a vet and that is huge in late inning, pressure situations (usually).
Soriano played for Maddon during some of his best career years. I think it’s safe to say Epstein & Co. know exactly what they’re getting themselves into.
As a Nats fan, I can say there were no such reports of clubhouse issues. The. issues were all on the field. He didn’t miss many bats and definitely faded down the stretch….
The part that bugged me was the stupid untucking after completing a save, even when the save involved a couple of walks, followed by a tight rope walk and ending with someone having to make a miraculous play in the field to end the game…
Well, he wasn’t a bad clubhouse guy for the Rays, he worked really well with Maddon
Good gamble. If he doesn’t work out..not much lost. If they can catch lightening in a bottle…++ move for them.
this move helps…he’ll be called up in a week
And there goes any inkling of a notion that the Phillies had leverage in talks with Chicago.
If the guy was any Good , he wouldn’t have had to wait this long for a MLB Team to buy him up. Cubs are gambling that he does not lose the BIG Game for them that gets them in the playoffs for year ! Chump Money Deal, they have nothing to lose , but more games , and the Playoff chance.
Boras must have been demanding a major league deal for him, because this is a pretty good sized contract.
if he struggled late, perhaps signing in june will mitigate that problem.
Best option available. This way there is no trading away of future key pieces. Not like this guy cost the farm either. I still think Neil R. would of really helped lock down this bullpen. I wonder how Grimm would do in the closer role?
WOHOO!
Can’t hurt. I wonder if this ends the Papelbon to Chicago idea…
As a Cubs fan, let’s hope so.
It makes some sense. He shows what he can do (whatever that is) in the minors. If he still has something left in the tank, he will be up quickly, and his prorated MLB salary (around $2.8-ish if he’s up?) If he’s into incentive land because of good performance, they will flip him. If not, the total spend isn’t that much.
Eh, why so quick to assume the Cubs sell? They’re the second Wild Card team in the NL right now and on pace to win about 88 games. If he’s doing well and up into incentive land, it probably means the team is too.
We certainly need the help in the bullpen, hopefully he can provide it. Would have liked to see a smaller guarantee though.
And if he doesn’t ! Then the Cubbies have to pay thru the Nose for Chapman. Paps would have solved this problem for the Cubs a long time ago, same with Hamels they are losing games that they can be winning and insuring the Playoff Spot, over a couple of maybe prospects
Am I crazy in thinking a pen of Soriano, Rondon, Motte, Strop, Russell, Grimm, and Edwin Jackson in long relief to be pretty good? Also Ramirez should be back soon. And Id be surprised if CJ Edwards doesn’t eventually
CJ Edwards doesn’t exist anymore. He is now Carl Edwards Jr.
Not so much Edwin, but they do have upside
I hope these players start realizing how Boras screws up a good amount of times. Boras probably said to Soriano, “don’t worry, we will let the market develop and I’ll get you Papelbon money”. They need to start a Yelp for sports agents.
I think that this could be a good sign for the Cubs because Soriano has been a closer and has been dominate for other teams. I think the Cubs could still use another starter because Wood and Wada are not getting in done as the fifth starter. If Soriano can return to form he had just a few seasons ago then the Cubs got a steal of a sign because he was lights out but that is definitely up in the air after the way he has been the past 12 months or so.
They usually report it with the headline ” To a Minor League Deal”
I think the Cubs still have a big move left with the Phillies before the deadline for either Papelbon or Hamels or both. The Phillies get Castro, Almora, Edwards, and Sczuzr.
Exchange Schwarer for Almora and Baez for Sczurr, deal gets done!
No way, your getting the Cubs top 2 prospects and Castro.
And you the Cubs are getting a Cheap All-Star Pitcher with a Ton of Playoff experience and an All-Star Closer that’s better than anything you have For Two Maybes and Question Mark in Castro.
I didn’t know RAJ was an MLBTR reader.
With the Phillies rumored willing to eat a good portion of Howards contract, get a third team involved (AL). Package McKinney, Castro, Vogelbach and mid level prospects.