Mariano Rivera Will Remain With The Yankees

Not only will Rivera remain with the Yankees, he will also become the highest paid closer in baseball. This just symbolizes how badly the Yankees want to hold onto their players instead of making much needed changes. Mariano Rivera is expected to accept the Yankees' three-year, $45 million offer. The contract would make Rivera the highest paid closer in baseball history.

Within the life of the deal, Rivera should pass Lee Smith for second on the all-time saves list. In 13 years with the Yankees, the right-hander has 443 saves, 35 behind Smith. The Padres' Trevor Hoffman is the all-time leader with 524 saves. Rivera saved 30 games last season, his lowest total since 2002 and posted a 3.15 ERA, his highest since his rookie year in 1995. A 3.15 ERA for a closer is a really bad stat to have. As closers get older, they don't seem as reliable as they used to be. I remember even Hoffman had trouble shutting the door last season. Perhaps the Yankees should have looked towards new faces.

The Yankees have been waiting to hear if Rivera would accept the deal for a week, but Rivera is supposedly holding out for a fourth year at the moment.

Jorge Posada to Remain A New York Yankee

Jorge Posada was just one of many Yankee players projected to possibly leave this team, but he isn't anymore. The New York Yankees and Jorge Posada agreed Monday night to a $52.4 million, four-year contract that keeps the catcher off the free-agent market. Posada decided to remain with the only major league team he has played for despite Joe Torre no longer being present.

Posada produced MVP type numbers this season. He batted .338 with Home Runs and 90 RBIs (very good for a catcher position).

One player down, many to resign. The next player to decide is Mariano Rivera. New York also was trying to re-sign Mariano Rivera before Tuesday, when free agents could start talking money with all clubs. Notice an obvious pattern? 2 of the 4 players who remained so far (Posada and possible Rivera) have been home-grown and loved Yankee players their entire careers. As for the players who left, Alex Rodriguez has not been a Yankee his whole career and a majority wanted him out and Andy Pettitte was a loved Yankee player, but following this trend, has not been a Yankee his whole career and therefore did not feel obliged to stay on the team.