Biographical

Rafael Soriano PNationals

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Career Summary

Years	G	IP	W	L	SV	ERA	WARP
17	591	636.3	24	28	207	2.89	9

Birth Date	12-19-1979
Height	6' 4"
Weight	230 lbs

Age	45 years, 3 months, 11 days
Bats	R
Throws	R

WARP Summary

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MLB Statistics

Historical (past-seasons) WARP is now based on DRA..
cFIP and DRA are not available on a by-team basis and display as zeroes(0). See TOT line for season totals of these stats.
Multiple stints are are currently shown —Click to hide.

YEAR	Team	Lg	G	GS	IP	W	L	SV	H	BB	SO	HR	PPF	H/9	BB/9	HR/9	K/9	GB%	BABIP	WHIP	FIP	ERA	cFIP	DRA	DRA-	WARP
2002	SEA	MLB	10	8	47.3	0	3	1	45	16	32	8	94	8.6	3.0	1.5	6.1	0%	.253	1.29	4.91	4.56	117	5.19	111.4	0.2
2003	SEA	MLB	40	0	53.0	3	0	1	30	12	68	2	98	5.1	2.0	0.3	11.5	0%	.241	0.79	1.86	1.53	67	2.11	44.1	1.9
2004	SEA	MLB	6	0	3.3	0	3	0	9	3	3	0	101	24.3	8.1	0.0	8.1	0%	.529	3.60	4.05	13.50	108	5.58	115.0	0.0
2005	SEA	MLB	7	0	7.3	0	0	0	6	1	9	0	104	7.4	1.2	0.0	11.0	0%	.316	0.95	1.40	2.45	102	4.26	91.6	0.1
2006	SEA	MLB	53	0	60.0	1	2	2	44	21	65	6	99	6.6	3.2	0.9	9.8	0%	.259	1.08	3.47	2.25	91	3.72	75.8	1.3
2007	ATL	MLB	71	0	72.0	3	3	9	47	15	70	12	102	5.9	1.9	1.5	8.8	0%	.198	0.86	4.10	3.00	95	3.57	73.8	1.5
2008	ATL	MLB	14	0	14.0	0	1	3	7	9	16	1	98	4.5	5.8	0.6	10.3	0%	.200	1.14	3.88	2.57	108	5.11	109.0	0.0
2009	ATL	MLB	77	0	75.7	1	6	27	53	27	102	6	96	6.3	3.2	0.7	12.1	0%	.275	1.06	2.49	2.97	70	2.79	59.8	2.1
2010	TBA	MLB	64	0	62.3	3	2	45	36	14	57	4	105	5.2	2.0	0.6	8.2	0%	.199	0.80	2.77	1.73	93	3.31	74.7	1.2
2011	NYA	MLB	42	0	39.3	2	3	2	33	18	36	4	108	7.6	4.1	0.9	8.2	0%	.276	1.30	4.00	4.12	108	4.71	109.5	0.0
2012	NYA	MLB	69	0	67.7	2	1	42	55	24	69	6	101	7.3	3.2	0.8	9.2	0%	.274	1.17	3.26	2.26	97	4.06	93.0	0.6
2013	WAS	MLB	68	0	66.7	3	3	43	65	17	51	7	103	8.8	2.3	0.9	6.9	0%	.287	1.23	3.62	3.11	104	4.16	99.5	0.4
2014	WAS	MLB	64	0	62.0	4	1	32	51	19	59	4	100	7.4	2.8	0.6	8.6	0%	.280	1.13	3.05	3.19	101	4.52	110.7	0.0
2015	CHN	MLB	6	0	5.7	2	0	0	8	1	4	2	91	12.7	1.6	3.2	6.4	0%	.333	1.59	6.86	6.35	128	7.51	175.5	-0.2
Career		MLB	591	8	636.3	24	28	207	489	197	641	62	100	6.9	2.8	0.9	9.1	34%	.257	1.08	3.33	2.89	94	3.83	85.4	9.0

Statistics for All Levels

'opp' stats - Quality of opponents faced - have been moved and are available only as OPP_QUAL in the Statistics reports now.
Minor league stats are currently shown —Click to hide.

