Alex Rodriguez to opt out of Yankees Contract

[Guest Gym Class Fallout]

The writers just disliked him because of the Philly contract thing and the fact that he treats baseball as a business instead of as a game.

You make it sound so inconsequential. The guy screwed over several organizations by gouging them for big contracts and then never playing to his full potential. Why should observers of the game see him as a sympathetic figure? Would you defend J.D. Drew were he not a Red Sock?

[Cheech Tremendous 0]

The writers just disliked him because of the Philly contract thing and the fact that he treats baseball as a business instead of as a game.

You make it sound so inconsequential. The guy screwed over several organizations by gouging them for big contracts and then never playing to his full potential. Why should observers of the game see him as a sympathetic figure? Would you defend J.D. Drew were he not a Red Sock?

 

I defended him before he played for Boston and openly encouraged a pursuit of Drew before he even opted out.

 

In the era of free agency, players are just commodities. Organizations screw over players at every turn and the players, in turn, forgo loyalty for money. I don't have any problem with players acting their own interest because in the end, this is just a profession for them.

[Fökai 0]

Another note here, what specifically has Rodriguez done to be a clubhouse cancer? He makes a lot of money? He wasn't even the highest paid player on his team (Jason Giambi was). He only made a million more than Derek Jeter, who performed terribly in the postseason. Rodriguez doesn't get into fistfights with teammates, doesn't break team rules, doesn't mouth off to the media. The only evidence there is that he's highly paid, and the conception that superstar = problem. Todd Helton was the NL's highest paid player, so money doesn't necessarily indicate a problem.

 

I can only speak for myself, but I don't think Rodriguez is a cancer, only a symbol. A powerful symbol. I'll be happy to see Giambi come off the books, too, by the way.

 

You can speak for me too. The Yankees themselves are the problem - it isn't that hard to see that. If they regressed to a $100-115 million team with a glut of farm players on the main squad, the expectations would change. Dropping A-Rod onto this squad, in this time period, was doomed from the start. If this was 1993-1997, with those Yankee teams, he'd be loved. Instead, it's a team of bloated contracts, and Alex is, as you said it, the symbol of "mediocrity".

[EVIL~! alkeiper 0]

The writers just disliked him because of the Philly contract thing and the fact that he treats baseball as a business instead of as a game.

You make it sound so inconsequential. The guy screwed over several organizations by gouging them for big contracts and then never playing to his full potential. Why should observers of the game see him as a sympathetic figure? Would you defend J.D. Drew were he not a Red Sock?

I agree actually, maybe it's my Philly fandom talking. You can go for the big money in your career, there is nothing wrong with that. But when that's the sole determinant of your career path, consequences will follow.

[Guest NYankees]

I don't doubt that A-rod can get another huge contract, or that he's worth it. It just seems so wierd to me that he signed the biggest contract in American professional sports SEVEN years ago, and now he's seven years older and yet he might sign an even bigger deal.

 

 

Look at it like this. The Yankees were prepared to offer Arod at 5 year extension for anywhere from 130-150 million dollars on top of the 3 years he had left on his contract. That means on the open market he is going to have to get an 8 year deal worth 230-250 million dollars to just equal what the Yankees were prepared to give him. Angels, Dodgers, Giants and the Cubs will all get in line.

[AntiLeaf33 0]

I don't see why anyone would want to pay that much for a player who stops performing once the checks stop coming in.

[sfaJack 0]

I don't see why anyone would want to pay that much for a player who stops performing once the checks stop coming in.

Why would any player continue to perform for a team if he isn't getting paid?

[Precious Roy 0]

I've had some time to think about this and I guess I'm pretty apathetic about it. I would have liked to see A-Rod continue playing for the Yankees and hopefully improve on his legacy with the team by winning a couple rings, but whatever, he's choosing to leave and I really don't care, almost relieved in some ways. It says a lot about a guy when he can win two MVP awards for your team and you're ambivalent to him, but that's A-Rod. I always pulled for the guy but like others here I'm going to associate him with an era of frustration and bloated mediocrity, and mostly how poorly he hit in the playoffs. Would have liked to see him get the monkey off his back, but hey, that's his problem not mine.

