After writing yesterday about Rafael Soriano's baggage and him still being a free agent, reports indicate that he has agreed to terms with the Washington Nationals on a two year contract worth $28 million. There is a vesting option on 2015 that goes into effect if Soriano finishes 120 games over the two year contract. Since Rafael Soriano declined the Yankees qualifying offer at the end of the 2012 season, the Nationals will lose the 29th pick of the draft while the Yankees will gain a a draft choice, 32nd overall.
Soriano posted a 2.26 ERA in the 2012 season after taking over for the injured Mariano Rivera in the beginning of May. He averaged 9.2 K/9 and 3.2 BB/9 with the Yankees last season. When you really think about it, Soriano only received one additional year on top of what the Yankees were willing to offer him with their qualifying offer.
Soriano will close for the Nationals while Drew Storen will presumably serve as Soriano's eighth inning guy. After struggling in the 2011 season as a set-up man for the Yankees, Soriano probably refused to go to a ball club where he would serve as a set-up guy. Still, I'm proud of the Yankees for not overpaying for a reliever whose name is not Mariano Rivera.
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