YEAR	Team	Lg	LG	G	GS	IP	W	L	SV	H	BB	SO	HR	PPF	H/9	BB/9	HR/9	K/9	GB%	BABIP	WHIP	FIP	ERA	cFIP	DRA	DRA-
1999	EVE	A-	NWN	14	14	75.3	5	4	0	56	49	83	8		6.7	5.9	1.0	9.9	0%	-.343	1.39	5.18	3.11	0	0.00	0.0
2000	WIS	A	MDW	21	21	122.3	8	4	0	97	50	90	3		7.1	3.7	0.2	6.6	0%	-.657	1.20	3.35	2.87	0	0.00	0.0
2000	Esc	Wnt	DWL	1	0	0.0	0	0	0	1	1	0	0		0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0%	-1.000	0.00	0.00	0.00	0	0.00	0.0
2001	SBR	A+	CLF	15	15	89.0	6	3	0	49	39	98	4		5.0	3.9	0.4	9.9	0%	-.319	0.99	3.44	2.53	0	0.00	0.0
2001	SAN	AA	TXS	8	8	48.3	2	2	0	34	14	53	5		6.3	2.6	0.9	9.9	0%	-.403	0.99	3.54	3.35	0	0.00	0.0
2001	Esc	Wnt	DWL	12	0	26.3	3	3	0	23	8	24	0		7.9	2.7	0.0	8.2	0%	-.719	1.18	3.58	3.76	0	0.00	0.0
2002	SEA	MLB	AL	10	8	47.3	0	3	1	45	16	32	8	94	8.6	3.0	1.5	6.1	0%	.253	1.29	4.91	4.56	117	5.19	111.4
2002	SAN	AA	TXS	10	8	46.7	2	3	0	32	15	52	6		6.2	2.9	1.2	10.0	0%	.234	1.01	3.54	2.31	0	0.00	0.0
2003	SEA	MLB	AL	40	0	53.0	3	0	1	30	12	68	2	98	5.1	2.0	0.3	11.5	0%	.241	0.79	1.86	1.53	67	2.11	44.1
2003	TAC	AAA	PCL	11	10	62.0	4	3	0	43	12	63	2		6.2	1.7	0.3	9.1	0%	.256	0.89	2.46	3.19	0	0.00	0.0
2003	esc	Wnt	DWL	8	7	42.3	1	1	0	19	18	25	0		4.0	3.8	0.0	5.3	0%	-.404	0.87	3.49	0.21	0	0.00	0.0
2004	SEA	MLB	AL	6	0	3.3	0	3	0	9	3	3	0	101	24.3	8.1	0.0	8.1	0%	.529	3.60	4.05	13.50	108	5.58	115.0
2004	SBR	A+	CLF	2	2	8.0	0	0	0	7	1	9	1		7.9	1.1	1.1	10.1	0%	.316	1.00	3.46	2.25	0	0.00	0.0
2004	SAN	AA	TXS	2	1	8.0	1	0	0	4	0	10	1		4.5	0.0	1.1	11.3	0%	.200	0.50	2.54	1.13	0	0.00	0.0
2004	TAC	AAA	PCL	3	3	3.7	0	0	0	2	2	5	1		4.9	4.9	2.4	12.2	0%	.143	1.08	5.94	2.43	0	0.00	0.0
2005	SEA	MLB	AL	7	0	7.3	0	0	0	6	1	9	0	104	7.4	1.2	0.0	11.0	0%	.316	0.95	1.40	2.45	102	4.26	91.6
2005	EVE	A-	NWN	4	4	6.0	0	0	0	6	2	8	0	116	9.0	3.0	0.0	12.0	0%	-.545	1.33	2.31	3.00	84	4.62	91.1
2005	SBR	A+	CLF	3	3	4.0	0	0	0	2	0	5	0		4.5	0.0	0.0	11.3	0%	-.400	0.50	1.35	0.00	0	0.00	0.0
