Today in The Journal News
Posted by: Peter Abraham - Posted in Misc on Jul 13, 2007 
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Bobby Abreu hits, the Yankees win. It seemed that simple in a 7-3 win against Tampa Bay.
Alex Rodriguez does not want to talk about a contract now. This notebook also has updates on Jeff Karstens and Jason Giambi.
The A-Rod situation is certainly a complicated one. The Yankees would be willing to sign him to an extension. But if he opts out, they would amost certainly bid him farewell. What makes Rodriguez affordable is the $21.3 million Texas would pay the Yankees from 2008-10. Take that away and he makes far less sense.
In the end, they need each other. If A-Rod stays with the Yankees, he would make $27 million next season then $32 million in 2009 and 2010 thanks to the escalator clause in his deal. If they Yankees extend him at, say, three years at $30 million, that’s a total package of six years and $181 million, an average annual salary of $30.16 million.
Can he get that on the open market? Only a handful of teams can even entertain the thought. One of them is the Mets and they have a third baseman and a shortstop. Then you have the Red Sox, Dodgers and perhaps the Cubs and Angels.
The Red Sox seem unlikely given the money they’ve laid out for guys like J.D. Drew, Julio Lugo and Daisuke Matsuzaka. Plus, does even Alex have enough phony pills to pretend he wants to play in front of fans who have despised and mocked him for four years?
If the Yankees, Mets and Red Sox aren’t involved, Scott Boras won’t have a lot of leverage. As much as he may want to take his biggest client into the open market, coming to a deal with the Yankees might make the most sense.
The sides have from the end of the season until 10 days after the World Series before A-Rod can opt out. If the Yankees don’t make the playoffs, that could be 37 days. That’s plenty of time to come to an agreement.
Keep this in mind: When Brian Cashman said in spring training that he would not negotiate during the season, he was the king of all he surveyed. His power was such at the time that those words carried a lot of weight.
Now with the team he built at .500, Cashman has to follow orders. The Yankees can’t keep YES profitable and fill their new stadium on pitching prospects and aging stars. They need a hood ornament and A-Rod certainly is that.
What Cashman can insist is that any movement made toward A-Rod coincides with opening talks with Jorge Posada and Mariano Rivera.
You’ll hear and read a lot posturing on this for months to come. But in the end, the Yankees and Rodriguez will realize they need each other.
It would be nice if he stayed for $30 million a year, but I think that price has risen to $32-$35 million. It may have to be a minimum of $32 million with the escalator clause. That’s scary.
^^^ It may have to be a minimum of $32 million because of the escalator clause in his current deal.
“You’ll hear and read a lot posturing on this for months to come. But in the end, the Yankees and Rodriguez will realize they need each other.”
hope you’re right.
I think you’re wrong about filling the new Stadium with or without A-Rod. A new Stadium will be an automatic sell-out for the first 5 years (probably more) regardless of any anything. The YES ratings is what hinges on the Yankees winning games (again, with or without A-Rod).
As a diehard long time Yankee fan I haven’t been able to afford or get good tickets since the bandwagon filled up in the late ’90s. Count me in as one of the guys who wouldn’t mind seeing them miss the playoffs for a few years so that the Stadium bandwagon empties out a bit and I can go back to Yankee Stadium.
Skinnyhead,
LOL. I’ve never been to a Yankees game. Being from Baltimore and living in Turkey (military) don’t help matters either. I know how you’re feeling.
A) Peter, how’s Giambi’s rehab? The boot is off, but what’s he doing now?
B) “Where’s ya Moses, now?” Who’s got enough paper to land ARod? According to Buster Olney, no one. As he puts it, where are the Angels gonna find all that cheeze (actually, I’m paraphrasing). It’s not like they have YES ATM.
C) I was led to believe that Scott Boras was smooth and smart. It wasn’t very slick to put this all on ARod by saying, “there won’t be [any negotiations] _unless Alex directs_ me otherwise.”
This is what I would have said, “negotiations now would be an unnecessary distraction to the team’s progress. Unnecessary and periodic speculation on ARod’s contract has occurred, but the commentators have always been fascinated with ARod; even when he sun bathes.”
People often say Scott Boras is so successful because he gets multiple teams involved in bidding against each other on his players.
That may be true to some extent but it isn’t the major reason he pulls off these crazy deals.
Scott Boras’s genius is to get teams to bid against themselves.
That was the key to ARod’s original deal with Hicks. No one was giving ARod even close to $250 million – the Mets balked even at the theoretical price of $150-200 million. That’s exactly what Boras did with Zito and the Giants (once again the mets not even coming close to going to the $126 million range despite their resources).
He gets teams to bid against themselves by playing on emotions – usually by getting them to think the player is much more special than he really are or through fear.
With ARod the Yankees have to be careful about falling into fear mode.
