Soriano Signs With The Nationals

I will definitely miss untuck time.

Post Sandy Post: Mo & Soriano

Like almost everyone else in the region, I had been without power for five days, and just finally got my internet back today. Hope you're all doing well out there..... Anyway, here's the two most important stories I missed.

First, here's the good news via ESPN New York:

New York Yankees closer Mariano Rivera has informed the team he intends to pitch next season, general manager Brian Cashman told ESPNNewYork.com's Andrew Marchand on Saturday.

"He wants to play again," said Cashman, who was informed by the reliever of his decision Friday. "I'll work with his agent, Fernando Cuza, on the details of a contract."

And now the bad, or at least what I would consider bad news. Rafael Soriano has opted out of his contract and is looking for a four-year deal, and wants to close.

"I don't think Soriano would sign here if he's not going to be the closer," Cashman said. "And I don't think we would do again what we did before. He's going to want closer money and I doubt he would want to come back here as a set-up man."

...

According to Yankees president Randy Levine, who negotiated the Soriano deal, Boras believes Soriano can command a contract in the neighborhood of four years and $60 million based on his 2012 season, in which he converted 42 of 46 save opportunities after assuming the closing duties from Rivera, who suffered a season-ending knee injury May 3.

"Based on that, I understand why he would opt out," Levine said. "I hope he's right. We love him here at the Yankees but we wouldn't pay him $60 million for four years."

With Mo coming back for one final year, the Yankees are still going to need to find a replacement and Soriano proved this year that he could be that guy. In my opinion they should do what they have to do to resign him and promise him the closers role once Mo retires. That said, it doesn't seem like that will be the case.

Heyman: Soriano Likely To Opt-Out After Season

From Jon Heyman:

There is a good chance Rafael Soriano will invoke his opt-out clause following a season in which he has been a savior for the Yankees, people familiar with the situation say.

Soriano has a clause that allows him to walk away from the Yankees after this season rather than stay and make $14 million for 2013, and opting out would enable him to try to obtain a multi-year deal to close elsewhere or possibly lengthen his Yankees commitment. If he opts out, he receives a $1.5 million buyout, making the difference between staying and going $12.5 million.

Soriano would be a setup man with David Robertson to all-time great closer Mariano Rivera if he returns next year. After saving 37 games in 40 opportunities, presumably he would be a hot player as a free agent, as Jose Valverde is the only comparable closer due to become a free agent. However, the closer market has been somewhat inconsistent lately.

Yankees people believe they have a very solid relationship with the quirky Soriano and aren't convinced he would exercise the opt-out clause when $14 million is a significant salary. It's also possible the sides could work out a multi-year deal, in which Soriano would set up in 2013 then close after that.

Heyman then goes on to remind us that one of the Yankees "great goals" is to get that payroll under the luxury-tax threshold, which is $189 million. If the Yankees stick to their "great goals" than I assume if Soriano opts-out his Yankee career will be over.

That said, everything changes is Mo decides to hang up the spikes. If he does retire, than this becomes a no-brainer for the Yankees. And honestly, even if he doesn't retire, I'd like to see the Yankees bring Soriano back. First of all, he's a great insurance policy, and second, he's better than any other setup option the Yankees have, even if he's going to cost $12-$15 million per.

What do you think? Should the Yankees resign Soriano even if he opts-out?

D-Rob Set To Return on Friday

From Wallace Matthews:

Fresh off his second rehab appearance on Tuesday in Rochester, David Robertson is scheduled to rejoin the Yankees today in Atlanta, although he will not be activated until Friday's game against the Nationals in Washington.

"He's fine,'' Joe Girardi said. "We just want to make sure he feels OK, and if he is, we'll activate him on Friday.''

Great news for a team that seems to be hitting their stride. Matthews reiterated taht Soriano will remain in the closers role while Robertson will take over setup duties and for a team with the best record in the AL, I'd say that's the right move.

Soriano Expected to Remain Closer After D-Rob Returns

From Jon Heyman:

The Yankees intend to keep Rafael Soriano as the closer even after David Robertson's return from the disabled list, people familiar with their thinking suggest.