 

I just hope the Yankees don't go back on their word and try to negotiate with him. He's made it clear that he'd rather play elsewhere, let another foolish team give him 30 million +. The Yankees could get two superstars or build their entire bullpen with that kind of bank.

 

 

[Guest NYankees]

Look at the free agents after 2008. Texeira, Peavy, Penny, K-Rod, Nathan are all scheduled to be free agents after next year. Any team could get 2 of them for 30-34 million per year.

[Cheech Tremendous 0]

I don't doubt that A-rod can get another huge contract, or that he's worth it. It just seems so wierd to me that he signed the biggest contract in American professional sports SEVEN years ago, and now he's seven years older and yet he might sign an even bigger deal.

 

 

Look at it like this. The Yankees were prepared to offer Arod at 5 year extension for anywhere from 130-150 million dollars on top of the 3 years he had left on his contract. That means on the open market he is going to have to get an 8 year deal worth 230-250 million dollars to just equal what the Yankees were prepared to give him. Angels, Dodgers, Giants and the Cubs will all get in line.

 

It doesn't necessarily mean that he's going to get the same offer on the open market. From what I've heard, he was going to opt out no matter what. There was no amount of money that could have kept him as a Yankee. The thing is, it sounds like he wants to continue playing for New York. However, he's so narcissistic that he wants to see what he is worth to everyone else. It's no secret that he feels that there is unfair blame placed on him for the recent Yankee failures. In his mind, receiving a huge deal vindicates that he wasn't the one to blame.

 

Back to the contract itself, it's the teams on the margin that stand the most to gain by going after A-Rod. The really good and really bad teams don't really gain much marginal value by bringing a player of his caliber on board because it doesn't really get them any closer to a championship. The teams that should be pursuing him are the ones that are presently constructed to win 85 games. Teams like the Cubs, Dodgers, Braves and Mariners need A-Rod because he can take them over the hump to perennial playoff contender. The additional revenue generated by playoff appearances will pay that extra money he's about to receive.

[sfaJack 0]

That's another reason why the Cubs should open the checkbook for him. A-Rod would instantly be the top hitter in their lineup and give them an infield of Ramirez, A-Rod, Theriot/DeRosa, and D Lee. If Soto comes along at catcher and Soriano stays productive for a few more years, they should dominate the Central.

[Guest NYankees]

I don't doubt that A-rod can get another huge contract, or that he's worth it. It just seems so wierd to me that he signed the biggest contract in American professional sports SEVEN years ago, and now he's seven years older and yet he might sign an even bigger deal.

 

 

Look at it like this. The Yankees were prepared to offer Arod at 5 year extension for anywhere from 130-150 million dollars on top of the 3 years he had left on his contract. That means on the open market he is going to have to get an 8 year deal worth 230-250 million dollars to just equal what the Yankees were prepared to give him. Angels, Dodgers, Giants and the Cubs will all get in line.

 

It doesn't necessarily mean that he's going to get the same offer on the open market. From what I've heard, he was going to opt out no matter what. There was no amount of money that could have kept him as a Yankee. The thing is, it sounds like he wants to continue playing for New York. However, he's so narcissistic that he wants to see what he is worth to everyone else. It's no secret that he feels that there is unfair blame placed on him for the recent Yankee failures. In his mind, receiving a huge deal vindicates that he wasn't the one to blame.

 

Back to the contract itself, it's the teams on the margin that stand the most to gain by going after A-Rod. The really good and really bad teams don't really gain much marginal value by bringing a player of his caliber on board because it doesn't really get them any closer to a championship. The teams that should be pursuing him are the ones that are presently constructed to win 85 games. Teams like the Cubs, Dodgers, Braves and Mariners need A-Rod because he can take them over the hump to perennial playoff contender. The additional revenue generated by playoff appearances will pay that extra money he's about to receive.

