Soriano Trade Nearing Completion

The Atlanta Braves and Tampa Bay Rays are in the final stages of a trade that will send one of the best relievers on the market, Rafael Soriano, to Tampa. The two sides agreed to swap relievers Soriano for Jesse Chavez but there were two major obstacles left to make it happen. First the Rays would have to sign Soriano to a contract and then the all important medical records exchange.

The signing came easy, Ken Rosenthal of FOXSports.com reports that the Rays and Soriano have agreed to a one-year deal. The contract would be worth $7 to 8 million, about what the Braves would of had to pay him after arbitration. One important note, the contract is not guaranteed (a rarity in baseball). So that takes care of obstacle one.

This afternoon teams are exchanging medical records on Chavez and Soriano, that’s what worries me a little bit about the deal. With a non-guaranteed contract I wonder if the Rays are worried about Soriano’s health and rightfully so. He had an amazing 2009 season, (2.97 ERA with 102 strikeouts (2nd amongst non-starters) and 27 saves in 77 appearances) but has had injury concerns throughout his career. In 2008, he made only 14 appearances because of right elbow problems something that I guess is inevitable when you throw as hard as he does.

I’m thinking the records will check out and the Rays make the trade official. The non-guaranteed contract will protect them in case he does get injured at some point before camp begins.

This trade does do something very important, it puts the Rays back in the American League Wild Card hunt. The bullpen was an Achilles heal for the Rays last season.

The Troy Percival gamble didn’t pay off for a second year and they could never find someone to be that lock down pitcher in the 9th inning. J.P. Howell (17 saves) did alright but he’s not a closer. By trading for Soriano they get a pitcher who could quickly become an elite closer in the A.L.

One or two more moves and the Rays will be knocking on the Boston Red Sox and New York Yankees doors again next season. It looks like management got a taste of winning in 2008 and didn’t appreciate losing again in 2009. So its good to see them making moves to get that taste back. At least one Florida team is doing things to make themselves contenders year in and year out.