The 'door is open' for premiere closer Rafael Soriano to come to the New York Yankees as the setup man for Mariano Rivera, according to his agent. Scott Boras.
"That door is open for a number of different reasons," Boras told ESPNNewYork.com. "I don't think there is a team in baseball where he could be asked to be a setup guy other than the Yankees."
Soriano, 31, had 45 saves for Tampa Bay last season, pitching to an ERA of 1.73 and a WHIP of 0.80. He saved 27 games for Atlanta in 2009, and has a career ERA of 2.73 in his career.
I have to agree with Hardball Talk's assessment that the reason Boras is now talking up Soriano to the Yankees is that his client is still on the market and no one seems ready to spend big dollars to ask him to close. The Yankees, who still have some money to spend after losing out on Cliff Lee, might be willing to pay him closer money as a setup man -- and an insurance policy -- for Rivera.
From where I sit the move would make sense for the Yankees. They really need another starting pitcher, but Soriano is the best pitcher left on the free-agent market. There is no top-flight starter available, so beefing up the bullpen is the next-best option. This would certainly accomplish that.