White Sox sign David Robertson to 4-year, $46 million deal: Report

Late Monday night at the Winter Meetings, the White Sox and David Robertson agreed to a four-year deal worth $46 million that the Yankees refused to match. The signing fills in a big need for Chicago while creating a giant hole in the Yankees’ bullpen.

While Robertson didn’t get the $52 million contract he was seeking, the right-hander got enough to leave the Yankees, the only organization he has ever worked for since being drafted in 2006.

In the 29-year-old Robertson, the Sox get a high-strikeout reliever their bullpen desperately needs. Their relievers combined to strike out 7.2 batters per nine innings and 18.2 percent of batters faced this past season, which is abysmal. The average MLB bullpen had an 8.5 K/9 and 22.2 K percentage in 2014.

For the Yankees, Robertson’s departure leaves them without an experienced closer after Robertson converted 39-of-44 save chances replacing legendary Mariano Rivera in his first season as a closer last season.

Robertson gets $46M for 4 yrs. Bob nightengale 1st with chisox
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeymanCBS) December 9, 2014

The White Sox also boosted their rotation by trading for Jeff Samardzija from the A's, but getting Robertson as their closer definitely fills in a bigger need for the team.

And as for the Yankees, they basically switched Robertson for Andrew Miller — who signed a four-year, $36 million contract with the Bombers on Friday — ultimately saving the organization $10 million in the process.

But it now leaves them with Miller and Dellin Betances, who was an All-Star in his rookie season, to replace Robertson. And neither player really has any big league closing experience.

How the Yankees spend that extra $10 million could justify their decision to let Robertson go.

Blue Jays 'love' Yankees' David Robertson: Report

New York Yankees general manager Brian Cashman hasn’t ruled out the possibility of bringing back closer David Robertson in 2015. But since it's starting to sound like the GM feels his team now has enough bullpen depth to handle the workload, it might be a long-shot that Robertson still suits up in the Bronx next season.

And the closer might be packing some long johns too.

According to the N.Y. Post, the Toronto Blue Jays  “love”  Robertson and might be willing to give him the long-term contract the Yankees refuse to do.

Casey Janssen saved 25 games with a 3.94 ERA for the Jays last season, but he’s a free agent and Robertson is the top reliever on the market. Robertson had 39 saves with a 3.08 ERA for the Yankees last season but rejected the club’s $15.3-million, one-year qualifying offer in search of a long-term commitment.

Robertson is reportedly seeking “Jonathan Papelbon money” — somewhere in the neighborhood of four years and $50 million. The Yankees would obviously be interested if he reduced his asking price. 

And since Robertson hasn't budged, the Yankees just might let him get it elsewhere.

After signing left-handed reliever Andrew Miller to a four-year contract worth $36 million Friday, it lessens the Yankees' need for a top reliever who could close games.

In return for Robertson, the team signing him would give the Yankees their top pick outside of the first 10 choices.

While Cashman didn’t close the cage door on Robertson’s return, the team has left it open just enough for him to fly north.

David Robertson's reaction to Adam Dunn's walk-off homer says it all (VIDEO)

Adam Dunn crushed a walk-off two-run homer to right-center field to give the White Sox a 6-5 win over the Yankees Friday night.

You don't have to look any further than closer David Robinson's body language to know how he felt about feeding a juicy fastball to the Big Donkey — and blowing his first save of the season.

Or, as Chicago announcer Hawk Harrelson put it, "Yes ... yes ... Hell yeah-as."

Yankees David Robertson thinks Mariano Rivera 'might Brett Favre us'

David Robertson sounded a little skeptical after the New York Yankees closer-in-waiting was asked if he believes Mariano Rivera will hand over the position after this season.   Earlier this week, Rivera— the future Hall-of-Famer— said he made an "irrevocable" decision regarding his future but wasn't ready to reveal it.

Most pundits think the 42-year-old Rivera is ready to pack it in— all except the man with most to gain, Robertson— Rivera's presumed successor.

"He may have hinted, but you never know.  He could Brett Favre us," Robertson said on Tuesday morning before the Yankees' second pitchers and catchers workout of spring training.

Rivera— the all-time saves leader— sounded like he would call it a career after the 2012 season.

"Decisions like that are always hard.  Always," Rivera said on Monday.  "[It] involves what you do, it involves what you have done for 22 years, you know?"

"But at the same time, they have to be made."