Where Will Rafael Soriano Land?
by Brandon C. on Jan 9, 2011 2:56 PM EST
in MLB Rumors
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PrintRafael Soriano is a top free agent with no team that is going hard after him. The best relief pitcher left on the market, Soriano's agent, Scott Boras, has said that Soriano will only accept a closing job, except for the Yankees. Boras, the best agent in the game, gets his player the money they want for the amount of years they want about 95% of the time. Will Soriano be in the 5%?
There aren't many teams with a lot of money left to spend this offseason, as the White Sox spent on Adam Dunn, Jesse Crain, and company, while the Red Sox spent on Carl Crawford, Bobby Jenks, and company. The Rangers spent on Adrian Beltre, and the Nationals spent on Jayson Werth.
Both the Yankees and Angels have had relatively quiet offseasons, as the Angels have only signed Hisanori Takahashi and Scott Downs, with the Yankees signing Russell Martin and Pedro Feliciano.
Where will Soriano sign?
Teams in need of a closer:
Rays: Soriano's 2010 team could try to re-sign him, but they never have a lot of money.
Braves: Soriano's 2009 team could try and get him, rather than using the youngsters.
Pirates: You never know.
Angels: Unless the Angels think Fernando Rodney is a closer, they could be the favorite to sign Soriano.
Nationals: Added them in, if Storen isn't guaranteed the job, he could be a possibility for the Nationals, as they have been spending this offseason.
The Yankees are another team that could sign Soriano, as mentioned before. Soriano would set-up for the Yankees, if they are interested. As of now there are many conflicting reports on the Yankees interest.
Also included in the poll are the White Sox, who have an opening if they don't think Jesse Crain or Matt Thornton can close. They spent a ton of money this offseason, but you never know.
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I highly doubt Soriano will even talk that much with the braves considering that they have been grooming Kimbrel to be there closer and he was just filthy last year, and if Kimbrel doesn’t work this year you always have Venters, who is also filthy. Anyways the braves don’t have the money.
Washington Nationals
Rizzo is determined to make the Nationals a place other free agents want to come. I was convinced that if the Nationals landed Garza, Greinke, or Pavano that they woujld make one final splash and add the closer. As of today, Soriano to the National doesn’t make sense and they’d be throwing a little money away in 2011, but the committment shown by Rizzo to other in 2012 could go a long way. I’d throw them in as the long shot team.
I thought Storen had the job locked down?
Writer for Pinstripe Alley, MLB Daily Dish
Follow me on twitter @nyybrandonc
Most likely the Nationals would want to give the closer job to Storen. But a power bullpen wouldn’t be a bad thing.
I do believe its a longshot, but figured I’d throw out the logic behind the Nationals for the hell of it.
It makes a lot of sense on a one year deal, but probably not enough sense on a two+ deal. I think he’ll end up with the Angels.
Writer for Pinstripe Alley, MLB Daily Dish
Follow me on twitter @nyybrandonc
I would love for him to take a one year deal with the Rays, but I do believe you are probably correct that the most logical landing spot is the Angels.
You don’t think he’d go to the Yankees or is that Boras smoke?
I think Cashman is bluffing by vaguely saying he won’t sign Soriano. He’s hoping his market value will go down a bit. He’s been the Yankees’ GM 12 years, I think he understands that a fantastic closer/setup man to setup for the best closer of all time is a bit more valuable than a random first round pick we know nothing about. With Soriano you’ve pretty much got a guaranteed superstar. With a draft pick you have no idea.
Soriano
Think it should be the Angels. With Downs setting up, it makes a strong end of the pen.They need him on the mound and to show the fans something. Downs is an underated signing. The Red Sox could have really used him with his 2.29 ERA against AL East teams.The Angels should also sign Balfour for the 7th inning..
Boras
Boras is trying to get the Yankees involved so as to get his pitcher more money because the market is down.
The minute the name Yankees is spoken,,,,teams get their ears piqued and the price rises or the beehive starts warming up.
I think Cashman saw that and released the statement that the Yanks were not interested and were not giving up the draft pick so as to not catch fire the Yanks position with Soriano. Ofcourse Boras knew that,,,but he was only trying to get his guy in the limelight to drive up the price and years of potential suitors,,,namely Angels and or Nats.
Yanks might cave in if the price is right I say.
by archery john blaze on Jan 10, 2011 7:02 PM EST reply actions
Soriano to Pirates
The Pittsburgh Pirates will announce the signing of of Tampa Bay Rays closer, Rafael Soriano on wednesday according to several mlb insiders. It is believed to be a two year deal with a club option for a third year. The value of the contract is not yet known. It is believed the New York Yankees offered more money, but not enough for Soriano to give up his role as a closer. The Pirates guaranteed Soriano the closers role.
Soriano
Would love to see him go to the Pirates. They simply have to improve and Soriano improves any team.Same thing for the Nat’s as Storen could set up.Now that notorius penny pincher,Stan Kasten is gone, you see the Nationals trying to bring in players.This is essential for their survival. I hope they get Pavano,too.Another place would be Seattle. He could save some wins for R Hernandez.Realistically, the team that needs him the most is the Angels. He and Downs would be a terific back end to that pen, and could mean at least five more wins..Soriano makes sense for bad teams in another way…Come the July 31st deadline,he can bring in a haul of prospects,or two good draft picks in the Winter For these teams, it’s a win win situation.
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