Soriano has been brilliant as the Yankees' third choice to close and is six for six in saves with an overall ERA of 1.96 now. Robertson, the Yankees' shutdown set-up man, would resume his set-up duties upon his return, which is expected to be in about two weeks. Robertson has a strained left oblique muscle.

Robertson has been brilliant for the Yankees as their eighth-inning guy, but one scout said, "He didn't look quite as comfortable closing games.'' Robertson was the initial closing choice after Mariano Rivera was lost with a freak knee injury.

I am 100% in favor of this decision. Closing is all about comfort level and Robertson was not comfortable in that role. On the other hand, Soriano has done it before, and as he's already shown, he can handle the job.

Soriano Likely Unavailable Tonight

From Lou DiPietro:

The Yankees may be a little short in the bullpen when they close their season-opening six-game road trip in Baltimore on Wednesday night.

Reliever Rafael Soriano tore the nail on his right middle finger while warming up during Tuesday night’s win over the Orioles, and manager Joe Girardi isn’t sure if Soriano will be available for the series finale.

"He tore his nail on a slider," Girardi told the media when asked why Soriano was warmed up during the seventh inning and then sat back down in favor of keeping rookie David Phelps in the game.

Coming off an extra-inning game where everyone (but Soriano) pitched, you'd like a full pen, but with CC pitching tonight it probably won't be an issue.

Boras: Soriano Will Not Opt-Out

From George A. King III:

According to Scott Boras, who represents reliever Rafael Soriano, his client isn't going to exercise the opt out clause in his three-year deal.

"He adjusted to the [seventh- eighth-inning] role, liked being there with Mariano [Rivera] and he adjusted to New York City," Boras said of Soriano, who pitched much better after returning from an extended stay on the disabled list with right elbow inflammation. "The player is happy there."

Soriano is scheduled to make $11 million next year and $14 million in 2013. There is a $1.5 million buyout for each year on a deal general manager Brian Cashman was against, believing that was too much for a setup man.

No surprises here. Let's just hope his second season in pinstripes is better than the first.

Soriano Activated

Soraino Survives Back-To-Back Outings, Should Be Back By Friday

From Bryan Hoch:

Yankees right-hander Rafael Soriano pitched a scoreless inning on Monday for Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, and is on his way to re-joining the big league club.

Soriano recorded two groundouts and a strikeout in a hitless frame against Syracuse, the Nationals' top affiliate, throwing just 11 pitches (eight strikes).

Yankees manager Joe Girardi was pleased that Soriano has successfully pitched in back-to-back games, but said that Soriano wouldn't be available to them until Wednesday, at the earliest.

New York has an off-day on Thursday, so the Yankees could also decide to hold off on activating Soriano until Friday, when the team opens a four-game weekend series with the Orioles.

Hoch also mentioned in the article that Eric Chavez could be back as soon as today.

Chavez Back Tuesday, Soriano Wednesday, A-Rod in Mid-August

From Ian Begley:

The New York Yankees could have third baseman Alex Rodriguez back as soon the second week in August, according to general manager Brian Cashman.

In an interview on that aired Sunday on ESPN's "Baseball Tonight," Cashman said Rodriguez is "doing very well" in his rehabilitation from surgery to repair a torn meniscus in his right knee.

"He's in a pool. He's on a bike. (He's) still got a little bit of a limp, which is normal. But I'd be looking at him (returning) maybe the second week of August, you know, at the earliest for me," Cashman said. "That's just us being conservative. I think we can push it and get him back sooner but, why? Our offense is strong."

...

Cashman also believes setup man Rafael Soriano will return to the Yankees on Wednesday or Thursday.

... Cashman, speaking before Soriano's outing on Sunday, said Soriano will make another rehab appearance Monday and -- barring any set-backs -- return to the Bronx shortly thereafter.

"If everything goes right, he'll do back-to-back (appearances) today and tomorrow and then I'll activate him probably Wednesday. Wednesday or Thursday," Cashman said.

...

In other injury news, Cashman said backup infielder Eric Chavez will return to the Yankees on Tuesday.

Good news all around.

In case you were wondering, Soriano threw an inning in relief today for the SWB Yanks, allowing a run on one hit (a homer) and a strike out in one inning of work. Eric Chavez went 0-for-4 for Single-A Tampa.

