Yanks $ign $oriano

I doubt that Rafael Soriano was the player Yankee fans were expecting to be headlining their list off season signings this winter, but it appears that is exactly the case today.  

Coming off of his best season last year, Soriano is the latest name to abandon a rebuilding Tampa Bay team.  After seeing the contract the desperate Yankees organization inked him to, it's easy to see why the Rays were obligated to part ways with their former closer.

Piling up 45 saves in all-star effort in 2010, Soriano was one of the top relievers in the American League.  He posted a dazzling 1.73 ERA in one of the most difficult divisions to pitch in.  However, with Mariano Rivera just signing his new two-year, $30M deal, solidifying his role as closer, three years at $35M is a ton of money to be throwing at full time set up guy.

This is a very puzzling move for a team who has been searching to find some glimmer of hope in an off season marred by disappointment and failure.  Obviously it cements the back end of their bullpen for the next few years, but with their current rotation, there will be a lot of games decided long before the 8th and 9th inning arrives.

Not only is the list of acquisitions for significant free agents a very short list for the Yanks, but the list of players who chose to take their talents elsewhere is quite extensive.  Here is a breakdown of all the players they managed to snatch off the leftover free agent scrap heap.

Rafael Soriano
Pedro Feliciano
Brian Schlitter
Russel Martin
Luis Vizcaino

Conversely, here is a list of players who were either on the team last or were projected sign with the Yankees in the off season.  This is, by far, a much more substantial list, in quality rather than quantity.

Cliff Lee (not ever actually on the roster)
Lance Berkman (signed with St. Louis)
Andy Pettitte (considering retirement)
Javier Vazquez (signed with the Marlins)
Kerry Wood (signed with the Cuns)
Austin Kearns (Signed with the Indians)

The projected starting rotation for the Yankees is a topic of much debate and speculation, but public opinion seems to suggest that the top four spots seem to be relatively sealed with C.C. Sabbathia, Phil Hughes, A.J. Burnett and Ivan Nova.  After those names, the situation gets a little hairy.

I've heard multiple options being considered to patch up this pathetic excuse for a rotation, but the most popular choices at this point seem to be either Chad Gaudin or Sergio Mitre.  Now I understand that the Yankees are a very capable team offensively, and that alone will certainly win you some games, but it's hard to imagine them being a serious threat to the Red Sox next season with the rotation in the state it presently finds itself.

For years and years, Red Sox fans have listened to Yankee fans whining and knit picking about their team with a $200M payroll.  For once, they actually have a legitimate reason to complain and, I have to be honest, it sounds a little less annoying and more like music to my ears.  Oh yeah, and this is just in:  Yankees are close to signing Andruw Jones... Look out!