Robertson’s reaction to Yankees’ decision not to re-sign him

SAN DIEGO — The man with the high socks took the high road Wednesday night.

David Robertson is officially a member of the Chicago White Sox now, with his new employer announcing its four-year, $46 million agreement with the Yankees' closer of 2014. If he's sore about leaving the organization that drafted him, developed him and gave him the opportunity to succeed the iconic Mariano Rivera, he's keeping that under wraps.

"I wasn't surprised. It is a business," Robertson said in a conference call held by the White Sox. "The Yankees had to do what they had to do. Obviously, when they signed [Andrew] Miller [last week], I had a feeling they might not approach us as well as we would have liked."

Yankees general manager Brian Cashman divulged Tuesday that, when the Yankees committed four years and $36 million to Miller, they decided not to pursue Robertson any further. They bluffed publicly of still having interest in an attempt to prop up the market of a player they personally liked, but when Robertson's agent Scott Leventhal requested a meeting Monday night here at the meetings, Cashman informed the representative there would be no offer coming.

"I've had a wonderful time with the New York Yankees," Robertson said. "I made some great friendships and relationships that will last beyond my playing career. I had a great opportunity. I'm looking forward to the next chapter."

Robertson, selected by the Yankees in the 17th round of the 2006 amateur draft, put up a 3.08 ERA in 63 games, totaling 64 1/3 innings, last season. He converted 39-of-44 save opportunities and put to rest the concern that he would struggle to follow the retired Rivera.

"Obviously, taking over for Mariano, it kind of seemed a bigger role to the fans and media. Replacing a legend," Robertson said. "I can't speak highly enough of the guy. He was a wonderful mentor. He taught me tons on the field and off the field.

"I wasn't really worried about what was going to happen. I knew if I'd stick to my guns I'd be OK. Do my job, get my three or four outs and we win and go home."

He didn't seriously consider the Yankees' one-year, $15.3 million qualifying offer, he said, because "I've been on year-to-year deals for a long time. … I needed to know that where I was going to live was going to be great for my family."

The White Sox first touched base with him during the seven-day period between the Yankees' extending the qualifying offer and Robertson turning it down.

"They were on my radar from the beginning," he said.

The right-hander expressed encouragement over the White Sox's busy winter. In addition to signing Robertson, they have traded for frontline starting pitcher Jeff Samardzija and signed two other free agents, first baseman Adam LaRoche and lefty reliever Zach Duke.

"I'm hoping we can end up back in the playoffs," Robertson said.

Of his former team, he said, "The Yankees have been an older team for a long time. It's going to look like a different team in years to come. That was the way it was going to work out."

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