No More Mo?
This story is interesting on two fronts. First off, it confirms what many of you have suggested, Hank's mouth is costing the Yankees. And it tells you that Mo wants a fourth year.
Look you cannot begin to calculate Rivera's worth to the Yankees these past 12 years. The guy has been lights out and his plaque belongs in Monument Park as soon as he retires. But, the economics of baseball mean that you just can't make a bet on a fourth year with him. Based on his career, Mariano has pretty consistently pitched 70-something innings a season. So, if the Yankees offer of $15 million a season is true, they are willing to pay him about $200,000 an inning next year! (Roger Clemens just got about $175k per inning)
All of those assumptions are based on the idea that Mo stays healthy throughout his deal. If he gets hurt, the math gets even uglier and pitchers in their late 30's and early 40's almost always get hurt for some part of the season. The Yankees have been burned by plenty of guys who fit that age demographic over the past few years. From Randy Johnson to Kevin Brown to Roger last season, age got the best of them. It gets the best of all of us and betting against it is always going to make you a loser. The Yankees can roll the dice and pray that Mo stays healthy for four years, but it is a stupid gamble. If he insists on the fourth year, I would thank him for everything and wish him well in the future. Someday the Yankees were going to have to replace Rivera and this might be that moment.
Comments
Offer Cordero a 4 year 44 million dollar deal and scare the crap out of Rivera. That would make Cordero the highest paid closer by $500,000. If Rivera signs immediately then Cordero most likely turns the offer down because he wants to close. If Cordero signs then you have a really expensive set up man for Rivera, but maybe he's worth it as a lockdown reliever. maybe you can trade him for prospects...
Posted by: Tripp | November 15, 2007 04:14 PM |
Peter, perhaps Hank's mouth is costing the Yankees, but maybe Mo has thin skin.
Regardless, the idea of contracts running until a guy is 42 as the norm is a bad precident. How many guys are effective past 40? The Yankees, by signing ARod to a deal that lasts until he is 42, might being setting themselves up for many difficult negotiations going forward.
Posted by: andy![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://yankeesredsox.com/nav-commenters.gif)
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November 15, 2007 04:37 PM
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Interesting idea Tripp and a pretty good one. At this point, I think you are right, the Yankees have to at least create the illusion of going another direction.
Posted by: Peter![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://yankeesredsox.com/nav-commenters.gif)
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November 15, 2007 04:42 PM
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If the Yankees want to go the Japanese route in improving their bullpen, Masahide Kobayashi will be available. He's 33 years old, but saved over 200 games during his career with the Chiba Lotte Marines. What are your thoughts on him?
David Riske, the former Royal, should also be a solid pickup for any team on a three year deal.
Posted by: Tyler![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://yankeesredsox.com/nav-commenters.gif)
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November 15, 2007 07:14 PM
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The good thing about Kobayashi is he is a true free agent so there won't be a posting process. I think he could be decent, but his strikeout numbers are low for a guy who supposedly has a 95-mph fastball and great slider. I saw a rumor that the Braves would want him to close, but if he were willing to come to New York for something around $3-$4 million, why not?
Riske scares me because I rememeber him bombing in Cleveland as a closer, but he would be a solid middle guy. The thing is, I would rather see the Yankees turn Ohlendorf, Ramirez and Britton in that role than spending bucks there. The question in my mind is, who is the 8th inning guy (and possibly closer) in 2008?
Posted by: Peter![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://yankeesredsox.com/nav-commenters.gif)
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November 15, 2007 07:44 PM
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Yankees have many unproven options in AAA. Give them a chance and mix and match the bullpen until it works out. That's what the Padres, Tigers, Cleveland, and other teams do successfully. Pick up one vet on the free agent market paired with Vizcaino and then mix and match the rest with guys from the minors.
Posted by: Tripp | November 16, 2007 08:30 AM |