The people have spoken: Pay Mo now
-
-
- February
- 14
-
The highly scientific LoHud Yankees Blog Poll has determined that the Yankees should give Mariano Rivera a contract extension now.
Of the nearly 1,000 people who voted, 664 want Rivera to get his extension now. 143 believe the Yankees should wait until after the season and 135 believe it’s all A-Rod’s fault.
(Thanks for playing along with the little joke, you 135 people)
As for me, I think the Yankees should wait. Mo is 37 and was shut down with an elbow problem last September. He could well he fine now and I’ll take his word that he is.
But waiting until October does no harm. Rivera wants to stay with the Yankees and as they did with Mike Mussina, they can make a deal while they still hold his rights.
Why give away $20+ million now if you don’t have to?
Mariano squawked a bit but those were talking points from his agent. Mo knows better than anybody that baseball is a business at this level. If he stays healthy, it will get done.
Thanks to everybody who voted in the poll. We’ll do another one next week.
This entry was posted
on Wednesday, February 14th, 2007 at 8:16 pm by Peter Abraham.
You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed.
Print This Post
| 
Email This Post
Chad Jennings
Sam Borden
Pete,
As stated in an earlier thread, Mo’s injury last year was always referred to as a forearm strain, at least what I heard on the telecasts, and read on the sites and blogs.
Did I miss something or were the Yanks downplaying what was really wrong with Mo, or what?
Cash > the people
It’s a good policy. If he signs one now than he runs the risk of alienating everyone else whose future is up in the air.
Pete,
Couldn’t agree with you less on Mo. Why do you feel that “he knows better than anybody that baseball is a business at this level?” Every time he’s had the hammer in negotiations he’s signed early and taken less money than he could’ve gotten, a la Paul O’Neil, while consistently proclaiming his love for the Yankees which only hurt his bargaining position.
I think he’s genuinely pissed off, and rightfully so, that now that the Yanks have leverage they’re not responding in kind.
What’s more, I don’t see where locking up the best closer in the sport for two more years at 20 or so mil is such a risk. We’ve already paid that amount in a posting fee for a guy who’s never thrown a pitch on American soil, for Christ’s sake.
To me Cash is playing with a loaded gun on this and I can’t understand why. If Mo somehow walks at the end of the year, like Bernie almost did in ‘98 and Pettitte did in ‘03, his name will live forever in Yankee infamy.
“Why give away $20+ million now if you don’t have to?”
Cause Mo’s earned it already. And, agreeing with a commenter on Mark Feinsand’s blog, contemplating the idea of Mo pitching for another team makes me physically ill.
This issue hasn’t been framed correctly. What’s happening is they’re treating Rivera the same way they treated Pettitte in 2003 (which they’ve recently admitted was wrong). You don’t have to sign or pay a long-time franchise player, but if his (worthless) agent asks you for a phone call before spring training, you make the 5 minute call. You say we’re not sure what we’re doing yet, we have concerns, but we’re working on it. But they did not even have the courtesy to call. Mo has repeatedly given up any leverage he might have, allowing them to take him for granted. It’s apparently all piled up on him and he’s justifiably peeved. All you see written about is money, but he hasn’t said a word about that and has already given away all his power. I’ve known for a long time they undervalued him. This is George’s pattern with star players on the team–treat them like dogmeat, humiliate them, and drive them away. I very much hope Mariano signs with the Red Sox for $50 million. If that happens, I’ll become a Red Sox fan, happily.
I still thinks its Arod’s fault.
I have no problem with Cashman’s philospophy. Cash successfully signed Mussina within the two weeks allowed in the exclusive negotiation period and I have no doubt they’ll do the same with Mo. With Pettitte, Cash had elbow concerns that came into fruition in Pettitte’s first year with the Astros. If Mo does his usual, his contract will be resolved in his favor and probably at an even higher salary than if he signed an extension this spring. Probably in the $25-$30 mil range given the constant rising market.
I don’t see your argument on how the Yankees undervalued Mo. They constantly paid him market value the whenever he nears contract end. And even now, he is the highest paid closer in the majors and rightfully so. But if you want to be a Sox fan, go ahead and start now.
I don’t think The Yankees will not resign Mariano next year . He will be closing for the Redsox. God I forbid, I will burn myself if Mariano signs with “Devil” Boston Redsox. I think Yankees and Cashman change their philosophy this offseason by trying to get younger.It means that Humberto Sanchez will be the closer for the Yankees next year and closing ballgames according to Mark Neman. Sanchez could be back of the bullpen guy.
