The news trickled out earlier this afternoon but now the news hose opened all the way up, blasting reports of Rafael Soriano nearing a two-year deal with the Washington Nationals. A move that is surprising to say the least. If you really think about, the move is actually shocking.
Source: Rafael Soriano agrees to two-year, $28M deal with Nationals. Deal contains vesting option for third year. Story coming on Y! Sports.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) January 15, 2013
Rafael Soriano’s $14 million option will vest with 120 games finished over the next two seasons.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) January 15, 2013
This move is shocking in that the Nationals give up their first round draft pick in 2013 (and forsake a chunk of their signing pool money) and also because the Nats have at least two Proven Closers in their mix already. Now they have another back-end reliever – just in case the other two didn’t make them comfortable enough.
This is a team which used Drew Storen as their closer to great effect in 2011. When Storen started 2012 on the shelf, they turned to Tyler Clippard, who was just as good. Of course, all that went out the window when the Nats blew a five-run lead in the final inning of the NLDS, costing themselves a chance to get lumped up by face the Giants in the league championship series.
The Nats were expected to deal for a left-handed reliever, as their ‘pen is righties as far as the eye can see. The Nats are that much better position to acquire that lefty now, perhaps by packaging Storen and the equally superfluous Mike Morse.
Rafael Soriano would have been the eighth highest paid player in the NFL last season.
— Patrick Daugherty(@RotoPat) January 15, 2013
Thanks to the incredible riches headed his way, it is easy to lose sight of Rafael Soriano’s dominance over the past four years. His contract suggests the Nats plan on making him the closer, the vesting option suggests they plan on using him A LOT.
The Nats, in case you weren’t convinced, are going for it. All the way. They re-upped with LaRoche and brought in Dan Haren and seem cautious about dealing much of their depth. They might not get career years from Gio Gonzalez and Ian Desmond again but full seasons of Bryce Harper and Stephen Strasburg plus the addition of Denard Span goes a long way to mitigate those risks.
As always, Boras gets it done. As if there was any doubt.
Dynasty league managers who own Drew Storen just screamed in frustration.
what’s dynasty league?
More info on Dynasty Leagues:
http://espn.go.com/fantasy/baseball/story/_/page/dynasty2013_round1-10/rounds-1-10-mike-trout-ryan-braun-stephen-strasburg-lead-way
Scott Boras is often very successful at his job.
I’ve never heard Boras talk, but i’d imagine he’s a clone of Ari Gold.
Holy shit, holy shit, holy shit. I though we were getting Boone stoopid Logan, and we get this? This is like getting my flight upgraded to first class and then striking out all the other passengers
Great stuff
how can you compare risk without reward? how much is a WS worth to them, versus the cost of solidifying the bullpen and avoiding a repeat of last years performance?
The difference between “last year’s” and “the last game of the year’s” is pretty significant. They’re bullpen was very good, how can you predict one game 10 months from now?
they are bullpen? I’ll go now…
I think that Boras and Washington have what might be called a ‘special relationship’ – you scratch my back, Ill scratch yours.
Not sure that net net Washington has benefited from this but Boras has (interestingly his clients individually might not have) – he’s just spared some embarrassment
What’s in it for Washington?