Debby Wong-USA TODAY Sports
Somehow, the Los Angeles Dodgers still have money to spend and the team is now taking a look at upgrading its bullpen. The Dodgers are looking into signing free agent closer Rafael Soriano. Soriano spent last season saving games for the New York Yankees since Mariano Rivera went down with a season-ending ACL injury after shagging fly balls prior to a game.
The market for Soriano has not been there this winter since the Yankees gave him a $13.3 million qualifying offer, which will mean that any team that signs him will have to give a draft pick to the Yankees as compensation for signing Soriano. With that tie up, that does not mean the Dodgers will back down from a pitcher who recorded 42 saves, the second time he’s recorded 40 saves in a season.
Although, Buster Olney of ESPN tweeted that there is a 20 percent chance that the Dodgers actually offer him a contract, Los Angeles does not seem to be totally set on having Brandon League close out games for them. League spent time with the Seattle Mariners as well with the Dodgers last season and recorded just 15 saves between both clubs.
Soriano would be a definite upgrade. With 42 saves in place of the great Rivera, Soriano also had a 2.26 ERA and two wins to his credit as well as 69 strikeouts.
If the Dodgers do not budge on him, it would be understandable as they have more than $200 million dedicated to players on their current roster, which makes them a serious contender for the World Series this coming season.
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