Please Cashman, Resign Mariano, Offer him contract extension now….. Why wait????
If Mo is as effective has he’s always been, he’ll be a Yankee until 2009. Just because Cash wants to get younger doesn’t mean he throws away effective pieces – look at Moose. Moose could have hit free agency, but was effective in 06 and Cash made it happen. Mo will be the same story. If anything, Krod will be a closer for the Yankees before Sanchez.
Sunny615,
Mussina took a low ball 1 year deal to come back without even seeing what other teams were offering. You think Mo’s doing that after being stonewalled this spring?
I think Mo’s as good a guy as he is a pitcher and he truly loves wearing Pinstripes, but he’s no sucker. After he puts up his usual numbers this year, followed by and even bigger post season, he should hire Scott Boras, tell Cashman not to even bother calling during the 15 day window period, and then start the bidding at 3 years, 45 mil. After the way the Sawx threw money around this year, I’ll bet they’d be happy to bid that much, especially if their bullpen crashes and burns this year.
Moose signed a two year deal:
Mike Mussina p
2 years/$23M (2007-08)
* re-signed as a free agent 11/06
* $1M signing bonus
* 07:$11M, 08:$11M
* no-trade protection
here is an exclusive interview with pitching phenom Phil Hughes…
http://philiphughes.net/prestinterview.html
That’s a great decision by Brian Cashman. The Yankees should wait until Rivera can prove to us that he is healthy. We all should have learned a lesson from Eric Gagne and Keith Foulke.
In theory, I agree with Cashman’s stance on waiting until after the season is over to negotiate contracts. But in practice, I think the Yankees are playing with fire here. Now, I am on record as saying that I think the media is over-hyping and sensationalizing this entire issue, but there was a quote in today’s Star Ledger that had Mariano saying that if the Yankees don’t sign him now, he will entertain offers in free agency, that he will not give the Yankees that 2-week window, and that the Yankees will have no advantage over any other team. It was a quote, so I have to believe Mo actually said this.
It is a scary proposition not only to think of the Yankees without Mariano (if he’s healthy and effective), but to think of him closing out games against the Yankees.
I feel like there are conflicting things going around; Cash says he and Mariano are okay, and then today’s paper indicates that, really, Rivera is not okay.
I am also getting tired of players — any player, Rivera included — posturing in the papers, basically giving their teams ultimatums. Mo may be underpaid, despite being the highest paid closer, in terms of today’s market, but he’s not been short-shrifted by any means. Sad to say, if this continues, my respect for Rivera will be lowered. I have always thought of him as someone above the fray. I sure hope this is still so and that it is the “media” that are blowing this out of proportion.
You know, I was so excited for the baseball season to start. But now, I’m close to deciding that I won’t read the sports page because it just spoils everything.
Susan
The Yankees undervalued Rivera? In what universe?
Highest paid closer in the game, period. He’s a closer, don’t compare his value to a position player. He is the best at his job and he is paid the best for it.
Welcome to the fundamentals of capitalism people, basic supply and demand, market value.
Mo will not hit the free agent market. Yankees have a 15-day window to sign him and they will do so before it’s up.
randyhater
Nice theory, but Rivera already stated, he wants to be a career Yankee. Once the season is over and Mo puts up his usual numbers, Cashman will put the money where the Mo is. Cash is no fool and neither is Rivera. Business is business and they both know that. Once the WS is over, Cash will sit down with Mo give him the two year deal that he wants (probably with a mutual option for a third) and give him that $30 mil contract. Just because he’s not getting it now, doesn’t mean he’ll be any less happy when it happens 10 months from now with $25 – 30 mil in his pocket.
Doreen
Mo does not hit free agency until two weeks after the WS ends. Until then, the Yankees have exclusive negoitating rights with Mo and that’s when the deal will happen. If the two week period expires with no deal in place, then Mo’s threat of no favoritism becomes reality. But I’m sure that if Mo puts up his usual numbers, Cash wil get the deal done and everyone will be happy. Even if no deal is signed, the agreement will probably be in place (like Mussina’s deal) but the deadline.
BY the deadline.
