Yanks offer Rivera 3 year/$45 Million

Yankees waiting on Rivera's response
Free-agent closer reportedly gets three-year, $45 million offer
By Bryan Hoch / MLB.com

NEW YORK -- The Yankees have upgraded their offer to Mariano Rivera, but the free-agent closer appears to be in no hurry to accept it.

According to multiple reports, Rivera is sitting on a three-year, $45 million contract that will keep him with the Yankees. On the first day that Rivera, as a non-restricted free agent, was permitted to discuss financial terms with other clubs, the Yankees did not receive a conclusive decision.

Senior vice president Hank Steinbrenner told The Associated Press that the Yankees consider the latest offer a strong one, pointing out that Rivera -- who had 30 saves and a 3.15 ERA in 67 games for New York in 2007 -- would become the Major Leagues' highest-paid relief pitcher, by far.

The Mets' Billy Wagner currently owns baseball's largest contract, earning an average of $10.75 million annually over the course of a four-year deal.

"The ball's in their court," Steinbrenner told The AP. "If they still want to look for more somewhere else, that's up to them."

Rivera's agent, Fernando Cuza, did not respond to telephone messages left by MLB.com.

After finalizing their managerial situation by hiring Joe Girardi to replace Joe Torre and ostensibly cutting ties with All-Star third baseman Alex Rodriguez, the Yankees' main stated priorities for the month included pursuing Rivera and catcher Jorge Posada, both free agents.

Rivera, a lifelong Yankee who has a franchise-record 443 saves and 34 more in the postseason, remains as the mission objective on the club's target list. That follows the Yankees having secured a deal with Posada, hours before he would have become an unrestricted free agent at midnight ET on Tuesday.

Posada agreed to an upgraded version of the three-year, $40 million deal he and Rivera were both presented with, reportedly signing on after the Yankees tacked on a fourth year that brought the total contract to a value of $52.4 million.

Steinbrenner told The AP the Yankees saw good value in the signing.

"He's a catcher, but he can also later on be a DH," Steinbrenner said. "I'm fine with keeping his bat another four years. And as far as the salary is concerned, he was pretty logical. You can't argue with that. He didn't go nuts with what he asked for."

The Yankees likely could have negotiated a contract extension with Rivera -- along with Posada -- in Spring Training, but elected to wait until after the season. Now Rivera is the one forcing the club to wait, at least for another 24 hours.

Rivera was in the Dominican Republic on Monday, where he made a public statement that his first choice would be to return to the Yankees, but he would also entertain the idea of pitching for Torre with the Dodgers.

Aside from their dual pursuits of Posada and Rivera, the Yankees figure to begin testing the trade market as baseball's Winter Meetings approach next month, even as they wait patiently for a final decision from 35-year-old left-hander Andy Pettitte -- mulling retirement at home in the Houston area, even with a standing $16 million contract offer awaiting for 2008.

Steinbrenner told The AP that the Yankees would look into packages for the Marlins' Miguel Cabrera and investigate ace Johan Santana's situation with the Twins, though he cautioned that progress on both fronts "is very preliminary right now."

$15 million a year for him!!?!?!?!?! He had a down year last year and at age 38 I wouldn't expect him to improve. That's insane!

Is Boras his agent?

Wonder how much bleacher seats will cost at Yankee Stadium this season?

gs78 wrote:

Is Boras his agent?

probably!

Sources: Rivera wants 4th year in deal
Ken Rosenthal
FOXSports.com, Updated 16 hours ago

There is a reason why Mariano Rivera has not accepted the Yankees' offer of a three-year, $45-million contract.

Rivera, according to major-league sources, wants a fourth guaranteed year.

The Yankees remain the overwhelming favorite to retain Rivera. No other club is expected to even approach their proposal, much less top it.

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.

Rivera has specifically mentioned following Joe Torre to the Dodgers, and his agents also are contacting other clubs about his availability.

Rivera, sources say, believes he deserves the same length of contract as Yankees catcher Jorge Posada, who is on the verge of re-signing for $52.4 million over four years, and Mets closer Billy Wagner, who received $43 million over four years after the 2005 season.

Posada and Wagner are both 36, nearly two years younger than Rivera — and Wagner was 34 when he signed with the Mets as a free agent.

Rivera also is certain to note that third baseman Alex Rodriguez would be 42 at the end of his proposed 10-year contract with the Yankees — the same age that Rivera would be at the conclusion of a four-year deal.

Rivera's ERA rose to 3.15 last season after four straight years below 2.00, but he went 30-for-34 in save opportunities, regained his dominance in September and worked 4 2/3 scoreless innings against the Indians in the postseason.

Rivera is Nucking Futs!!

Boras MUST be his agent!!

Yankees ought to tell him bye. 3 years $45 is rediculous. 4 years is even more rediculous. You don't pay a guy $15MM to work 75 innings...

That's insane!

Must be nice to be able to turn down a 45 million dollar deal!

Rivera, Yanks apart on deal
Closer looking to have fourth year added to team's offer
By Bryan Hoch / MLB.com

NEW YORK -- While Alex Rodriguez and the Yankees move closer to a landmark new contract, Mariano Rivera has put the organization in a holding pattern, apparently in hopes of tacking an additional year on his own deal.

Rivera received a three-year, $45 million contract offer from the Yankees before he was eligible to discuss financial terms with other clubs, a proposal he has not accepted.

Rivera's agent, Fern Cuza, has not responded to telephone calls requesting comment. The New York Times reported Friday that Yankees general manager Brian Cashman spoke with Cuza on Thursday but that the Yankees have no plans to improve the offer further.

"They haven't rejected it outright, as far as I know," senior vice president Hank Steinbrenner told the Times. "It's pretty much known that they're seeking a fourth year, or more [money] for three years.

