FINALLY!
The Yankees have finally made a move this winter that can be considered a big move.
After virtually being very inactive all winter, the Yankees made a bold move to bolster their bullpen by signing former Tampa Bay Rays closer Rafael Soriano to a three-year deal worth about $35 million.
The Yankees basically gave Soriano closer money to be their setup man to Mariano Rivera, but at this point of the season, the Yankees had to do it.
The reports came late Thursday night from SI and WFAN’s Jon Heyman and ESPN’s Andrew Marchand.
Signing Soriano had to be done, mostly because the Yankees are getting the sense that Andy Pettitte is leaning heavily towards retirement because he probably won’t be starting off the 2011 season in pinstripes.
The 31 year old pitched tremendously last season, saving 45 games to a 1.73 ERA and a 0.80 WHIP for the Rays last season.
Now, it looks like Soriano could be the potential heir to Rivera whenever he decides to retire.
The Yankees bullpen has gotten much stronger, putting Soriano in a bullpen that includes Pedro Feliciano, David Robertson, Boone Logan, Joba Chamberlain and eventually Damaso Marte to go along with Rivera.
You might have to wonder now with Soriano in the picture, might that enhance the possibility of the Yankees dealing away Chamberlain since he’s been very inconsistent and at times, horrible as the setup man for Rivera.
With the Yankees signing Soriano, the Yankees can still look to add a fourth outfielder, whether it be Andruw Jones or Johnny Damon, and possibly another starting pitcher to go along with CC Sabathia, A.J. Burnett and Phil Hughes.
According to Heyman, after signing Soriano, the Yankees still have around $20 million to spend, which is plenty of money to offer on both situations the Yankees still need.
Honestly, I was a little shocked to see the Yankees actually landed Soriano because there were teams still out there who could have used Soriano as a closer.
The White Sox were eyeing Soriano, but they didn’t want to spend the money and the Angels dropped out of the hunt.
When I did a free agency story back in early December, I had predicted the Angels to land Soriano, along with Adrian Beltre and Carl Crawford.
The Angels landed none of those players, in fact, their biggest signing this winter has been left-handed reliever Scott Downs.
I was also a little shocked because Yankees General Manager Brian Cashman had said he wasn’t willing to part with his first round draft pick for Soriano.
I guess after a while, your plans change.
But the Yankees finally have added some much needed pitching to bolster a bullpen that was a little suspect in 2011, especially in the ALCS against the Rangers that they lost 4-2.
You can be critical about the money, and you can be critical about losing the draft pick, but after how this winter has gone, the Yankees needed to make a bold move.
Getting Soriano was the right move to make.
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