by Pat LackeyFiled under: Rays, Yankees, MLB Rumors, MLB Hot Stove, MLB Free Agency
Rafael Soriano was one of baseball's best closers in 2010, but as 2011 slowly swings into gear he still hasn't managed to find a team to pitch for and because of that, he's willing to work as a setup man under the right conditions. Actually, there's apparently only one team he'd consider setting up for; the New York Yankees. At least, that's what Scott Boras, Soriano's agent, is telling people today. Soriano saved 45 games with a 1.73 ERA for the Tampa Bay team that beat the Yankees for last year's AL East crown, so the Yanks are all too familiar with the righty. He also had a 1.73 ERA and a 4.07 K/BB ratio and he did some of his best work last year in the AL East against the Red Sox and Yankees, so it's obvious why the Yankees might be interested in having him pitch for them even if they already have Mariano Rivera.
Of course, Soriano's status as a Type A free agent may hurt his chances of signing with the Yankees. Whoever signs him would have to surrender their first-round pick in June's draft to the Rays. That's why he's still a free agent despite his stellar year last year and why he's even considering taking a setup role anywhere. Money is no object for the Yankees and they're still looking to do something this offseason after losing the Cliff Lee sweepstakes, but would they really give up a first-round pick to sign an eighth-inning guy?
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