So desperate that Soriano was batting clean-up in last night's lineup.
But such is life for the NY Yankees in 2013, a year where they have seen their star players: Derek Jeter, Mark Teixiera, and Curtis Granderson miss most, if not all, of the season due to injuries. A year where the Yankees have been at war with Alex Rodriguez over a quad injury, as well as in wait for MLB's ruling whether to suspend Rodriguez for 100 games due to steroid use.
It's been a fun year all around for the Bronx Bombers.
To think that Soriano is going to come in here and turn things around, you better get ready to be disappointed.
This could go down as another typical Yankees deal, where they bring in an aging star who is well passed his prime, in short its par for the course.
"Of the estimated $24.5 million Soriano is owed through the end of next season, the Cubs are going to pick up about $17.7 million and the Yankees will cover the remaining $6.8 million, sources told ESPN. Soriano is scheduled to make $18 million next season, $5 million of which will be paid by the Yankees, the sources said." (ESPN)
Soriano was tasked with carrying the Chicago Cubs the past six and a half years, and could never do it, because he didn't have the resources around him.
While it is the Yankees, the resources aren't there this time around.
Soriano right now is the Yankees best power hitter from the right hand side, with Vernon Wells leading all right handed Yankees hitters with 10. He is now the second best hitter on the team, behind the man who initially replaced Soriano at second base many years ago, Robinson Cano.
Those two alone are not going to carry the Yankees to October.
They need more help in the lineup, and unless Jeter, Granderson, and even A-Rod return to the field as the guys from circa 2012 it won't be enough.
Another interesting element to this deal is the fact that it looks like GM Brian Cashman is in the midst of a power struggle with the Yankees brass.
According to the NY Post and Joel Sherman, Cashman didn't want to bring back Soriano. He wanted to keep Black, and stock pile on young arms in the Yankees farm system. However, Hank and Hal Steinbrenner have other plans and that of course is to try to win now with a bunch of has beens.
If you read the article, you can see that Cashman has been warning the Yankees about adding old players to this roster in the past. He was against the signing of Rafael Soriano in 2010, and very much against the return of Ichiro Suzuki to the Bronx. He wanted Russell Martin back, the owners did not.
If this is true, we have a very interesting development brewing in the Yankees front office. Does Cashman continue in his current role and risk being fired for moves he didn't want to make? Or does he just step down and leave with his head held high?
Just speculation. But with all of the issues surrounding Cashman from the Steinbrenners to A-Rod, I wouldn't blame him if he left.
Who knew that the Mets would be better run than the Yankees.
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