We keep hearing rumors of these numbers from unnamed sources about 8 years $200 million or $35 million a year, etc. But who is going to pay this? Yes it’s possible that another Tom Hicks appears but overall that is very unlikely.
Pete is right. There are very, very few teams in the stratosphere of numbers we’re talking about. The mets are eliminated (Wright is not moving to second).
The talk about the Angels is very speculative and nothing in the Angels recent history of behavior as an organization points to this kind of lavish expenditure.
Are the Angels really going to pay ARod twice what Vlad makes (incredible isn’t it – ARod making twice what Vlad will next season). Is level headed Bill Stoneman (who despite Moreno’s high profile definitely runs that team with full authority) going to devote 30-35% of his payroll on one player, especially when John Lackey and K-Rod are going to get very expensive very quickly? The Angels weren’t even close in the Soriano bidding and they arguably could have used him more than any single team in baseball. The biggest free agent they’ve signed since colon was Gary Matthews!
Also, the Angels, despite their name are not a Los Angeles team. They are a suburban team from a very dense population area. There is no glamour in Anaheim. Does ARod want that?
The Dodgers are possible in theory but their owner is a disaster and not a true baseball guy. It’s not likely that he’s going to fall in love with the prospect of ARod to the tune of $200 million
The prospect that will drive the most fear into the Yankees maybe the thought of ARod taking over for Julio Lugo for teh Sox next year. That’s the one Boras is going to try to create the most speculation about. They’ll have to assess that risk. It’s there but unlikely to be that high.
ARod does need the Yankees. He’s 31 – not old but not young anymore. He may play another 10 years – that means he’s only got 10 more chances to win the world series. The thought of not having a ring must press on him all of the time because it would leave a tremendous hollow gap in the heart of his career. Imagine having the 800 home runs but no rings? He would always be thought of with that caveat, “…greatest player to ever play but never won…” Even one ring wouldn’t be the best outcome for him. He’ll be left with the same sheen Wilt Chamberalin was. Wilt may not have cared, but ARod will. The gap between his personal achievement and team achievement will be enormous.
For this reason he can’t afford to do what he did when he signed with the Rangers. Say the Peter Angelos comes out of nowhere and offers him 8yrs/ 200 million. Can he sign that deal? Or will he be taking too much of a risk of never winning. We all know money is the bottom line but ARod really wants to be well thought of, he wants to be liked and when he retires he will want to go down as a “winner.” He won’t want to be Ted Williams.
Of the 10 odd years he has left he may carry the team for 5-6 but after that he may need the team to carry him. Only the Yankees can guarantee he’ll be protected and surrounded with talented players from now until he retires.
What are the chances of the Yankees not winning another world series title over the next 10 years? It’s not 100% they will but their odds are much better than anyone else’s by a substantial amount.
Now ARod may have already decided that he sick of the tabloids, etc and a place like Anaheim is perfect for him. So be it. New York wasn’t for him long term. In that case his mind was already made up and there’s not a lot the yankees could do. Then Boras is just using them to drive up the asking price.
The Yankees do need ARod. But he does need them. The organization can’t lose sight of that. It would be different if a significant number of teams had the Yankees resources. It would be different if he had 2-3 rings. It would be different if his image didn’t mean so much to him. But his fingers are bare and he wants what Jeter has. He will care about how he’s remembered and as he gets older that will matter to him more and more. The Yankees are better at providing nostalgia than anyone. ARod knows that.
If the Yankees forget what they have to offer and how few teams can really compete with that Boras will take them to the cleaners.
CB,
A+++++++++++ for the essay.
I would put an A-Rod hood ornament on my car. In fact, I think the Yankees should have A-Rod Hood Ornament Night at the Stadium.
_Now ARod may have already decided that he sick of the tabloids_
Ya know, I don’t think the tabloids are so bad. So he screwed up his future career as a children’s author, he wasn’t gonna be JK Rowlings, anyways.
As for the cheating, I’m sure his wife knew; she didn’t seem to mind. Certainly the team knew, and not even a naive fan is gonna rip up their ticket over that.
He should revel in the spotlight like Mr. October did: print up some mock tabloids, hand out exploding cigars, send some strippers to the press box, live it up!!
Guess who made the Backpage, “AGAIN”:http://tinyurl.com/ywm8p2
What’s that, 4th-5th day in a row!
Yankee fans have so much to look forward to even if AROD decides to opt out. Chamberlain, Hughes, and many other arms in the farm system. Brett Gardner is now at Scranton. He is going to be the new centerfielder. Tabata and Austin Jackson. The Yankees will struggle for a year or so but then they will have a strong team again. 30 Million, three very solid or at least two free agents can come out of that money. Personally I would spend my money on a younger player.
Peter:
Excellent analysis of the A-Rod contingencies. A-Rod now will cost so much he’s like that famous diamond the thief steals only to realize there is no market for something that expensive.
