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Yankees Sign Soriano, Rivera's "Handpicked Successor"
By
Ben Yakas
Published Jan 14, 2011
Modified Jan 14, 2011
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By
Ben Yakas
Published Jan 14, 2011
Modified Jan 14, 2011
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After a fall filled with disappointment, rejection, and lethargy, the Yankees might be feeling a little too much like the Mets, rather than a team with 27 World Series rings. However, they made their first big deal of the winter yesterday, signing reliever Rafael Soriano to a three-year, $35 million deal. Soriano, who posted an AL-best 45 saves last season for the Rays, will become the 8th-inning setup man for perennial closer Mariano Rivera next year.
According to reports, Rivera went so far as to actively advocate for the team to sign Soriano, essentially picking his own replacement, for after the aging future-Hall of Famer retires. Did you really think it was just a coincidence that Soriano rhymes with Mariano?
Tagged
baseball
closer
mariano rivera
Rafael Soriano
reliever
Yankees
Ben Yakas
Ben Yakas is a former Gothamist reporter.
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Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
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