Pitcher Rafael Soriano, left, smiles while New York Yankee’s general manager Brian Cashman, center, and manager Joe Girardi look on during a news conference Wednesday, Jan 19, 2011, at Yankee Stadium in New York. The Yankees signed the all-star right-hander to a three-year deal. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)
NEW YORK (AP) — The New York Yankees think the addition of reliever Rafael Soriano gives them the strongest bullpen in baseball.
Soriano was introduced at Yankee Stadium on Wednesday and put on a pinstriped jersey with No. 29, a day after completing a $35 million, three-year contract.
He becomes the primary setup man for Mariano Rivera. The Yankees failed to land Cliff Lee and didn’t like any of the other starting pitchers on the free-agent market, so they spent on relief.
Yankees manager Joe Girardi says he feels as if the team now has two closers. Soriano says he’s happy to become Rivera’s understudy and hopes to succeed him one day.
Copyright 2011 The Associated Press.
