Report: Soriano signs with Yankees

NEW YORK, Jan. 13 (UPI) -- The New York Yankees have signed former Tampa Bay reliever Rafael Soriano to a three-year, $35 million contract, the MLB Network reported Thursday.

The contract will become official when Soriano passes a physical examination, the report said.

Soriano, 31, would likely become the New York closer once Mariano Rivera retires. Rivera, 41, signed a contract following the 2010 season that will keep him with the Yankees through the 2012 campaign.

Soriano had 45 saves with the Rays last season when he had a 1.73 earned-run average. Soriano has been in the major leagues since 2002, pitching for Seattle and Atlanta before going to Tampa Bay last season.