The New York Yankees have agreed to terms with RHP Rafael Soriano on a three-year, $35 million contract. The contract gives Soriano two $1.5 million buyout options after the first and second years of his contract.
Soriano greatly strengthens New York' bullpen. This will allow RHP Connor Robertson to drop from the eight-inning role to the seventh-inning role and will allow RHP Joba Chamberlain to be used only sparingly as a specialist.
Soriano will duplicate the effect had on the Yankee bullpen last season after the acquisition of RHP Kerry Wood from the Cleveland Indians.
In addition, Soriano, signed to a fairly massive deal for a setup man, will likely be groomed as the replacement for RHP Mariano Rivera after he retires. The Yankees had better hammer this point home given the buyout options present in Soriano's contract.
Before the signing of Soriano the heir apparent to Rivera was Chamberlain. But holes in the Yankee rotation that pushed him into a starting role, severe alcohol abuse, and general ineffectiveness on Chamberlain's part have cooled New York's attitude toward the righthander.
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