Four Mo Years?

Wondering why Mariano is not signed yet? Ken Rosenthal reports that the living legend wants a fourth year. That's just crazy talk.

Comments

[Nick-YF]

"But Rivera, who turns 38 on Nov. 29, has instructed his agents to shop him, in part because he was angered by Hank Steinbrenner referring to his age in recent comments about the Yankees' offer, a source says."

finally, a concrete reason for Hank to shut the f up.

[SF]

But Rivera, who turns 38 on Nov. 29, has instructed his agents to shop him, in part because he was angered by Hank Steinbrenner referring to his age in recent comments about the Yankees' offer, a source says.

Again, I am no fan of these in-the-press negotiations (who knows what is true and what isn't), but anything that makes Hank Steinbrenner look silly is fine by me, hypothetically.

Someone get that man a muzzle!

[Paul SF]

I hear the Red Sox are looking to sign Mariano and use him as a first baseman.

[SF]

ha, cross-posted, Nick.

[Brad]

This would make the A_Rod point moot... It's hard to win with Farnsworth closing games. Especially important ones late in the year.

[sam-YF]

In fairness, people close to A-Rod credited Hank's statements as one of the reasons for him coming back. He felt pretty sure that the yankees werent gonna budge. That said Hank should not be commenting on every contract on-going negotiation. Four years is absurd for Mo, the yanks offer is an excellent one and Im kinda upset he hasnt taken it. Nobody is giving him 4 years at even close to that price.

[Paul SF]

He'll learn. Luchhino couldn't keep his trap shut until it cost the Sox A-Rod and nearly cost them Epstein.

[sam-YF]

Thanks for the doomsday view Brad, we can always count on you for that. There are actually other options out there besides Farnsworth if Mo were to walk. Maybe not as good as Mo but much better than Farnsworth. There is always Joba too.

[Nick-YF]

But I thought Levine was our Lucchino.

[sam-YF]

"But I thought Levine was our Lucchino."

We're the yankees we need two Lucchinos!

[Paul SF]

I think the Yankees just have more than one Lucchino, hehe.

[yankeemonkey]

We always have to one-up the Sox, Nick. If the Sox have one Lucchino, Yankees have to have two. Duh!

As for Mo, didn't he have a 3/40 offer on the table *before* Hank opened his mouth? What stopped him from signing then? If he thinks he can get 3/52 or 4/60, he's on crack. And if someone is delusional enough to actually to accede to his demands, Godspeed Mo. Anything longer than a two-year deal was already pretty silly for a 38 yo reliever. What he's asking for now is beyond insane. Get off your high horse, Mo.

[yankeemonkey]

Damn you people for stealing my unfunny jokes!

[sam-YF]

Exactly YM. He can try to put the blame on others but the ball has been in his court for weeks. Im not sure what the problem is. Does he really want to play with another team? He is a yankee all-time great and remaining in with the yankees is the correct call post-career too.

[LocklandSF]

Here is my comment about the Yankees have TWO Lucchinos.

I didn't want to be left out of the party.

[Nick-YF]

Hey, Mo's a human being who cares about things such as dignity and respect. I think he's angry at this new ownership group for being tactless dicks. Can you blame him entirely?

[yankeemonkey]

Haha, M&MD is pushing Mo to the Cubs for 4/60. Yeah right.

[Nick-YF]

Honestly, I could see another team ponying up the money for Mo. He's the kind of name that could really ignite interest among a fanbase. Again, he is Mariano Rivera, living legend.

[LocklandSF]

I don't know how many of you read SurvivingGrady, but it's a pretty funny Red Sox blog. The title of today's post is:

The New York Yankees: My Favorite Sitcom

It's pretty funny and nails how I'm feeling now, the non-stop comedy that is the Yankees these days is just awesome.

[SF]

He can try to put the blame on others but the ball has been in his court for weeks.

But wait, couldn't the Yankees have extended him two or three years during this pre-season, effectively giving Rivera three/four years of solidity? He's finally a free agent, and now it's all his fault, he's the greedy one, when the club said "we won't talk to you during the season, at all"? This is a two-way street. The Yankees have reaped what they sowed with Rivera by refusing to discuss an extension, and he has earned every right to try to maximize his contract, either from them or from someone else.

[Nick-YF]

Lockland, it's remarkable. I feel like there will be Yankee news every day for the next two years. Seriously, do other teams exist?

[SF]

Seriously, do other teams exist?