"I want him back, and that's why the offer is as high as it is. We don't have to change anything. Everyone in baseball knows it's a great offer; we've even gotten a couple of complaints about it."

Rivera's interest in a fourth year may have been piqued when another lifelong Yankee, catcher Jorge Posada, agreed to a four-year, $52.4 million deal earlier in the week, bypassing the chance to negotiate with other clubs as a non-restricted free agent.

Both Posada and Rivera had expressed interest in negotiating contract extensions during Spring Training, but were rebuffed by the team. After the season, Rivera -- who was 3-4 with a 3.15 ERA and 30 saves in 67 games -- vowed that he would treat negotiations like a "business" and that all 30 teams would have an equal chance to procure his services.

Rivera holds an American League record with 443 saves and has a Major League-record 34 saves in the postseason, accomplishments which almost certainly will open the doors to Cooperstown five years after his retirement.

Rivera has achieved all of his numbers in a Yankees uniform, but speaking in the Dominican Republic this week, he floated the idea that he could leave New York and pitch for Joe Torre with the Dodgers if the contract terms with the Yankees were not to his satisfaction. Yet the Dodgers appear set at the closer position with All-Star Takashi Saito.

Speaking in New York this week, Torre told the Associated Press that he expects Rivera to stay with the Yankees.

"I haven't talked to him about it, but I'd be surprised if he didn't," Torre said. "He's state-of-the-art for me. I don't know what he's thinking at this point in time."

New Yankees manager Joe Girardi, visiting the Dominican Republic on a scouting trip, told the AP that he met with Rivera on Wednesday. He also has a strong feeling that when he fills out his first lineup card for the Yankees, Rivera will be available in the bullpen.

"I think that there is a good chance that he will return to the team," Girardi said Thursday.

Rivera is an idiot. The Yankees are offering him probably twice what he deserves. If I'm NY I'd say "Forget you" (well, not quite that) and remove the original offer and offer him 1 year at the league minimum and nothing more.

See if anyone else offers him even close to $15 million a year.

Serves him right if the Yankees backed down their offer! They could always go after Cordero! Rivera won't be able to get $15 million/year AND 4 years! If the Yankees give in, they are worse then I though they were!

Edit: fore spelean mysteaks...

Cordero is better and would probably come cheaper. $15 million for 1 year, let alone 3 (or 4) is a joke.

Even the Yankee$ shouldn't do that.

I agree

Fern Cuza....the NEW Scott Boras......??

This SHIT is getting insane!!

Really insane! Won't be long and guys like Brandon Inge will make $400,000 a year!

Wait! That's the league minimum!

Won't be long and they'll get $1MM a year

Wait! He already makes $6,000,000 a year (or is it 4...either way!)

BOOOOO!!!

Report: Rivera to re-sign with Yanks
Veteran closer set to accept record deal for reliever
By Bryan Hoch / MLB.com

NEW YORK -- Mariano Rivera's icy negotiations with the Yankees may be reaching a thaw, as the future Hall of Fame closer appears primed to remain with the club.

According to a report published Sunday in the New York Post, Rivera is expected to accept the Yankees' three-year, $45 million contract offer early this week. Rivera had spent last week in the Dominican Republic conducting baseball clinics.

The Post reported that Rivera will meet with his representatives on Sunday. According to multiple reports, Rivera may have had interest in a fourth year being added to his contract.

Yankees senior vice president Hank Steinbrenner has said the team would hold firm with its offer, which would make Rivera baseball's highest-paid closer, eclipsing Billy Wagner's deal across town with the Mets, where he earns $10.5 million annually.

Rivera, who turns 38 on Nov. 29, has pitched for the Yankees since 1995, compiling an American League-record 443 saves in the regular season. The most dominant postseason pitcher of his generation, Rivera owns a Major League-record 34 more saves in the playoffs, where he has a 0.77 career ERA.

Rivera made 67 relief appearances for the Yankees in 2007, finishing with 30 saves while going 3-4 with a 3.15 ERA. His signing has been earmarked by Yankees general manager Brian Cashman as one of the club's priorities leading into the early offseason months, along with re-signing catcher Jorge Posada.

Hours before he could have discussed financial terms with other clubs, Posada reportedly agreed to a four-year, $52.4 million deal. Posada had a physical last week and an official announcement is expected shortly.

The Yankees are also continuing to hammer out the details of Alex Rodriguez's landmark 10-year, $275 million contract, just weeks after the likely American League MVP delivered word that he had opted out of contract during Game 4 of the World Series.

"It feels great," Steinbrenner told the Post. "There was never any question we wanted to keep all of them. Obviously, they are being paid very well. Alex was the thing nobody expected, and he came through."

Apparently it's official:

Mo is Back!

Mariano Rivera has agreed to accept the Yankees' three-year, $45 million offer, according to a friend who spoke with Mo today.

Last night, Rivera returned from giving baseball clinics in the Dominican Republic. He told the friend that he intended to sign when he returned, but that Hank Steinbrenner's comments about his age might have caused some hard feelings that led to a week of speculation about Rivera's pinstriped future.

Either way, Rivera would have returned to the Yankees. "He would have taken two years and an option,'' the firend said, adding that Rivera did not really want a fourth year. Perhaps that was meant to make the Yankees uncomfortable for Steinbrenner's remarks about his age.

Whatever the case, Rivera is back. Now, if only Andy Pettitte would make up his mind....

Stoopid, stoopid Yankees!!
Dumb asses.....

I hope this bites their own butts, bigtime.

1 year and out.....

I would probably die laughing and then couldn't enjoy it!!

.....crap!!

Well he's back! What a dumb move by the Yankee$. Rivera does not deserve that. Oh well, not my money!

True

But what a waste of dollars