2005	SAN	AA	TXS	1	1	1.0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	95	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0%	.000	0.00	6.27	0.00	100	4.36	85.9
2005	TAC	AAA	PCL	5	0	5.3	1	0	0	3	1	11	0	83	5.1	1.7	0.0	18.7	0%	-.250	0.75	-0.08	0.00	35	1.64	32.4
2006	SEA	MLB	AL	53	0	60.0	1	2	2	44	21	65	6	99	6.6	3.2	0.9	9.8	0%	.259	1.08	3.47	2.25	91	3.72	75.8
2007	ATL	MLB	NL	71	0	72.0	3	3	9	47	15	70	12	102	5.9	1.9	1.5	8.8	0%	.198	0.86	4.10	3.00	95	3.57	73.8
2008	ATL	MLB	NL	14	0	14.0	0	1	3	7	9	16	1	98	4.5	5.8	0.6	10.3	0%	.200	1.14	3.88	2.57	108	5.11	109.0
2008	MIS	AA	SOU	2	1	2.0	0	0	0	1	1	2	0	117	4.5	4.5	0.0	9.0	0%	.250	1.00	2.74	0.00	83	3.18	65.1
2008	DRA	Rk	DSL	2	2	2.0	0	1	0	3	0	2	0		13.5	0.0	0.0	9.0	0%	.429	1.50	1.29	0.00	0	0.00	0.0
2009	ATL	MLB	NL	77	0	75.7	1	6	27	53	27	102	6	96	6.3	3.2	0.7	12.1	0%	.275	1.06	2.49	2.97	70	2.79	59.8
2010	TBA	MLB	AL	64	0	62.3	3	2	45	36	14	57	4	105	5.2	2.0	0.6	8.2	0%	.199	0.80	2.77	1.73	93	3.31	74.7
2011	NYA	MLB	AL	42	0	39.3	2	3	2	33	18	36	4	108	7.6	4.1	0.9	8.2	0%	.276	1.30	4.00	4.12	108	4.71	109.5
2011	TAM	A+	FSL	2	2	2.3	0	1	0	4	0	1	1	108	15.4	0.0	3.9	3.9	0%	.375	1.71	8.09	11.57	108	6.00	122.5
2011	SWB	AAA	INT	2	0	2.0	1	0	0	1	0	2	1		4.5	0.0	4.5	9.0	0%	.000	0.50	7.73	4.50	102	3.82	78.1
2012	NYA	MLB	AL	69	0	67.7	2	1	42	55	24	69	6	101	7.3	3.2	0.8	9.2	0%	.274	1.17	3.26	2.26	97	4.06	93.0
2013	WAS	MLB	NL	68	0	66.7	3	3	43	65	17	51	7	103	8.8	2.3	0.9	6.9	0%	.287	1.23	3.62	3.11	104	4.16	99.5
2014	WAS	MLB	NL	64	0	62.0	4	1	32	51	19	59	4	100	7.4	2.8	0.6	8.6	0%	.280	1.13	3.05	3.19	101	4.52	110.7
2015	CHN	MLB	NL	6	0	5.7	2	0	0	8	1	4	2	91	12.7	1.6	3.2	6.4	0%	.333	1.59	6.86	6.35	128	7.51	175.5
2015	TEN	AA	SOU	5	0	5.0	0	0	0	3	3	4	0		5.4	5.4	0.0	7.2	0%	.250	1.20	3.50	0.00	102	4.28	93.9
2015	IOW	AAA	PCL	5	0	5.0	0	0	0	2	0	6	1		3.6	0.0	1.8	10.8	0%	.100	0.40	3.79	1.80	74	1.86	40.9

