From the NY Daily News: (Christian Red)
According to a source familiar with the negotiations between the Yankees and future Hall of Fame closer Mariano Rivera, the 41-year-old will sign a two-year deal believed to be worth $30 million by Friday night.
While the Yankee winter has been dominated by the negotiations between Yankee captain Derek Jeter and the club’s front office, Rivera’s free agent status went quietly under the radar, although his importance is immeasurable.
Thursday night, Rivera’s agent Fernando Cuza – who was one of the many guests at Red Sox slugger David Ortiz’s celebrity golf tournament kickoff dinner – had said the Yankees and Rivera’s camp were “a little far apart” on getting a new deal done for Rivera, and that “hopefully we’ll be able to work it out.” But within hours, a deal came together, perhaps expedited because Rivera had recently received a three-year deal and more money (believed to be in the neighborhood of $17 million per year) from another team, according to the source. The source added that Rivera wanted to maintain his ties to the only team he has ever played for, and went with less money and fewer years to continue wearing pinstripes.
“He wanted to stay loyal to the Yankees,” the source said.
I didn’t see this going any other way. It would be hard to imagine Mo retiring when he still remains the best closer in all of baseball, and I never thought he would ever leave the Yankees organization for some other club.
Taking less money and fewer years is unheard of in baseball. For all Mo does for the Yankees on and off the field I still think we under appreciate him. Which is saying something because we all love the heck out of the guy.
We all know that the Yankees love Mo and wanted him back but not at this price. The threat of Boston signing him and not tendering Papelbon is what pushed this through so quick. Don’t be surprised if this starts a domino effect with the next domino being Derek Jeter.
Mariano Rivera is the last guy you pinch pennies with. Give the man his ransom.