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01-13-2011, 10:24pm
The Yankees and Rafael Soriano have agreed to terms on a three-year deal | yankees.com: News (http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20110113&content_id=16435550&vkey=news_nyy&c_id=nyy&partnerId=rss_nyy)
Yankees agree to terms with reliever Soriano
Club fortifies bullpen with three-year deal for right-hander
By Doug Miller / MLB.com | 01/13/11 9:31 PM EST
Comments (18)
printe-mailIt appears that Mariano Rivera has a new setup man and the Yankees have a future successor to the long-occupied closer role in the Bronx.
Jon Heyman of SI.com and MLB Network reported via Twitter that the Yankees have made a big free-agent splash, agreeing to terms with reliever Rafael Soriano, pending a physical, on a three-year contract worth approximately $35 million. The Yankees have not confirmed the report.
The "deal is creative and provides for flexibility," with Soriano eligible to opt out of the contract "after either one year or two years," according to Heyman. Soriano was widely considered the best available talent remaining on the Hot Stove market.
2010 Highlights: Rafael Soriano00:00:53Rafael Soriano converted 45 saves with a 1.73 ERA in 2010 for the RaysTags: Rafael Soriano, highlight reelShare:
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Soriano's final 2010 appearance
Soriano closes it outThe Yankees will lose their first-round pick in the 2011 First-Year Player Draft to the Tampa Bay Rays because of Soriano's Type A free-agent status.
It seems likely that the Yankees will gauge Soriano's performance in New York as the legendary career of Rivera, 41, winds down, with hopes of promoting Soriano to the closer's role when Rivera retires. Soriano figures to enter the Yankees' 2011 mix as the eighth-inning man while Rivera, with 559 career saves, goes after the recently retired Trevor Hoffman's all-time record of 601.
Meanwhile, the Yankees are getting a very talented closer-in-waiting. Soriano, 31, led the American League in saves with 45 last year while pitching for the Rays and posted a 1.73 ERA, an .802 WHIP and 57 strikeouts in 62 1/3 innings.
Soriano became a full-time closer in 2009 while pitching for the Atlanta Braves. He came up in the Seattle Mariners system and broke into the Majors in 2002 as a starter before locking into a middle-relief and setup role. He has a career 2.73 ERA, 1.000 WHIP and 422 strikeouts in 395 innings.
Yankees agree to terms with reliever Soriano
Club fortifies bullpen with three-year deal for right-hander
By Doug Miller / MLB.com | 01/13/11 9:31 PM EST
Comments (18)
printe-mailIt appears that Mariano Rivera has a new setup man and the Yankees have a future successor to the long-occupied closer role in the Bronx.
Jon Heyman of SI.com and MLB Network reported via Twitter that the Yankees have made a big free-agent splash, agreeing to terms with reliever Rafael Soriano, pending a physical, on a three-year contract worth approximately $35 million. The Yankees have not confirmed the report.
The "deal is creative and provides for flexibility," with Soriano eligible to opt out of the contract "after either one year or two years," according to Heyman. Soriano was widely considered the best available talent remaining on the Hot Stove market.
2010 Highlights: Rafael Soriano00:00:53Rafael Soriano converted 45 saves with a 1.73 ERA in 2010 for the RaysTags: Rafael Soriano, highlight reelShare:
FacebookTwitterEmailRelated Video
Soriano's final 2010 appearance
Soriano closes it outThe Yankees will lose their first-round pick in the 2011 First-Year Player Draft to the Tampa Bay Rays because of Soriano's Type A free-agent status.
It seems likely that the Yankees will gauge Soriano's performance in New York as the legendary career of Rivera, 41, winds down, with hopes of promoting Soriano to the closer's role when Rivera retires. Soriano figures to enter the Yankees' 2011 mix as the eighth-inning man while Rivera, with 559 career saves, goes after the recently retired Trevor Hoffman's all-time record of 601.
Meanwhile, the Yankees are getting a very talented closer-in-waiting. Soriano, 31, led the American League in saves with 45 last year while pitching for the Rays and posted a 1.73 ERA, an .802 WHIP and 57 strikeouts in 62 1/3 innings.
Soriano became a full-time closer in 2009 while pitching for the Atlanta Braves. He came up in the Seattle Mariners system and broke into the Majors in 2002 as a starter before locking into a middle-relief and setup role. He has a career 2.73 ERA, 1.000 WHIP and 422 strikeouts in 395 innings.