Plate Discipline

YEAR	Pits	Zone%	Swing%	Contact%	Z-Swing%	O-Swing%	Z-Contact%	O-Contact%	SwStr%
2008	226	0.5000	0.4336	0.7143	0.5752	0.2920	0.7231	0.6970	0.2857
2009	1201	0.5071	0.4629	0.6871	0.6190	0.3024	0.7427	0.5698	0.3129
2010	907	0.5480	0.5116	0.7478	0.6640	0.3268	0.8091	0.5970	0.2522
2011	650	0.4985	0.4831	0.7452	0.6327	0.3344	0.8341	0.5780	0.2548
2012	1097	0.4676	0.4476	0.7271	0.6082	0.3065	0.8205	0.5642	0.2729
2013	1131	0.5102	0.4836	0.8062	0.6586	0.3014	0.8553	0.6946	0.1938
2014	1003	0.5324	0.5294	0.7345	0.7116	0.3220	0.7974	0.5762	0.2655
2015	117	0.4359	0.5128	0.7833	0.6275	0.4242	0.8125	0.7500	0.2167
Career	6332	0.5082	0.4834	0.7402	0.6453	0.3147	0.8044	0.6047	0.2598

Injury History — No longer being updated

Last Update: 12/31/2014 23:59 ET

Date On	Date Off	Transaction	Days	Games	Side	Body Part	Injury	Severity	Surgery Date	Reaggravation
2013-03-19	2013-03-27	Camp	8	0	-	Face	Other	Root Canal	-	-
2012-06-11	2012-06-12	DTD	1	1	Right	Fingers	Blister		-	-
2012-04-12	2012-04-15	DTD	3	2	-	Fingers	Laceration	Fingernail	-	-
2011-05-14	2011-07-29	60-DL	76	66	Right	Elbow	Inflammation		-
2011-05-09	2011-05-13	DTD	4	3	Right	Elbow	Soreness		-
2010-02-19	2010-03-17	Camp	26	0		General Medical	Illness	Upper Respiratory Infection	-
2009-08-15	2009-08-19	DTD	4	4	Right	Shoulder	Soreness	Posterior	-
2009-05-20	2009-05-23	DTD	3	3		Groin	Strain		-
2009-03-24	2009-04-02	Camp	9	0		Trunk	Strain	Side	-
2008-08-03	2008-09-28	60-DL	56	51	Right	Elbow	Surgery	Ulnar Nerve Transposition and Bone Spur	2008-08-28
2008-06-06	2008-07-21	15-DL	45	37	Right	Elbow	Inflammation		-
2008-04-07	2008-05-29	15-DL	52	47	Right	Elbow	Inflammation	Tendonitis	-
2008-03-04	2008-03-12	Camp	8	0	Right	Elbow	Soreness		-
2006-08-30	2006-10-01	DTD	32	29		Head	Concussion	Batted Ball	-
2006-07-20	2006-08-04	15-DL	15	12	Right	Shoulder	Fatigue		-
2005-04-01	2005-09-05	60-DL	157	136	Right	Elbow	Recovery From Surgery	Tommy John Surgery	2004-08-17
2004-05-10	2004-10-04	60-DL	147	131	Right	Elbow	Surgery	Tommy John Surgery	2004-08-17
2004-02-23	2004-03-25	Camp	31	0		Abdomen	Strain	Oblique	-
2003-08-15	2003-08-17	DTD	2	2	Left	Knee	Contusion	Batted Ball	-
2002-07-03	2002-08-02	15-DL	30	26	Right	Shoulder	Strain		-

Compensation

Year	Team	Salary
2015	CHN	$
2014	WAS	$14,000,000
2013	WAS	$14,000,000
2012	NYA	$11,000,000
2011	NYA	$10,000,000
2010	TBA	$7,250,000
2009	ATL	$6,350,000
2008	ATL	$2,500,000
2007	ATL	$1,200,000
2006	SEA	$450,000
2005	SEA	$340,000
2004	SEA	$335,000

Years	Description	Salary
11 yr	Previous	$67,425,000
11 yr	Total	$67,425,000

Service Time	Agent	Contract Status
12 y 105 d	Octagon	1 year (2016)

Details

1 year (2016). Signed by Toronto as a free agent 2/28/16 (minor-league contract). Salary of $0.75M in majors. Retired 3/20/16.
1 year (2015). Signed by Chicago Cubs as a free agent 6/9/15 (minor-league contract with salary of $4.1M in majors). May earn additional $4M in performance bonuses based on appearances and games finished. May opt out of contract 7/16/15 if not on Major League roster. Contract selected by Chicago Cubs 7/20/15. DFA by Chicago Cubs 9/1/15. Released 9/4/15.
2 years/$28M (2013-14), plus 2015 club option. Signed by Washington as a free agent 1/15/13. 13:$14M, 14:$14M, 15:$14M option guaranteed with 120 games finished in 2013-14. $14M in salary ($7M annually) is deferred, to be paid in $2M installments each January 5, 2018-25, reducing the contract's present-day average annual value to about $11M. If option is exercised or vests, half of the 2015 salary also is deferred until 2018-25, increasing annual payments to $3M. Washington declined 2015 option 10/30/14.
3 years/$35M (2011-13). Signed by NY Yankees as a free agent 1/11. 11:$10M, 12:$11M, 13:$14M. Soriano may opt out of deal and take $1.5M buyout after either 2011 or 2012 seasons. Soriano opted out of contract 10/31/12. NY Yankees made Soriano a qualifying offer for 2013 (1 year/$13.3M) 11/2/12.
1 year/$7.25M (2010). Accepted arbitration offer from Atlanta 12/7/09. Acquired by Tampa Bay in trade from Atlanta 12/11/09. Signed by Tampa Bay 12/11/09.
2 year/$9M (2008-09). Re-signed by Atlanta 1/24/08 (avoided arbitration, $3.4M-$2.4M). $0.5M signing bonus. 08:$2.4M, 09:$6.1M.
1 year/$1.2M (2007). Acquired by Atlanta in trade from Seattle 12/06. Re-signed by Atlanta 1/07 (avoided arbitration).
1 year/$0.45M (2006). $0.125M in performance bonuses (2 points per game started, 1 point per relief appearance): $15,000 each for 40, 45 points. $20,000 for 50 points. $25,000 each for 55, 60, 65 points.
1 year/$0.34M (2005).
1 year/$0.335M (2004). Optioned to A 4/04. Recalled 5/04.
1 year/$0.3M (2003). Optioned to Triple-A 3/03. Recalled 4/03. Optioned to Triple-A 5/03. Recalled 6/03.
1 year/$0.2M (2002). Signed 2/02. Optioned to Double-A 3/02. Recalled 5/02. Optioned to Double-A 8/02.
Signed by Seattle 1996 as an amateur free agent from the Dominican Republic.

