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Mets GM Sandy Alderson On Yanks: 'We Each Signed Japanese Pitchers This Week'

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- Mets general manager Sandy Alderson has a knack for saying humorous things about the state of his team -- and riling up the fan base in the process.

He did it again on Saturday night.

Alderson presented the American League Cy Young Award to Tigers star Max Scherzer on Saturday night at the New York Baseball Writers' Association of America dinner.

And when it came to comparing his offseason with the Yankees', the GM couldn't resist.

"We each signed Japanese pitchers this week," Alderson said. "They're paying $155 million and we're paying our guy month to month."

New York's GM is of course referring to the Yankees' signing of Masahiro Tanaka. The 25-year-old signed a seven-year, $155 million deal with the Bronx Bombers this past Wednesday. On Friday, the Mets re-signed Daisuke Matsuzaka to a minor-league deal.

While Yankees general manager Brian Cashman has spent $471 million on free agents this offseason -- signing such stars as Carlos Beltran, Jacoby Ellsbury, Hiroki Kuroda, Brian McCann and Tanaka -- Alderson hasn't exactly rested on his laurels.

The Mets have significantly improved their roster, spending $87.25 million on outfielders Chris Young and Curtis Granderson and starting pitcher Bartolo Colon.

Future Hall of Famer Mariano Rivera was on hand on Saturday night. He, along with fellow retired Yankee Andy Pettitte, received the "Toast of the Town" award.

A fan shouted "one more year" in the direction of the all-time saves leader.

In reaction to that, Rivera pointed to reliever David Robertson and said, "You have your new closer right here."

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