New York Yankees: Is It Time to Trade Rafael Soriano?

Sure, it's a gamble, especially with the shaky nature of the New York Yankees' starting pitching.

And it's great knowing there are three guys in the bullpen who can lock down opposing teams in the seventh, eighth and ninth innings.

But as spring turns to summer and the pennant races come into sharper focus, the Yankees might want to consider trading Rafael Soriano to a team needing a closer or a setup man and fill a need or their own whether it is for this season or the future.

Soriano was a closer with the Tampa Bay Rays and parlayed a career year in 2010 when he had 45 saves, a 1.73 ERA and 0.80 WHIP into a three-year, $35 million free-agent deal with the Yankees.

The plan was for Soriano to take a step back and serve as setup man for Mariano Rivera, the closer of all closers, and to perhaps be first in the line of succession for the closer's role when Rivera retired.

Stuff happens, though, and injuries short-circuited Soriano's first season with the Yankees in 2011. Then there was the emergence of David Robertson, who was virtually untouchable as the setup man last season and has picked up where he left off so far this year.

As it stands now, Robertson would move into the closer's role if Rivera retires after this season.

Soriano is being used as a seventh-inning specialist and is bouncing back with a respectable season. He is 2-0, with a 2.25 ERA in eight appearances.

But do the Yankees want to pay him $11 million this year and $14 million in 2013 to pitch the seventh inning or move into the setup role? 

Cory Wade could inherit the seventh inning slot, and the Yankees might use D.J. Mitchell and even Freddy Garcia there, too.

We know there is sentiment to convert Robertson into a starter, but given the Yankees' track record with Joba Chamberlain and Phil Hughes, why not leave well-enough alone?

They should go shopping instead and see if there is any interest in the 32-year-old Soriano, who cannot be a happy camper with the job he has now.  

If He's Going to San Francisco...

With closer Brian Wilson out for probably more than a year with Tommy John surgery, the Giants may have interest in acquiring Rafael Soriano as an insurance policy, if not an eventual closer.

The Dodgers are off to a great start in the National League West, but the Giants, Rockies and Diamondbacks all have legitimate postseason aspirations, especially with the added wild-card team.

Santiago Casilla, who has been terrific in his two-plus seasons in San Francisco after failing to wow anyone across the Bay in Oakland, is now closing. He has converted all four save opportunities, and he has a 1.04 ERA and 0.92 WHIP in 10 appearances.

Casilla has never been a full-time closer, though, so it remains to be seen how he performs in this role as the season progresses. Soriano could move into the setup role and could even close games should Casilla falter.

 If I'm Brian Cashman, I'd be looking at a mid-level prospect from the Giants farm system in return. Jarrett Parker, a 23-year-old lefty-hitting outfielder might be available.

If Casilla hits a rough patch and the Giants get desperate, the Yankees might be able to wrangle a higher-rated prospect like outfielder Francisco Peguero.

Farmhand Heath Hembree is positioned to be the Giants' closer of the future, but it is doubtful the Giants would throw him into the heat of a pennant race this season.  

A National Emergency?

The Washington Nationals seem to have all the pieces in place. They have dynamic starting pitching and a potentially productive lineup when Ryan Zimmerman returns from the disabled list, where is is nursing an inflamed shoulder.

But the youthful Nationals do have concerns in the bullpen, as Drew Storen and Brad Lidge are on the disabled list.

The Nationals are using Henry Rodriguez to close now, but he is not a closer by trade and doesn't have a body of work that will make the front office comfortable for the long haul.

Rafael Soriano would be a perfect fit for Washington. He could move directly into the closer role to give the bullpen stability and a proven track record.  

The Nationals have several outfield prospects, so maybe the Yankees could pry Brian Goodwin, Eury Perez or Destin Hood if the Nats think Soriano can close the deal on the NL East Division title.

Seeing Red over Madson's Injury

The Cincinnati Reds aren't building for the future. They're built to win now and thought they had all the pieces in place when they signed free agent Ryan Madson to be their closer in 2012.

So much for the best-laid plans.

Madson is out for the year and the Reds' postseason hopes now rest on the lefty arm of Sean Marshall.

Marshall had a good year in 2011, going 6-6 with a 2.26 ERA for the Chicago Cubs. But he was only five of nine in his limited save opportunities, so the jury is out as to whether or not he can fill the role for the Reds this season.

Marshall has had mixed results so far, going 0-2 with a 5.40 ERA. He does have five saves in six opportunities, but odds are the Reds would jump at the opportunity to have Rafael Soriano filling that role. 

Sean Buckley is among the Reds' top prospects, and the third baseman has good power. He could succeed Alex Rodriguez when A-Rod becomes the DH.

Diamondbacks Are Not Forever

The Arizona Diamondbacks are another team in the competitive NL West with playoff aspirations J.J. Putz is the Diamondbacks' closer and was lights-out in 2011, with 45 saves and a 2.17 ERA.

But Putz has been more hit and miss this season. He has five saves in six chances, but his ERA is 4.70, and he hasn't been as dominant as last year.

Rafael Soriano would be a good fit for the Diamondbacks. At the very least, he could be the eighth-inning setup man, but he would be ready to step into the closer role should Putz not be able to repeat last season's success.

The NL West figures to be a dogfight, with four teams battling for the division title and two playoff berths. There may be little room for error, and Soriano would give the Diamondbacks a proven arm in the bullpen as well as a running mate with Putz.

If the Yankees don't ask for an outfield prospect like Bobby Borchering, the Diamondbacks have several pitchers among their top prospects. Anthony Meo is an intriguing right-hander who is envisioned as a reliever and possible closer.

Forget Sending Soriano to the Hated Enemy

Could the Red Sox use Rafael Soriano?

It's a rhetorical question.

Soriano would probably be a more dependable closer than Andrew Bailey, the injured former Oakland A's closer who has never been in a pennant race.

The Yankees, however, would rather trade with the Mets before ever entertaining the notion of sending Soriano to the Red Sox.

If only Boston was in the National League.

The same is true of the Toronto Blue Jays, who, with the Baltimore Orioles, have had a good start in 2012.

With Sergio Santos on the disabled list until late May or early June, the Blue Jays will probably continue to rely on the erratic Francisco Cordero to close. And while Cordero has 329 saves in his career, he also has 72 blown save opportunities.

Soriano would be an upgrade over Santos and Cordero, but the Yankees would not risk their postseason chances by sending Soriano to Canada.