Mariano Rivera to test Free Agency

Suntan Superman · 10-09-2007, 10:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ESPN.com

Joe Torre and Alex Rodriguez aren't the only high-profile Yankees who might not be back in the Bronx next year.
Closer Mariano Rivera, catcher Jorge Posada and left-hander Andy Pettitte are among the star free agents who might decide not to return next season.

And Rivera indicated Monday night that he intends to test the market. Rivera, who has been a mainstay in the late innings for the Yankees since their storied run of four World Series titles in five years began in 1996, lobbied for an extension in spring training but was rebuffed.

"They had the opportunities and they didn't do nothing with me," Rivera said, according to the Star-Ledger of Newark. "So we'll see what happens. ... This is a business. Nothing against the New York Yankees.

"They figured it was the best for the team and I'm OK with it. ... We'll see what happens. But I would never hold anything against [the Yankees]."
Posada said earlier this season that he would like to test the free-agent market, but Monday night he was non-committal on his future plans.
"I'll talk about that later," Posada said, according to The New York Daily News. "We just lost a series. There's nothing to talk about, nothing to talk about Joe Torre, nothing to talk about right now."

Ten days after the finish of the World Series, Rodriguez can opt out of the remaining three years of the 10-year, $250 million contract he signed with Texas in 2000.

"One of the reasons I came here was to help this team win a world championship," Rodriguez said Monday night. "I have failed at that."
Pettitte has a $16 million player option for next season. Like Posada, he wasn't ready to speculate on his future Monday night.

"The biggest thing for me is just my family," he said, according to the Star-Ledger. "I have to get somewhere where I can talk to them about it and figure out what I'm going to do."

Rivera, Pettitte and Posada are home-grown Yankees and have played for Torre throughout their careers -- although Pettitte spent three seasons in Houston as well. Yankees owner George Steinbrenner told the Bergen Record that if the Yankees didn't advance to the American League Championship Series this year, he likely would make a change of managers -- and that could also help the players decide if they want to return.

Interesting Yankees team going into '08

Dr. Giganto · 10-09-2007, 10:55 AM

sigh...

Blitzkrieg · 10-09-2007, 11:46 AM

This might sound crazy, but I think the Yanks should just let everyone from the Torre era leave (not Jeter) and start over. They aren't getting any younger and they just simply aren't good enough to win another championship.

The key is A-Rod. I'm not sure what they should do with him. Think of the talent they could acquire with A-Rod's $30M dollars/year.

Slimdust · 10-09-2007, 11:51 AM

lol why would they do that? get rid of some players but every player other then jeter? that seems a little crazy to me.

Blitzkrieg · 10-09-2007, 11:58 AM

No, not every player other than Jeter..

I'm talking about Rivera, Giambi, Abreu, Posada, Damon, Mussina, Clemens.. most of them. I mean, you can keep a couple for a year or two more until you find a suitable replacment, but they are all nearing the end.. it's time to usher in a new era of players to go along with the young nucleus (Cano, Cabrera, Chamberlain, Hughes, etc)

Jeter as the captain.

Not sure about A-Rod though. Depends on his demands.

Slimdust · 10-09-2007, 12:13 PM

oh ok lol. Gotcha...

bottom line is it is the ny yankees.. They will turn it around and in no time they will be in the world series again

Blitzkrieg · 10-09-2007, 12:21 PM

You can't just sign a star player at every position and expect it to work though. You need role players that can do specific things like field, bunt, work the count, steal a base. You need to build a team. A guy who hits 30 homers a year isn't necssarily going to be the best fit come postseason.

Also, it's tough to find good pitching whether it be a starter, closer, or middle relief. It's tough. I expect them to go hard after Santana.

Dr. Giganto · 10-09-2007, 01:03 PM

Well...I'm not so sure blowing everything upis really that great an idea, here are a few reasons why:

First off, Bobby Abreu: Abreu is exactly the type of player the Yankees want/need. He takes a million pitches (helping wear down starters and get to most teams weak point: middle relief), he gets on base a ton in front of A-Rod, Matsui and Posada (as evidenced by his 123 runs scored this year), he can bunt if you absolutely need it, he still has pretty good speed (25 SBs, second on the team), he can still hit a handful of homeruns, and he's got a great arm in right field. For a guy who many considered overrated as a member of the Phillies, he's pretty underrated as a member of the Yankees.

After watching Posada play absolutely awfully in the ALDS (2-15...and he should have been able to block at least one of Joba's wild pitches in Game 2), I'm inclined to say "Fuck him, let him go", but catcher is a pretty shallow position, and the Yankees donthave a ready replacement. It's not like when Girardi was catcher and Posada was waiting in the wings. There is literally no replacement for Posada available, unless Molina becomes the full-time catcher. Still, I suspect the Yankees will give him a contract thats a few years too long, and they will regret it in like 2009 or 2010. I dont really know what to think about Posada...he's a 35-year old catcher, after all

Also, I understand that you can get a lot of good players with 30 mill a year, but if you're a team that basically has no budget, who cares? Plus, if there is anybody who deserves it, it's A-Rod. Let's not forget, without A-Rod this year, the Yankees would have been about an 85-win team.

Pettitte has a player option for like a billion dollars, so he'll still be there next year, but he's still effective. Dont know what they'll do after that. He'll be 36 at that time.

Rivera is still a very very good pitcher. Have to resign him for at least one more contract.

Clemens is gone.

After next year, Mussina, Giambi, and Farnsworth are gone. I would also assume Mientkiewicz won't be around past the end of his contract either.

So, basically, yeah...they're gonna start over with all the young guys and Jeter, Rivera, maybe Posada, maybe A-Rod, maybe Pettitte (but probably not)

Wang, Chamberlain, Hughes, Kennedy. Those 4 will anchor the rotation for a long time...

CM Drunk · 10-09-2007, 01:29 PM

Im not expecting them to keep Arod. Hes going to def opt out and test the open market, and somebody will throw huge cash at him (Boston, Chicago Cubs, Even a Barry Bonds-less San Fran) and im not sure the Yanks will keep him. I do expect Posada to go as well.

Blitzkrieg · 10-09-2007, 01:50 PM

Tom, I threw Abreu in there because it's my understanding that he'd be getting $16M next year. To me, that's too much but then again.. it is the Yankees and he's been alright for them, struggled at times, but still has value.

You're right, the Yankees don't have a budget, but how far is too far for A-Rod? Do you pay him whatever he wants or do you establish a cutoff point?

Lets remember.. If they sign Posada and/or Rivera and then on top of it sign Andy, I think even the Yankees might think it's too much...

Plus, there are some free agents out there this year and next that would be a great fit in a Yankee uniform.

If you bring back basically the same team next year but with a new manager, I can't see the Yanks winning the series.

There needs to be some major changes and a influx of younger talent that can grow together.

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Mariano Rivera to test Free Agency

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