Hank Steinbrenner opened the door even wider for Mariano Rivera to return to the Yankees yesterday and – perhaps more interesting – did not slam the door on the potential of bringing back Alex Rodriguez.
Maybe it is just wishful thinking or part of a negotiating strategy, but in recent days the Yankees began to hear some buzz that Rodriguez was interested in engaging the organization in conversations. Until yesterday, Steinbrenner had dismissed Rodriguez since his agent, Scott Boras, announced during Game 4 of the World Series that his client was opting out of the final three years of his contract. Upset that Rodriguez would not even return his calls or negotiate with the club, Steinbrenner said the Yanks were moving on without Rodriguez, and the organization was unified behind that strategy.
But yesterday when reached by The Post, Steinbrenner was more non-committal.
“Whether something did happen or not,” Steinbrenner said of a Rodriguez return, “I am not going to comment on that situation.”
It was the first, albeit subtle, sign of a thaw between the two sides. Was it more than that? No Yankees official besides Steinbrenner commented on the subject. Boras did not immediately return phone calls.
Yesterday was the first full day free agents could sign with clubs aside from their old team. So Rodriguez is now eligible to sign with any suitor, and the Angels and Dodgers have been viewed as the frontrunners.
It is clear that any chance Rodriguez has of returning to the Yankees is going to be far more complex than that of Jorge Posada and Rivera. Posada has agreed to a four-year, $52.4 million package that will become official after his physical. Rivera has been made a three-year, $45 million offer and the expectation is that he will ultimately return, as well.
“He has an offer,” Steinbrenner said of Rivera. “By 4 million a year, he’s the highest-paid reliever at age 38. At this point, I’m inclined to see what he does with it. A 38-year-old relief pitcher making 4 million more than anyone. It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to see it’s a good offer.”
On Monday, Rivera told the AP, “The Yankees are my first option. But if that is not possible, there is Joe [Torre] with the Dodgers.”
Current closer Takashi Saito is under contract with the Dodgers.”Obviously, he’s one of the greatest relief pitchers of all time,” Dodgers GM Ned Colletti said of Rivera. “Whenever somebody like that is available, you have to take it into consideration. That said, we haven’t pursued it strongly at this point.”
The Yanks had been adamant they would not re-sign Rodriguez without the $21 million subsidy the Rangers were giving as part of his February 2004 trade. The Yanks’ initial plan was to offer Rodriguez a five-year, $139 million extension beyond the three seasons he had left on the original 10-year contract. The Yanks probably would have no qualms about reviving that part of the deal. The problem would come on what to do about the first three years where the Ranger discount no longer exists.
Steinbrenner also mentioned the Yanks could look at both the Twins’ Johan Santana and the Marlins’ Miguel Cabrera in possible deals.
“Brian [Cashman] is still probing different things,” Steinbrenner said. “And it’s not all free agents. Some of it could be trades. Obviously we would be interested in Santana and Cabrera, but it’s just the usual probing. There is plenty of time.”