 

Arod wasn't blamed following 2004, it was the whole team and Torre who took the blame for the collapse. Arod and Randy Johnson both took equal blame for 2005 and 2006 because of their large contracts and constant sucking in the playoffs agains the Angels and the Tigers. Arod didn't take any of the blame after this past season and was treated like a God everyday at Yankee Stadium for the whole season. If Arod really wants to see what he is worth on the open market, GREAT! However, he isn't welcomed back by the fans and the Organization. We all know that it is going to be extremely difficult to replace his numbers but nobody wants to deal with his bullshit anymore. Watching Arod the past year in the regular season was a treat and it is probably how Bulls fans felt watching Jordan during his prime. I just dont want the Yankees to deal with him after the publicity stunt he pulled during game 4 of the World Series and the bs/lies he used for opting out.

 

[Guest Gym Class Fallout]

But with the ownership in flux, I don't know how many offseason transactions can be made, if any. And on that note, while I've always been something of a Selig apologist, this cronyism with John Canning is sickening. The fact that Jerry Reinsdorf can determine who runs the Cubs is frightening and inexcusable. The Trib has to sell to the highest bidder, no matter who that may be, and if that's Mark Cuban, then so be it. But I don't want to see that bastard complicate matters of fiduciary responsibility that are bigger than baseball just because of some petty grudge. Now don't get me wrong, I'm not one of the pie-in-the-sky North Side Baseball dopes who thinks that Mark Cuban is the panacea for all the Cubs' ills because he "spends a lot" or "has the fire" or any of that. He's a smart businessman, and isn't going to just throw out wads of cash for fun like some magical cash fairy. Rather, I'd expect him to do the opposite: do smart research, as he's done in the NBA, to find the most value out there, and complement that with big signings as necessary. I'm willing to say that he could do the best job with the Chicago Cubs, and naturally, the owner of the Chicago White Sox isn't going to allow him to.

 

What's the worry? He'll drive up salaries? He's not the one giving 11 million to fuckin' Gil Meche, or spending over $100 million on the likes of Darin Erstad, Juan Uribe, and A.J. Pierzynski. Not "local ownership"? I think even Chicagoland is willing to waive its provincial tendencies on this one: we just survived Bill Wirtz. (Also, if local ownership is such a concern to Mr. Chairman, one has to ask if the Red Line now reaches Brooklyn.) How can anyone trust these two guys, whose greatest hits include colluding against the players and cancelling the '94 season, to determine the fate of one of the biggest teams in the country? I want this whole transaction to yield what's best for the Chicago Tribune, the Chicago Cubs, and their fans, and I don't see how selling to a lower bidder who was hand-picked by Bud Selig and Jerry Reinsdorf to fit their agenda will be the best for all parties involved.

[Guest Smues]

Teams like the Cubs, Dodgers, Braves and Mariners need A-Rod because he can take them over the hump to perennial playoff contender. The additional revenue generated by playoff appearances will pay that extra money he's about to receive.

 

You haven't seen post season games at Turner Field have you?

[USC Wuz Robbed! 0]

I agree Czech, it's asinine that a White Sox owner gets to decide who owns the Cubs or not. Leave the matter to Selig and a group of legal guys, not Jerry Reinsdorf.

[EVIL~! alkeiper 0]

+1 Czech. The bullshit reached a peak with the Marlins/Red Sox/Expos fiasco.

[Boon 0]

Boras on the timing of the announcement:

I apologize to the Boston Red Sox and Colorado Rockies and their players, Major League Baseball and its players, and baseball fans everywhere for that interference. The teams and players involved deserved to be the focus of the evening and honored with the utmost respect. The unfortunate result was not my intent, but is solely my fault. I could have handled this situation better, and for that I am truly sorry.

I believe him.

[Guest NYankees]

I am waiting for the day when Boras announces two innings before Arod wins a World Series that he is going to opt out of his contract. That would be classic!!!!

[Cheech Tremendous 0]

NYankees' bitter, holier than thou bit is tiring.

 

As for the Boras quote, I am sure he is sorry. This is a guy who has an impeccable ability to sell his clients to the market place. The A-Rod announcement was a horrible miscalculation that might seriously degrade his value as a free agent. Whether it was his or A-Rod's call doesn't matter much now, it's time for the spin control. Deflecting blame to himself is a good move since he knows that he's disliked anyways.

[Boon 0]

I've gotta disagree- I highly doubt the people in San Francisco, Los Angeles and Chicago care that A-Rod ruined Boston's night.