Chavez & Soriano Could Return This Homestand

From Matt Fortuna:

Rafael Soriano and Eric Chavez may return to the Yankees sometime during their current 10-game homestand, manager Joe Girardi said on Friday.

...
Chavez, who has a bone bruise on his left foot, played in his fourth rehab start for Tampa on Friday, and went 1-for-4 with a double, playing seven innings at third base for the second straight night.

...

Girardi said he would like to see Chavez go through a nine-inning game before moving forward.

"You'd like to be able to get him back-to-back games to know that he can do that for you if you wanted him to do that," Girardi said of Chavez before Friday's game. "But besides that, not a whole lot. Just to see how the foot responds. It's one thing to DH, and then it's one thing to play the field and be on it all the time -- how's that foot going to respond? And as long as it's responding well, we have him play a couple days in a row, I don't see why we wouldn't consider him a player for us."

Soriano is scheduled to pitch in his third rehab game either Saturday or Sunday. Girardi also wants to see Soriano throw on back-to-back days before having him rejoin the team.

Soriano & Chavez Continue Rehab Down in Tampa

Rafael Soriano made his second appearance in his rehab stint with the Tampa Yankees, allowing a run on two hits in one inning pitched.

Eric Chavez was also in the game, and for the first time during his rehab played 3rd base. He went 1-for-3 with a double and an RBI.

Girardi Unsure About Soriano's Role When He Returns

From Alden Gonzalez:

Tuesday was the day Rafael Soriano made his first rehab appearance since landing on the disabled list with right elbow inflammation on May 17. But it wasn't the day Yankees manager Joe Girardi would say with any certainty that Soriano will reclaim his job as setup man upon returning.

The way Girardi sees it, there's no need to jump the gun.

"Look, I'm not saying what I'm going to do or what I'm not going to do," Girardi explained prior to the second game of a four-game series against the Rays. "The biggest thing is I have to get this guy healthy and know how he's throwing the baseball. If he's throwing the baseball the way that he's capable of, I've got a great thing going, because I have two guys that can do the same job. And that's a great problem to have."

...

When asked on Thursday in Toronto if Soriano would be his setup man when activated, Girardi said: "Let's just see. Let's just get him back first."

Five days later, the manager's thoughts essentially remained the same.

"We have to see how he's throwing and how he's feeling before I can make any determination," Girardi said. "The big thing is we have to get him back healthy and throwing the way that he's capable of. We'll just see what happens. But we have to get him back first."

For now, I think D-Rob has earned the right to keep the setup role. If Soriano comes back and shows he can regain his form from the last few seasons, then it becomes a decision that has to be made, but until then I'd have Soriano in the 7th, D-Rob in the 8th, and of course, Mo in the 9th.

Chavez & Soriano Start Their Rehab In Tampa

Eric Chavez and Rafael Soriano began their minor-league rehab stints today in Tampa 11-0 loss to Jupiter.

- Chavez DH'ed and went 0-for-3 with a walk and a strikeout.

- Soriano pitched 1.1 innings, allowing 2 runs on 2 hits including a homer, and struck out 1.

Soriano to begin rehab on Tuesday

As per Chad Jennings of the LoHud Yankees Blog:

Rafael Soriano came through today’s live batting practice with no problems, and Joe Girardi said the plan is for him to make a rehab appearance on Tuesday in Tampa.

“It went well, and I think we expect him to pitch in a game on Tuesday,” Girardi said. “I can’t tell you how he’s going to feel tomorrow, but I think we expect him to pitch in a game tomorrow and I think it’s in Tampa.”

Soriano threw either 25 or 26 pitches today — Girardi wasn’t sure which — and the Yankees would like him to pitch in back-to-back games before activating him from the disabled list.

If Soriano can return and pitch like the bullpen ace the Yankees thought they were signing, the staff will look quite strong. This will allow Girardi to either shorten games to six innings (which seems likely, as he stubbornly sticks to inning roles) or, much more desirably, to utilize Robertson as a true fireman. In essence, Robertson would come in whenever a high-leverage situation called for a reliever - be it in the second inning or the seventh.

