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November 15, 2007
Exit Sandman?
Groucho Marx once said: "The money's not important - as long as I get it." These days, it seems like Mariano Rivera is saying: "The money is important - and I want to get it."
First, being the highest-paid relief pitcher in baseball by $4 million a year is not enough for Mariano. Now, because Hank Stein reminded him of his age, Rivera wants a contract with a fourth year guaranteed.
Still, General Joe seems to think it will work out. From the AP -
BOCA CHICA, Dominican Republic (AP) -- Joe Girardi plans to have Mariano Rivera in pinstripes next season.
The new Yankees' manager says he spoke to Rivera yesterday during a trip to the Dominican Republic and he believes there's a good chance he'll return to the team.
Girardi was on a scouting trip to the team's academy in the Dominican Republic, where dozens of young players are hoping for a shot at the big leagues.
Rivera also is in the Dominican conducting baseball clinics. The two met last night.
Hey, in twelve years, did Joe Torre ever make a scouting trip to the Yankees' academy in the Dominican Republic? Oh, back to Mo...
Clearly, Rivera feels like he's been dissed by the team in the past and he's trying to make them pay for that now. And, by "dissed," it's all about the benjamins. This is the payback for all the money the Yankees have thrown at pitchers like Carl Pavano, Randy Johnson, Kyle Farnsworth, Steve Karsay, Kei Igawa, etc.
Mo probably figures "They've always been willing to give big rewards to those who have done nothing for the team. So, why not throw away money on me too? At least I've given them something for the last twelve years."
Bottom line, it looks like Rivera wants a $50 million payday from the Yankees - either over three or four years. Maybe the Yankees should offer to give him a dollar a day for the next fifty million days?
Seriously, this could start to get very ugly in a hurry. The fact that Rivera has not already taken the Yankees generous offer already shows that he's out to make a point. The question is: How far is he willing to go in order to make that point?
Posted by Steve Lombardi at November 15, 2007 09:43 PM
Comments
Fifty million days is just short of one hundred thousand, eight-hundred and ninety-five and a half years.
That is all. Carry on.
Posted by: mehmattski ![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.waswatching.com/nav-commenters.gif)
at November 15, 2007 10:51 PM
Bring him back in the room, offer $45 for 3 years, if he turns it down, tear up the offer sheet and tell him his Yankee career is over!
Enough already, they already overpaid Posada, the have made an idiotic offer to mike lowell, let him walk.
As the days go by, my confidence in Cashman is fading.
Posted by: Inconnu at November 16, 2007 09:01 AM
I understand, respect, and defend a player's right to get whatever he can get. I also know what Rivera has meant to the team. But if he doesn't like the 3 year/$45M he was offered, then he can go pitch for someone else for less money than the Yanks are offering him. It's the same as the A-Rod situation; he can stay in New York or he can go out there and see the disparity between NY's offer and the contracts would be willing to put out for him.
If he would rather pitch for $8.5M in another city, I'm sure that can be arranged. Otherwise, he should sign it and end this ridiculous charade.
Posted by: MJ at November 16, 2007 09:30 AM
Posada is overpaid, so is Arod. from that perspective i understand Mo's thought process. but he's both older and more injury prone than the others. i personally am SICK of constantly having to overpay for players. it's not even fair market value - it's well above. if it's over with Mo, start talking to Cordero and Wood. oh hell, how about closer by committee? didn't some bum fill in for Mo as the closer like 10 years ago and go 6-6 in save opps?
Posted by: Travis G. at November 16, 2007 12:10 PM
just to reiterate, Po and Arod are coming off career years whereas Mo is far from it - perhaps his worst year ever (outside of his rookie year).
Posted by: Travis G. at November 16, 2007 12:16 PM
I agree it's a very generous offer, and the difference between Mo and others such as Posada and A-Rod is that supply and demand is at work. It's not just "how much are you worth" it's "what are replacement options/cost". Yanks could get Cordero (mil), use Joba, or even use an old dead arm and get 35+ saves. Now Mo deserves some respect, and hank's comment was silly (don't negotiate adversely in public - use code words instead of insults). Bottom line - instead of 3 years and 45 mill make it 4 years and 46 million - 12 mill for 3 years and 10 mill for the fourth year. Sounds better than a 3 year deal, right?
Posted by: Razor at November 16, 2007 03:59 PM