2019 Preseason Forecast

Last Update: 1/27/2017 12:35 ET

PCT	W	L	SV	G	GS	IP	H	BB	SO	HR	BABIP	WHIP	ERA	DRA	VORP	WARP
Weighted Mean	?	?	?	?	?	0.0	?	0	0	?	.000	0.00	0.00	?	0.0	0.0

BP Annual Player Comments

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BP Articles

Click here to see articles tagged with Rafael Soriano

BP Chats

Date	Question	Answer
2013-11-08 14:00:00 (link to chat)	Ben, in answer to your question of my question.. Rafael Soriano last year. I still concede your point re: Benoit :-) So, if you're Dave Dombrowski, how do you fix this pen? (DetroitDale from Tallahassee (eternal spring training))	Even Soriano didn't get an AAV that high, and at Benoit's age, I doubt he gets a big multi-year deal (maybe two years). I don't have Tigers-specific bullpen recommendations at the moment, but Sam has written a couple excellent articles on how you build a good bullpen on the cheap (or how the A's did, specifically) and how inconsistent bullpen performance is from season to season. (Ben Lindbergh)
2013-10-30 12:00:00 (link to chat)	Matthew, Have Uehara,Balfour, and Cook,is there chance all three could close next year? (vampires from michigan)	Absolutely. There's a chance you could close next year. Or me. Well, not me. But you! Just look at who was closing a few seasons ago. Or, heck, I'll tell you. In 2010, the top five in saves were: 1. Brian Wilson 2. Heath Bell 3. Rafael Soriano 4. Joakim Soria 5. Matt Capps I'm sure all those guys will get shots to close and I'm sure some of them will falter (or get injured) because some of them always falter (or get injured) and will get replaced. (Matthew Kory)
2013-08-27 13:00:00 (link to chat)	Rafael Soriano's 4-seam velocity (from Brooks Baseball) and his K/9 over the last 5 years: 93.36 - 12.1 92.99 - 8.2 92.70 - 8.2 92.76 - 9.2 91.80 - 6.9 Is he pretty much done as a top flight closer? That velocity aint coming back, is it? (Charlie from Bethesda)	was he ever top flight? And, no, he is what he is -- a decent reliever with closer makeup on the downside of his career. (Harry Pavlidis)
2013-08-27 13:00:00 (link to chat)	Rafael Soriano's 4-seam fastball average velocity has seen a big and pretty steady decline from 93.36 mph in 2009 down to 91.80 mph this year. His K/9 has dropped similarly. At 33, is this a sign that he's just getting old and probably won't be a great reliever anymore? (Charlie from Bethesda, MD)	yep, he's aging. And cutting the ball a lot, too. (Harry Pavlidis)
2013-08-27 13:00:00 (link to chat)	I guess my question on Rafael Soriano was whether or not that fastball decline is a huge red flag, or if we shouldn't read too much into it. (Charlie from Bethesda, MD)	no, not a red flag. Just a fact. it does tell you he doesn't have the power game, so you can read plenty into that in terms of expectations. (Harry Pavlidis)
2013-04-16 20:00:00 (link to chat)	How do I value Addison Reed if I just started a dynasty rebuild? I know closers should be the first thing to go in a rebuild, but I can't help but believe he's relatively stable and likely to help me when I compete again in 2-3 years. Thanks (JoeTinker from Chicago)	Here is a list of all closers who recorded 25 or more saves in 2010: Brian Wilson (48), Heath Bell (47), Rafael Soriano (45), Joakim Soria (43), Matt Capps (42), Neftali Feliz (40), Francisco Cordero (40), Carlos Marmol (38), Billy Wagner (37), Jonathan Papelbon (37), Kevin Gregg (37), Mariano Rivera (33), David Aardsma (31), Juan Oviedo (30), Bobby Jenks (27), Ryan Franklin (27), Brad Lidge (27), Jose Valverde (26), Francisco Rodriguez (25) and Andrew Bailey (25). (Bret Sayre)
2013-01-14 14:00:00 (link to chat)	When do you see the "Draft Pick Three" signing? (I am talking about Kyle Lohse, Michael Bourn, and Rafael Soriano). (Steve G. from STL)	I'll say Lohse and Bourn sign at the end of this month and Soriano signs in early February. (Ben Lindbergh)
2013-01-07 13:00:00 (link to chat)	Rafael Soriano and Michael Bourn are still unsigned. When will we see some action on either front? (Shaun from Redwood)	Your guess is as good as mine, I'd imagine things will pick up steam shortly, but I'm not sure. (Josh Shepardson)