Here's hoping the rehab stint goes swimmingly.

Rehab Continues For Soriano, Prior, Feliciano & Marte

From the AP:

Yankees right-hander Mark Prior is back pitching after missing almost three months because of a strained groin.

The converted reliever said it was a step in the right direction today after allowing an unearned run and one hit over two innings for the Gulf Coast League Yankees against Atlanta minor leaguers.

In his first outing since pitching on April 18 at Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, Prior threw 24 pitches with a fastball that reached 90 mph.

...

Also, Yankees reliever Rafael Soriano threw 25 pitches during his second batting practice session since going on the disabled list May 17 because of right elbow inflammation.

...

Left-hander Pedro Feliciano, hoping to avoid surgery for a left shoulder tear, has resumed a light throwing program. Reliever Damaso Marte, coming back from left shoulder surgery, is continuing to throw off a bullpen mound.

More Updates: Soriano, Chavez & Marte

From Chad Jennings:

Eric Chavez is bothered by a sore back, but apparently he felt better yesterday, and “he should be able to get back to work soon,” Girardi said.

Of the players currently on the disabled list, Rafael Soriano is closest to a return. He’s throwing live batting practice today. “He’s getting to a point where we could see him in a (rehab) game fairly quickly,” Girardi said.

Damaso Marte is still just throwing bullpens and not ready to face hitters.

News & Notes: Jeter, Soriano, Feliciano & Noesi

- Derek Jeter is down in Trenton to play a couple minor-league rehab games with the Thunder on Saturday and Sunday. Jeter worked out in Trenton for 40 minutes today with Thunder shortstop Jose Pirela. If all goes well, he will rejoin the Yankees in Cleveland on Monday.

- Rafael Soriano threw 32 pitches off a mound without any problems. His target date is the first series after the all-star break.

- Pedro Feliciano also threw off a mound (30 pitches) in Tampa. No word on when he's expected back.

- Joel Sherman tweets that Hector Noesi will be sent down tomorrow to make room for Bartolo Colon on the 25-man roster.

Updates on the Wounded Yanks

First from George A King III:

Derek Jeter didn't work out on the field at the Yankees' Tampa minor league complex yesterday. He remained inside getting treatment on his strained right calf.

"He will start baseball stuff the next couple of days," said manager Joe Girardi, who believes Jeter is on track to return June 29, the first day he is eligible to come off the DL.

Girardi said he will talk with general manager Brian Cashman about whether Jeter needs a minor league rehab game or two before being activated.

*

Girardi said [Phil] Hughes will "probably make at least two more [minor league] starts."

*

Eric Chavez took batting practice on the field yesterday in Tampa. It was the first time for that. Chavez, who is on the DL with a fractured foot, also took ground balls. Girardi said he is running on a treadmill.

*

Rafael Soriano reported to Tampa yesterday after spending considerable time with a physical therapist in the New York area.

There was also this from Chad Jennings:

Injured starter Bartolo Colon is still not ready to begin a throwing program and Girardi acknowledged Colon might not be ready to return after just 15 days on the disabled list. ... Girardi once again downplayed Alex Rodriguez's sore left shoulder and had his third baseman back in the lineup on Monday.

Don't Expect Soriano Back Anytime Soon

From Brian Costello:

The return of Rafael Soriano incurred another delay this week when the $35 million setup man played catch Tuesday but was then told by the Yankees to rest his arm.

Soriano has been out since May 13 with right elbow inflammation. He met with the medical staff Monday night, and was cleared to begin his throwing program. But after he threw Tuesday, they decided he should rest for another week.

"If we felt it was 100 percent he would have continued with this throwing program," manager Joe Girardi said. "He's close, but he's not quite there."

The Yankees hope Soriano can avoid surgery and rehabilitate the elbow through a strengthening program. Girardi did his best to sound encouraged, but this latest development means Soriano is even further away.

"He was definitely better than he was the last time that he went out and played catch -- much, much better," Girardi said.

As was reported a couple posts back, Soriano was moved to the 60-day DL to make room for Cory Wade on the 40-man roster. This move would make Soriano eligible to return in mid-July.