Longtime New York Yankees closer Mariano Rivera thought long and hard about hanging up his spikes for good after tearing his ACL way back in May, but Erik Boland of Newsday reported over the weekend that Mo has decided he wants to come back for one last hurrah in 2013.Assuming he and the Yankees are able to agree on a new contract, the greatest relief pitcher in the history of baseball will once again be suiting up in pinstripes next season.But what of the land beyond 2013? Who will take Mo's ...
As with most professional baseball teams, the Yankees roster is going to be different heading into the 2013 season. Contracts, age and opt-out clauses are generally the main culprits of changing the make up of any roster. In New York, this offseason could be one of major change. Numerous players were in the final year of their contracts, including Ichiro Suzuki, Nick Swisher and Hiroki Kuroda, most notably. With the rumor mill working constantly to spread the latest news and possible moves, what Brian Cashman and the New York front ...
ESPNNewYork.com’s Andrew Marchand reported Monday that former All-Star closer Joakim Soria would be “elated” to come to the New York Yankees to work as a setup man for Mariano Rivera. Soria was an All-Star in 2008 and again in 2010 while closing for the Kansas City Royals. He missed all of the 2012 season after undergoing Tommy John surgery. Last month, the Royals declined Soria’s $8 million option for 2013, which made Soria a free agent. Prior to the injury, Soria was one of the best closers in baseball. He ...
Mariano Rivera wouldn't be one of the best closers of all time if he didn't have a sense of the moment.Telling the New York Yankees that he is going to return next season a week after the World Series ended, rather than drag it through November and December—or even worse, up until spring training—was certainly the best move for him and his team. Rivera will be back to pitch his 19th season in the major leagues, determined to leave the game on his own terms rather than crumpled on the warning ...
The New York Yankees wisely passed on making free-agent catcher Russell Martin a qualifying offer worth $13.3 million before Friday's deadline, but that doesn't mean they don't want him back.On the contrary, Anthony McCarron of the New York Daily News has reported that Martin's agent has had discussions with the Yankees and that the interest between the two sides is mutual. The smart money is on Martin returning to the Yankees for the 2013 season, and perhaps beyond as well.However, Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com had a point when he noted that ...
The Yankees lost their initial setup man in Rafael Soriano as a free agent this winter.They might be able to find his replacement in another closer for a lot less money.Dan Martin of the New York Post reported that Joakim Soria would be "all ears" if the Yankees called and were interested in the Royals closer to set up for Mariano Rivera."If there is a fit, Joakim would be elated to work with Mo. He would close everywhere except there," said Oscar Suarez, Soria's agent.Soria missed the entire 2012 season ...
The New York Yankees offense went missing against the Detroit Tigers in the ALCS and, knowing how the Yankees operate, that means change is likely on the way. One player that has been mentioned and would be a terrific fit is Torii Hunter. Mark Feinsand of the New York Daily News reports the team is interested in the veteran outfielder, who has spent the past five seasons with the Los Angeles Angels. Since the Angels didn't make a qualifying offer, the Yankees wouldn't have to give up a draft pick ...
A year of inconsistent starting pitching will have the New York Yankees shopping for a pitcher in an attempt to bolster a mediocre rotation. “New York can't just throw money at the problem this winter because ownership has tasked general manager Brian Cashman with bringing the team's payroll under the luxury tax threshold by 2014, when it increases to $189 million,” reported Cliff Corcoran of Sports Illustrated. The Yankees’ current payroll is upwards of $200 million. Unlike the Yankees of old, this season they can’t spend nonsensical amounts of money ...
When Derek Jeter and Mariano Rivera were both called up in the summer of 1995, few could have predicted the skinny shortstop and the reliever who relied so heavily on a single pitch would become two of the greatest New York Yankees ever to don the uniform. For the past 18 seasons the Yankees have been the most dominant team in baseball qualifying for postseason play 17 times, while winning five World Series championships. Throughout this incredulous run Derek Jeter and Mariano Rivera have cemented themselves in baseball lore as their ...
Free agency opened on Saturday after the New York Yankees made qualifying offers by the Friday deadline to three of their 13 free agents. According to Dan Martin and George A. King III of the New York Post, the three offered the one-year, $13.3 million qualifying offer (and thus qualifying for draft-pick compensation should they sign elsewhere) were pitchers Hiroki Kuroda and Rafael Soriano and outfielder Nick Swisher. The trio now has until Friday to decide whether to reject or decline the offers. Not extended qualifying offers were catcher Russell ...