2012-12-18 13:00:00 (link to chat)	Who is closing for your TIgers this year: Bruce Rendon, Rafael Soriano, or the field? And if not Soriano, where does he close this year? (Frank from Seattle)	Gimme the field. Rondon is going to be given a shot according to the organization, but he's 21 with 8 Triple-A innings under his extremely stretched out belt (bc he's fat). (Paul Sporer)
2012-09-24 14:30:00 (link to chat)	Any explanation on why Rays always to get hits on pick-ups and trades that don't seem great/good at on-set and turn into gems in long-run? Fernando Rodney and Jeff Keppinger are doing quite well in unexpected roles for them. It seems Rays always find gold in what now should be called "The Yearly Rays Reliever Reclamation Project"(Al Reyes, Juan Cruz, Joaquin Benoit, Rafael Soriano, Kyle Farnsworth, Fernando Rodney) (jlarsen from chicago)	I think some of it is just great big-league scouting and statistical analysis, but a lot of it is trial and error, too. The Rays are set up in such a way that they HAVE to sign a bunch of those guys, and while a lot of them will work because the Rays are good at what they do, a lot will fail because they're inherently gambles. They haven't had a lot of luck with veteran catchers the last couple years, and there was that whole Pat Burrell thing. (Bill Parker)
2011-01-12 13:00:00 (link to chat)	Where in the world does Rafael Soriano end up? Setting up for Mo? Or is mystery team about to get busy again? (Rob from Alaska)	I wish I knew. It seems as if he's being heavily punished for being a Type A. Otherwise he would have landed about five times by now. (Steven Goldman)
2010-12-20 13:00:00 (link to chat)	Thank you for the chat, Eric. Where do you see Rafael Soriano eventually ending up? Should the Angels go after him after they secure Beltre's services? (Dennis from LA)	I was going to say Angels. I could also see the White Sox swooping in and using Soriano as their closer. (Eric Seidman)
2010-12-07 13:00:00 (link to chat)	If you're a borderline playoff team with bullpen issues like the Angels, how much is it worth spending on Rafael Soriano? Do you think he will maintain his effectiveness going forward? (Dennis from LA)	I'm a little nervous about the reduced strikeout rates, but he's still a great reliever. I think it's worth it to a team with bullpen issues to sign one guy like that to help anchor things, especially when that team has the budget the Angels could. (Marc Normandin)
2010-07-26 14:00:00 (link to chat)	RE: your point above about locking in your best pitcher to the ninth inning. That's why White Sox fans shouldn't get too worked up about Jenks right now. Putz and Thornton are being brought in for the tough situations in the 7th and 8th innings anyway. (Clint from Chicago)	Exactly right, and exactly the example I like to use. The closer needs to be very good too, so I'm not saying that Lance Cormier should close ahead of Rafael Soriano or anything like that. This wouldn't be as much of an issue if someone brought back the two inning save. (Ken Funck)
2010-03-04 13:00:00 (link to chat)	Can you help me choose a one keepers from this list: Jason Bay $12, Josh Hamilton $6, Rafael Soriano $4, Julio Borbon $4. Thanks. (hhbliss from san francisco )	How did you get all of those guys at those prices? $12 is a steal for Bay. Hamilton's price is also awesome, but if he doesn't bounce back you'll regret not taking Bay. (Marc Normandin)
2010-02-17 16:00:00 (link to chat)	Tommy, Who are some players that you hope to add to all your fantasy teams this year (mid to late round)? Thanks, Dan (dandaman from Sea Cliff)	I got a couple questions to this effect. I think Cody Ross remains underrated, especially if you play in a league with individual outfield positions. I think Rafael Soriano is a great closer for where he is going in drafts. I'm big on a bounce back from Jay Bruce as well. (Tommy Bennett)
