We're just a few hours away from watching the ball drop in Times Square, and there are conflicting reports as to whether Rafael Soriano could possibly be playing for a team a few miles north in the Bronx.
Soriano recorded 45 saves in 48 chances for the Tampa Bay Rays last season, but this is not the best winter for an elite closer to hit the free agent market. Soriano's status as a Type A free agent, which requires additional compensation, isn't helping his cause.
The possibility of Soriano serving as a set-up man to Mariano Rivera with the Yankees has been bandied about all week. Jon Heyman of SI.com wrote Wednesday that the Yankees already have inquired about Soriano.
Meanwhile, Ken Rosenthal tweeted Thursday that the Yankees are not going after the reliever.
If Andy Pettitte were to retire, the Yankees could rely on an ultra-deep bullpen led by Rivera and Soriano to make up for a thinned rotation.
Soriano is looking for a three-year contract, and that could be his main problem. As Dave Cameron of Fangraphs.com wrote earlier this month, giving contracts of three-plus years to a reliever can be a very bad idea.
After losing out on Cliff Lee and never making a real attempt at Zack Greinke, it seems that the Yankees won't be able to land another ace starter before the start of the 2011 season. Their next best course of action should be to strengthen the bullpen. After a strong year from Boone Logan and with the signing of Pedro Feliciano, their bullpen is set from the left side. However, with the departure of Kerry Wood and the inconsistency of Joba Chamberlain have left a hole from the right side. Rafael Soriano would fill that void and could create a Yankee strategy similar to 1996: 6 innings from starter, 2 innings from Soriano, Rivera in the 9th.
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