Yankees Need to Pay Mariano

In his 11 year postseason career, Mariano Rivera has a 8-1 record, 34 saves, a 0.80 ERA, a .75 WHIP, and over 50 innings where he hasn't given up a hit. Those numbers are not good. Those numbers are not great. Those numbers are ridiculous! Completely ridiculous that Mariano isn't even in the same league as other closers in Major League Baseball season. He is far and above the greatest closer in Major League Baseball and maybe one of the best postseason players and dominators period in baseball history. And through all of those seasons, Mariano hasn't even been one of the Top 5 paid Yankees. Yet, he's been probably the most important Yankee during the 90s Dynasty.

So, it's pretty disheartening to me when Mariano expresses displeasure with the Yankees. Over the last few days, Mariano has talked about how he's feel disrespected because the Yankees didn't resign Bernie Williams and are treating him in the same way by allowing him to go into the final year of his contract without much talk of a contract extension. Mariano Rivera has meant more than any other Yankee player during the 90s Dynasty, period. He's meant more than Derek Jeter, Bernie Williams, Scott Brosius or Andy Pettitte. Maybe more than all of them combined.

While Yankees General Manager Brian Cashman says that he will wait until after the season to negotiate with Mariano - like he's done with other veterans in recent years - I think it's pretty important that he break that practice and give a blank check to Mo. Ask him how many more years he wants to pitch and ask him how much money he wants to make during that time period. Mariano Rivera deserves it. He deserves it probably more than any other player in baseball. The Yankees need to reward him for his value in the past and his value in the coming years as the best closer in baseball.