[Jericholic82 0]

well its not like any team will be forced to pay Alex 30 million, what would he do if all the owners decided to low ball him (wont happen but just let me talk here) and the most he was offered was 20 mill a year? hed have to take that and like it, or retire.

 

I can't blame him for opting out which was his right (and good planning by boras to put that in the original contract, i mean money-wise) But clearly he is a distraction to the yankees, whether they admit it or not (then again thats just the INSANE ny media). I don't want to see him go, because I know he can be an asset to the team, and eventually you know hell have that breakout post-season performance. But all of that and playoff success sometimes comes down to luck, and getting hot at the right time (look at the yankees, the hottest al team for 3 months running, getting run out of the playoffs in 4 games, by a team who then proceeded to blow a 3-1 lead in the alcs to a red sox team who barely hung on to a 14 game lead in the east) as Torre said its a crapshoot (the 06 cards winning it all may lead credence to that). Not that I mean to cast-off the sox as some also-ran lucky team, cuz Im not that stupid, Yankees super-fan or not. clearly the AL was the dominant league once again and probably any of the 4 AL playoff teams could have won the WS, but only one did, the team that played the best on the big stage.

 

its a transition era now, the new stadium in looming. Hopefully the retooling and rebuilding era will lead to more success for my fav team. and Alex will do well no matter where he ends up and will be in the hall of fame. But as a Yankee, sadly he will be remembered as a guy who couldn't get the job done (whether thats fair or not, and I don't think it is) and I wish he could have stayed and become a Yankee legend.

 

But don't blame Cashman and the Yankee brass for letting him go, it's the one non-rash decision they have made all month.

 

Congrats to red sox fans, enjoy it. Maybe next year vengeance will be ours

 

good luck Alex, and I hope you make 500 kazillion dollars and that can reduce the sadness in never getting a ring

 

I will miss you old friend

 

and to Joe Torre, have fun in LA, I shall misss you most of all Scarecrow

 

 

cue the violins, cuz I may have just made the lamest, wishy-washy post in TSM history

[Guest Gym Class Fallout]

what would he do if all the owners decided to low ball him (wont happen but just let me talk here) and the most he was offered was 20 mill a year? hed have to take that and like it, or retire.

Or he'd say "uh oh, collusion!"

[Cartman 0]

Ok I have to backpedal some now. After thinking about it I want A-Rod in Boston.

 

A lineup with Manny, Ortiz, and A-Rod for the next 3 years would be phenominal. After three years Manny would most likely not be brought back, leaving them with A-Rod and Ortiz still anchoring the lineup. With his past injury history(Non-Existent) it's a no brainer that bringing him here could be nothing but awesome for the offense, "Chemistry" be damned.

 

I love Lowell and would be very happy if he stayed here, but if he doesn't I say screw it. Everyone is bitching about the Sox and their high payroll, so why not go all out. It's not like they wouldn't be able to keep their young guys around like Ellsbury, Youkilis, Papelbon, Pedroia, etc. Not to mention there aren't any real good 3rd baseman in this system anywhere near ready for the Majors anyways.

[Guest Vitamin X]

A-Rod:Red Sox::Moss:Patriots.

 

No thanks. We don't need baseball Patriots.

[Cheech Tremendous 0]

Ok I have to backpedal some now. After thinking about it I want A-Rod in Boston.

 

A lineup with Manny, Ortiz, and A-Rod for the next 3 years would be phenominal. After three years Manny would most likely not be brought back, leaving them with A-Rod and Ortiz still anchoring the lineup. With his past injury history(Non-Existent) it's a no brainer that bringing him here could be nothing but awesome for the offense, "Chemistry" be damned.

 

There are some problems with this, namely the fact that Manny is a free agent after 2008, not in three years. Futhermore, given the way this lineup is typically constructed and how resources are allocated, any A-Rod acquisition would probably lead to an immediate Manny trade. It doesn't have as much to do with finances as much as acquiring A-Rod would give them some flexibility to reshape the roster and get Manny out of left field.

