AmarilloRed
11-12-2007, 11:10 PM
November 12, 2007
Breaking News: Posada to Stay With Yanks
The Yankees took care of a major piece of business tonight, coming to terms with Jorge Posada on a four-year, $52 million contract, bringing the All-Star catcher back to finish his career in pinstripes.
The deal comes just hours before other teams – most notably the Mets – could talk dollars with Posada. Mets GM Omar Minaya wined and dined Posada, his wife and his agents during a lengthy lunch at Le Cirque (business must be good in Flushing) yesterday, taking one last stab at making sure the catcher would make it to tomorrow, when teams can make official offers.
But once the Yankees offered Posada the four-year pact, it was practically a done deal. Posada’s first choice was to stay in pinstripes, and unless the Yankees were unwilling to go for a fourth year, there was little doubt it would happen.
The Yankees probably overpaid, but what choice did they have? Yorvit Torrealba, Paul Lo Duca or Damian Miller were not going to adequately replace Posada, who had a tremendous year both at the plate and behind it last season.
Besides, Posada can always finish up the contract as a first baseman and/or DH, so it made sense for the Yankees. After letting Joe Torre, Don Mattingly and Ron Guidry go, letting another Yankee icon leave would have been terrible PR for them, both on and off the field. They also lost a guy named A-Rod, leaving them with very little pop from the right side, something the switch-hitting Posada can provide.
Now the Yankees have to lock up Mariano Rivera, something that should happen in the next couple of days. From there, it’s on to the third-base situation, as well as waiting for Andy Pettitte to make up his mind about 2008.
Posted by Mark Feinsand on November 12, 2007 10:37 PM | Permalink
Good move by the Yankees, making sure he stays a Yankee before other teams could get involved and drive his price up.
Breaking News: Posada to Stay With Yanks
The Yankees took care of a major piece of business tonight, coming to terms with Jorge Posada on a four-year, $52 million contract, bringing the All-Star catcher back to finish his career in pinstripes.
The deal comes just hours before other teams – most notably the Mets – could talk dollars with Posada. Mets GM Omar Minaya wined and dined Posada, his wife and his agents during a lengthy lunch at Le Cirque (business must be good in Flushing) yesterday, taking one last stab at making sure the catcher would make it to tomorrow, when teams can make official offers.
But once the Yankees offered Posada the four-year pact, it was practically a done deal. Posada’s first choice was to stay in pinstripes, and unless the Yankees were unwilling to go for a fourth year, there was little doubt it would happen.
The Yankees probably overpaid, but what choice did they have? Yorvit Torrealba, Paul Lo Duca or Damian Miller were not going to adequately replace Posada, who had a tremendous year both at the plate and behind it last season.
Besides, Posada can always finish up the contract as a first baseman and/or DH, so it made sense for the Yankees. After letting Joe Torre, Don Mattingly and Ron Guidry go, letting another Yankee icon leave would have been terrible PR for them, both on and off the field. They also lost a guy named A-Rod, leaving them with very little pop from the right side, something the switch-hitting Posada can provide.
Now the Yankees have to lock up Mariano Rivera, something that should happen in the next couple of days. From there, it’s on to the third-base situation, as well as waiting for Andy Pettitte to make up his mind about 2008.
Posted by Mark Feinsand on November 12, 2007 10:37 PM | Permalink
Good move by the Yankees, making sure he stays a Yankee before other teams could get involved and drive his price up.