Five potential landing spots for Rafael Soriano

Oct 4, 2014; Washington, DC, USA; Washington Nationals relief pitcher Rafael Soriano (29) pitches in the fifteenth inning against the San Francisco Giants in game two of the 2014 NLDS playoff baseball game at Nationals Park. Mandatory Credit: Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports

Veteran relief pitcher Rafael Soriano‘s search for a new team has featured its share of unexpected turns. The 35-year-old free agent dismissed Scott Boras as his agent last week and announced that he will throw for interested clubs in the Dominican Republic on June 11. As often as Boras secures surprisingly large deals for his clients, every once in a while he overestimates the market, causing a player to hold out too long for the perfect contract and end up left out in the cold. That is presumably what has happened to Soriano.

Though Soriano is definitely an aging commodity, his track record of late is not unappealing. He has saved at least 30 games in each of the last three seasons, posting a 2.84 ERA over that span. He surpassed 40 saves in 2010 (a career-high 45 with the Rays), 2012 and 2013. Soriano enjoyed an excellent first half (0.97 ERA, 22 saves) with the Nationals last year, but struggled mightily (6.48 ERA) after the All-Star Break, which led Washington to remove him from the closer’s role. But with teams always in need of relief help, it seems like Soriano should at least be able to catch on somewhere.

Soriano is in no position to be picky now, and much of his fate will depend on how he looks during his upcoming throwing session. In the middle of the season, teams are more likely to look inward for bullpen solutions rather than at a 35-year-old who has missed the last two months.

Regardless, here are five teams with a potential need who could conceivably give Soriano a try.

Next: Team #1