If you arrived at this blog post expecting an update on the status of Mariano Rivera’s comeback plans, then you are about to be disappointed. In lieu of insight into the greatest closer of all-time’s health status, we have a brief clip of Rivera pitching for a New York Yankees themed fragrance. Cologne, if you will. It appears that if Rivera is to bounce back from knee surgery, he will be training Rocky IV style in the treacherous snow-covered landscape of northern Russia. Bawse.
Via MLB.com
After Mariano Rivera went down to injury, and the New York Yankees stopped fooling themselves with David Robertson in the closing role, Rafael Soriano was chosen as their go-to pitcher for ninth inning duties. This seemingly reluctant decision has been resolutely successful. Over 63 appearances, Soriano has collected 40 saves, shutting down the opposition 33 times with the fifth most win probability added among relief pitchers in the league this season.
In January of 2011, Soriano signed a three-year contract with the Yankees for $35 million. It was an interesting bit of business at the time because the reliever had Type A compensation attached to him, meaning that he cost New York a first-round draft pick that went to their division rival in Tampa Bay, along with a supplemental selection. Adding to the intrigue at the time was Yankees General Manager Brian Cashman candidly admitting that ownership was behind the signing, and he would have rather held on to the draft pick and avoided paying so much for a relief pitcher.