 

Oh, and as for A-Rod's non-existent injury history. Who was the last major superstar in his early 30s that we could say that about? Ken Griffey Jr. Nothing's a sure thing when it comes to injury.

 

I love Lowell and would be very happy if he stayed here, but if he doesn't I say screw it. Everyone is bitching about the Sox and their high payroll, so why not go all out. It's not like they wouldn't be able to keep their young guys around like Ellsbury, Youkilis, Papelbon, Pedroia, etc. Not to mention there aren't any real good 3rd baseman in this system anywhere near ready for the Majors anyways.

This is the kind of thinking that can get a team in trouble. Going broke for A-Rod because we need a 3B and he's the best available is the easy solution. JD Drew and Julio Lugo were the easy solution last year and neither has worked out the way the team envisioned. There were no SS in the system a year ago, but now Jed Lowrie's blocked by a $9 million SS with a 65 OPS+. Things change and it's better not to handicap yourself.

 

Oh and by the way, no 3B in the system? We have an excellent 3B on the team right now and his name is Kevin Youkilis. There are a lot of creative solutions for the corner infield positions this offseason. No need to make a gross overpay for Lowell or A-Rod unless the team feels they can sign them to a deal that will mirror the future returns from each player.

[Cartman 0]

Where to begin...

 

First of all Manny is only a free agent after 2008 if the Sox let him become one. They have 2 options which they WILL use because letting him walk now would be completely retarded.

 

You cannot compare Drew and Lugo to A-Rod...

 

Youkilis is an Average at best defensive 3rd baseman let's not get silly here. Lowell at 34 is infinitely better defensively than Youkilis right now and Lowell has obviously lost a bit there.

 

Lowrie is a really good Offensive SS but his defense has been questioned as well. Maybe I value defense too muchg but those positions need to have good to great defenders in my opinion.

[Cheech Tremendous 0]

The chances of Manny returning after 2008 are 50/50 at best.

[Cartman 0]

I doubt that. Ever since the Media Fabricated garbage about him wanting to leave has stopped there's been NO mention of Manny being "Unhappy" here and breaking up he and Ortiz anytime before it's absolutely necessary would be stupid. Even at 20 Million he is worth every penny for two option years.

[Cheech Tremendous 0]

I doubt that. Ever since the Media Fabricated garbage about him wanting to leave has stopped there's been NO mention of Manny being "Unhappy" here and breaking up he and Ortiz anytime before it's absolutely necessary would be stupid. Even at 20 Million he is worth every penny for two option years.

 

It has nothing to do with him wanting to leave or anything like that. Manny is a player that this front office has never coveted. While he has a superb bat, he gives back a lot of that with his defense and lack of hustle. I don't know how to properly evaluate what his total contributions are, but the front office does and we'll see how that develops next offseason. My guess is they'll let him walk, or at least gauge interest in picking up the option and trading him.

 

I love Manny, but even I can see that a hitter entering his late 30s and making $20 million a year might not be the best use of resources. But we have an entire year to see how this team develops and what sort of options are available next offseason. It at least appears that Teixeira and Dunn will both be available, and they are much better options for power going forward.

[Jorge Gorgeous 0]

Ok I have to backpedal some now. After thinking about it I want A-Rod in Boston.

 

A lineup with Manny, Ortiz, and A-Rod for the next 3 years would be phenominal. After three years Manny would most likely not be brought back, leaving them with A-Rod and Ortiz still anchoring the lineup. With his past injury history(Non-Existent) it's a no brainer that bringing him here could be nothing but awesome for the offense, "Chemistry" be damned.

 

I love Lowell and would be very happy if he stayed here, but if he doesn't I say screw it. Everyone is bitching about the Sox and their high payroll, so why not go all out. It's not like they wouldn't be able to keep their young guys around like Ellsbury, Youkilis, Papelbon, Pedroia, etc. Not to mention there aren't any real good 3rd baseman in this system anywhere near ready for the Majors anyways.

 

I'm not saying you're guilty of this, but this is the kind of logic that SAAAWX fans used to talk shit about the Yankees and are now embracing fully. Ladies and gentlemen, the new Evil Empire.

 

Of course, the Yankees are the British Empire to the Red Sox' Armenian Empire