2010-02-17 16:00:00 (link to chat)	I don't get it, Tommy. I just don't get it. I can't wrap my head around how bloggers, writers and everybody deems that the Rays are the best 3rd place team in baseball and have to have luck, rather than just the talent on roster, to break the grasps of Boston/New York for the #1 or #2 spot in the division. Rays biggest downfall in 2009 was the lack of a "true closer" when Troy Percival went down and Jason Isringhausen forgot his arm wasn't what it used to be. JP Howell was serviceable but a sudden over-use seen him getting knocked around and getting shut-down by season's end. Even with a 11-game losing streak, which is a season-killer for any team, the team won 84 games. If the Rays won 6 or 7 of those games, they would've been a 90-win team. So what do the Rays do this offseason? They use the money that trading Kazmir and Iwamura netted them and dealt the prospect received in Iwamura's trade for a "true closer" in Rafael Soriano. That trade/signing moves every Rays reliever into the spot that they should be filling and would be most u (jlarsen from Chicago)	Soriano probably adds a net of two wins or so. Assuming for sake of argument that the Rays were a 90 win (true talent) team last year, I think you can justify a 92 win estimate for them this year. But 92 wins doesn't win the AL East 99 times out of 100. Beyond that, they just don't have the starting pitching of the Red Sox or Yankees. At every slot in the rotation they lose to both those teams. Maybe Hellickson can start consistently this year, maybe Davis is great right away. But for my money, I think those things aren't all likely to happen. In any other division in baseball, the Rays are the prohibitive favorites. (Tommy Bennett)
2009-09-02 13:00:00 (link to chat)	I was thinking of a prospect with a big bat who is close to the majors. (Jake H from Kansas City)	I think the problem you would run into with such a proposal is how teams are seemingly starting to realize that, while perhaps not ANYONE could be a closer, turning a setup guy into one or a 7th inning guy into one might be more wise than shelling out $10-12 mil for someone with a 4-yr track record of success. I'm thinking specifically about the Braves in this case... like I wouldn't trade Heyward for Soria even if Rafael Soriano/Mike Gonzalez aren't traditional closers. I still think Soria could be traded for 2-3 good, not great pieces better than the likes of guys like Mark Teahen, but not one big guy that will just transform the franchise. (Eric Seidman)
2008-07-21 15:00:00 (link to chat)	Any idea when the Bermuda Triangle is going to give up and unswallow Rafael Soriano? The guy's been MIA for quite a while now with nary a word. (Trent from Atlanta)	I left him out of UTK at the last second today. He's due to be activated today after a "great pen" on Saturday. Haven't gotten the final word, but he'd help that pen and maybe get some save chances. (Will Carroll)
2008-01-14 13:00:00 (link to chat)	Thanks for taking questions! To expand on the "Soviet" recruiting methods, would it behoove an MLB team to screen all of its draftees for pitching potential? Troy Percival and Rafael Soriano come to mind as successful converts. Maybe the Tigers would find that they could use the strong arm of Brandon Inge for occasional mop-up duty as part of his super-utility role. (havybeaks from Michigan)	I think it's done, kind of. Not in any sort of systematic way, but organizations know who has a cannon at short and they know who pitched in HS. (Interesting thought ... Latin players tend to be classified one way or the other quickly while American players tend to go both ways through HS and even college. Is there an advantage to either side?) (Will Carroll)

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PITCHf/x Pitcher Profile

A Collaboration between BrooksBaseball.net and Baseball Prospectus - Pitch classifications provided by Pitch Info LLC

Although he has not thrown an MLB pitch in 2024, Rafael Soriano threw 7,189 pitches that were tracked by the PITCHf/x system between 2007 and 2015, all of them occuring in Spring Training. In 2015, he relied primarily on his Fourseam Fastball (91mph) and Slider (83mph), also mixing in a Sinker (92mph).