That "schedules and standings" widget that Gerb installed on the top right of the site reminds me every day that yes, other teams do exist!

[DR]

But they are no fun are they?

[attackgerbil]

> "schedules and standings" widget

I'd better put that thing back up there and pronto then.

[SF]

2007 World Series

BOS def COL, 4-0

Looks just fine by me, Gerb!

[attackgerbil]

True, true. SF.

[Paul SF]

Hey, now it's blank!

The drama with A-Rod and Rivera remind me strongly of the old Sox regime and their seemingly annual battles with Canseco, Clemens, Vaughn, et al. Glad we don't have to endure those. The Lowell negotiation seems pretty clear cut, and there's no sniping back and forth. A big change (yes, I'm aware I've made this point about the Sox at least twice before).

[attackgerbil]

It's back now. Regular season standings added.

[Nick-YF]

"The drama with A-Rod and Rivera remind me strongly of the old Sox regime and their seemingly annual battles with Canseco, Clemens, Vaughn, et al."

Let's not crazy just yet.

[sam-YF]

Honestly, I think alot is being blown out of proportion here. The yankees are doing their job as a team and the players (w/ their agents) are representing them. There doesnt appear to be a battle with Ill-will in any of these cases. Mo may have a bit of resentment for not getting the extension but he is doing what he is doing to simply better is own position. We hear alot about what is going on due to the 360 degree media coverage but to me things seem to be "relatively" normal.

[John - YF]

Chiming in from the hospital...

Unless Mo is going to learn how to hit so that he can DH in year 4 of the contract I would pass on that. Just because he is a legend doesn't mean he gets to bend us over a barrell. Be strong Cash.

PS - Farnsworth would not be the closer of the '08 Yankees. Cashman has already said if Mo doesn't come back there is a chance Joba would stay in the pen. That of course would create a whole other issue, but I don't think you ever have to worry about seeing Kyle closing games.

[Paul SF]

Heh, that would reprise all the discussions we had on the Sox side about whether your ace reliever is more valuable starting or relieving.

"The drama with A-Rod and Rivera remind me strongly of the old Sox regime and their seemingly annual battles with Canseco, Clemens, Vaughn, et al."

The OLD regime!? Let's see, the current one has given us:

- A-Rod: Escape from Texas
- 2004: The Championship Purge
- Manny Being Manny: Part 1 (The Release) through Part 3 (Trading Spaces)
- When Gorillas Flee
- Dice-K: At what cost?

Things are crazy for the Yankees. But, if anything, the contrast with their recent past is the jarring bit. The only annual drama the last few years was whether Torre was going to get fired.

Where the Sox have gone right, I think, is in getting the organization on the same page and forcing the players to put it first above themselves. The players that didn't were promptly shown the door (Damon, Pedro, now Lowell). Manny is the only exception and his contract was inherited. The recent contracts are clearly drawn at some threshold and then they hold firm for the extensions (Papi, Beckett, Crisp, Schilling). Of course, last season they sort of went back on that philosophy with Drew and Lugo, but they sort of had no choice at those positions (though Pena may have worked in RF) and neither has a disruptive presence.

By contrast, the Yankees seem to be more willing to treat players as individuals. A-Rod is the prototypical, but I think that's the difference you see in this negotiating round such that Posada and Rivera want their piece.

It's interesting cause just yesterday the Sox raised ticket prices by 9%, but they're certainly not raising payroll by even 1%, especially if they let Lowell leave. The Yankees have the better brand, but the Sox have the better run business. The Sox almost have to be run efficiently cause while they have cash, they're not worth a $1B.

[NH Rob]

Sorry, me.

And lest anyone think I'm Yankee bashing, I think they were very well run during the 1996-2001. Of course, winning makes people want to stay. Still, even then they started giving big contracts to guys like Jeter then Mussina then Giambi.

[yankeemonkey]

Nick, Rivera himself has said many times he understands baseball is a business. What the Yankees have done hasn't been anything but business. Maybe the rhetoric surrounding it has been less than stellar, but whatever.

[Paul SF]

Rob, I have nothing to say to your post, except: "Are you serious?"

And I now join SF in agreeing you are definitely Pete. I would encourage others to follow our lead and disengage.

[Mike YF]

Seriously, when do you guys want to come by for a sleep over? You want photo copies of our passports or birth certs?

And who is this Pete? From the sound of things, it doesn't sound like a compliment.