As most expected after Rafael Soriano successfully stepped into the closer role for the injured Mariano Rivera, the relief pitcher has officially decided to opt out in search of a long term contract. Jon Heyman writes that Soriano may be seeking a four-year deal from his next team, and after what the Dodgers gave Brandon League (3 years/$22.5 million), it's hard to argue that he might be able to get it after his strong season in New York.
The Yankees shouldn't be the ones to give it to him, though. Relief pitchers not named Rivera are notoriously volatile, and devoting $15 million dollars per year over multiple years while operating under a budget they seem ready to stick to would be foolish. The team will almost certainly offer Soriano a qualifying offer, ensuring them a compensation pick in the draft once he signs elsewhere.
In other moves today, Casey McGehee has elected to become a free agent and the Yankees returned Rule 5 pitcher Brad Meyers, who spent the entire season on the 60-day DL, to the Washington Nationals.