Sunny 615
I guess the way I read Mo’s quote was that he won’t deal with the Yankees, period, if nothing gets done before the season. I thought he’d want to test the free agent market regardless of what they Yankees came up with during that 2-week period following the World Series. I hope I interpreted the situation incorrectly.
_The Yankees undervalued Rivera? In what universe?_
In Susan’s. She’s big into conspiracy theories surrounding Mariano Rivera that simply do not exist. Pay no attention to them.
No way Doreen, he’s said before and, now as well, that he wants to stay in NY, so no matter what he said about the Yankees not having any advanatage compared to other teams, they most certainly do.
I think he knows what he wants, he’ll ask for it, he’ll get it, end of story. Very much like the Mussina deal.
There’s a contradiction at work here.
Some players labor under the perception that they’re not cut out to play in NY. It’s a tough town, the Yankees expect nothing but the best from their players, the fans can distinguish the team players from the me-first guys, etc. In short, if you’re not ready to sacrifice yourself every day for the good of the team, you’re not fit to play for the Yankees in the pressure cooker that is NY.
On the other hand, the Yankees owe it to career guys like Mo to give them sweetheart contracts with only a minimum of negotiation, avoiding the sort of caution that is normally associated with giving big money to aging players. If the Yankees don’t give these players what they want when they want it, they are heartless morons.
Here’s how I see it: the Yankees have richly rewarded Mo for his great pitching. He never took a pay cut to play for the Yankees. He wants job security now because he knows that sooner or later, he will decline. The Yankees know that too, which motivates them to wait and see. Mo’s requests for an extension now are just negotiation.
Unless Mo falls apart this year with no chance of recovery, the Yankees will ensure that he returns. The only question is when they do it.
Doreen
I think what he meant was that if Cashman let’s Mo’s 15 days come and go with no show of “respect” then he’s going to go into free agency with eyes and wallet open.
Cash maintains that if that happens, the Yankees have the deepest pockets and will spare no expense to get him back.
Mo was the tenth highest paid guy on the Yankees last year. Anyone who doesn’t see that as undervalued has their head up their ass.
Had Mo played hardball in past negotiations, with an agent like Boras or the Hendricks brothers playing Boston and the Mets against the Yankees, he’d have made at least ten million dollars more over the past few years and he’d have more time on his contract now. He’s bothered that the Yanks aren’t taking his past good faith into consideration and I thaink most fans are also.
Sentiment aside, the only way this strategy works for Cash is if Mo blows his arm out this year. If he has his usual year, the Yanks are gonna have to pay a huge premium next fall over what they can get him for now, and just might lose him depending on how pissed off he his.
Madness, I say.
_Mo was the tenth highest paid guy on the Yankees last year. Anyone who doesn’t see that as undervalued has their head up their ass._
Mo pitches 70 innings a year. You’re telling me the Yanks should pay him as much as someone who gets 650 PAs and is responsible for way more runs? You’re letting October success and sentimentality affect your judgment. Rivera’s been paid pretty much what he’s worth.
that’s quite possibly the dumbest thing I’ve ever heard, randyhater.
Learn some economics.
And I’m the first one to agree Mo deserves to be the highest paid RELIEVER in the game.
Ben demonstrated pretty clearly whose head is stuck where.
It’s more than a little amazing how some people fail to see that the Yankees have paid Rivera very well.
Sunny615 — I hope that is what he meant. Hate to lose Mariano, especially over money.
I’m ready for some positive reports out of Yankee camp. Anyone else?
I agree with all you Ben, Chris and Rich. That Randyhater just doesn’t understand the economics of baseball.
What people don’t realize, I guess, is that value to the team (in terms of winning games) and market value are two VERY different things. Yes, Mariano is the MVP of the team and has always been, you could easily argue he’s been the most dominant force in the game for years, maybe ever. But, that doesn’t change the fact that relievers don’t get paid as much as everyday, 9 innings/game, batting and fielding, position players.
If you want him to be the highest paid Yankee, pay him 25.01M/year, then go ahead and watch the market erupt; A-Rod will opt out and his next contract, $50M/year….
The “Great Rivera” deserves anything he wants. He is the main reason for all of the success the last 10 years. No ifs, ands or buts. End of conversation.
Right. Jeter had nothing to do with it. Neither did Wetteland, Cone, Brosius, O’Niell, Tino, Clemens, Pettitte, Posada, Bernie…
Brilliant reasoning.