CB:
You nailed the budget issue: spending 30-35% of salary on one player will lose you many other key players during the course of that contact. And if A-Rod wants those rings- – and he does – - he will only go to a team that demonstrates the financial capacity and track record to spend to retain key players at key positions during the course of his contract, despite his payroll drain.
It’s like buying a house: you have the downpayment but can you really afford the monthly nut with your other expenses? Sounds like only the Yankees or maybe Boston (if they use hedge fund money) can afford Rod and the other key positions necessary to win a WS. Having lots of young, cheap pitching prospects, however, gives the Yankees a distinct edge in this calculation.
Hey, Hey, Hey !!
Hollywood mogul Mark Cuban to buy “Chicago Cubs”:http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/19738520/
That sound you hear is Scott Boras doing back-flips
Por supuesto, Dr. Acula.
Referring to Alex’s back page, that was.
Also, like buying a house — A-Rod being the house — and not being able to furnish it. Beautiful house. Empty rooms.
Never forget the lure of deferred money. Arizona is still paying RJ and Schilling for pitches they threw in 2001. A-Rod already has about $140-160 million in the bank. Think he’d really balk at a salary structure of $15 million a year for 6 years with 7 deferred over the next 12?
Teams that want him can get creative with the structuring of the finances, and it’s not like A-Rod is desperate for ready cash.
A lot more teams are in play for him than Peter is giving credit to.
I was reading some of the articles in the Bergen record and they are killing Alex for saying he doesn’t want to negotiate during the season. The man is damned if he does and damned if he doesn’t. No matter what he says someone will always say he said the wrong thing.
Another point, people on the radio are saying if he hits the open market everyone will be after him!! WHAT?? That is totally insane. First off you have to knock off teams he wouldn’t want to play for. I’d say the soxs are on that list. Than you knock off teams that can’t afford him, the drays kc etc. How many teams does that leave you with not many. So this notion perpetuated by some in the media that lots of teams will go after him is insane!!
A note on Ortiz, all of a sudden his knee has been hurt since last year. And where did he “hurt” it?? Yankee Stadium. He thinks he hurt it during a series in June. UM I think if you hurt your knee that bad you’d remember where you hurt it, NOT just HOW!!
CB, thanks for the well researched essay.
A-Rod playesd HS basebal/football down here in Miami. He is a fervent admirer of Dan Marino. Also a close friend. Marino was the ” greatest quarterback but he never won a Super Bowl”.I doubt A-Rod would like the same phrase attached to his name. His legacy is very important to him.The Yankees offer him the best opportunity to win one or more World Series.
Can we imagine what will be written about A-Rod if he wins a WS in New York and brings back the most homerun title back to NY?
No team will pay A-Rod what he wants. Except the Yankees. Teams remember what the Rangers went through. Giving a large portion of their budget to one player. If he wants to play in Anaheim or SF or CHI, than good luck to him. You’re just not remembered fondly in baseball history playing for an also ran franchise. Who remembers any Angels player? People barely recall Reggie played there. The Cubs are more known for being losers. Even Ernie Banks isn’t given much respect.
At what point does enough become enough? Isn’ the opportunity to play on the biggest stage and play for a winner and get paid the market rate worth it? Especially in the long run?
Why in Gods name would he want to negotiate during a season where hes comfy and putting up record setting numbers?????
WHy would he want to screw around with the karma?
The money for him will be there after the season ends.
Chris you know what boggled my mind. I read that Hicks might be interested in re-signing ALex. I couldn’t believe it. First doesn’t he remember how they couldn’t bring anyone there cause they didn’t have the payroll flexiblity because of Alex. So he’d want to bring him back again!! And why would Alex go back there? They boo him to no end every time he goes back.
And does Alex want to be remember as a player that always ran away from teams? He left Seattle, He left the Ragners cause they didn’t win, and than he left the Yankees? He cares very much about his legacy, I don’t see him leaving.
I think the Yankees will be just fine if he opts out. With a thriving farm system and mucho dollars to play with on the market and in trades, I think they will survive.
As we’ve all seen one player doesn’t win championships in baseball. If he wants to be part of it, terrific. If he has no heart and runs for the west coast, okay.
My guess is he stays because really what team can even think about paying 8 years 250 mill for a guy besides the NYY?
Please don’t fall into that trap of believing rumors about who may be involved in a free agent. Agents do that all the time to drum up interest and make teams blink. The Hicks talk? I’m sure Hicks would want that out there. If Alex opts out he saves 30 mill!!!
Its in his interest to have him think more teams are interested.
i think the yanks will make a deal with a-rod at the end of the season before he opts out . otherwise , get out and don’t let the door hit you on the way out . if a-rod leaves , it opens alot of cash and options for the free agency market for pitching . the yanks don’t need bats – they need pitching , young high quality pitching .
Does anyone on this list really jump out at you as someone you’d sign? zambrano is a head case! I don’t want him here.
Starting Pitchers
Kris Benson * BAL
Paul Byrd * CLE
Shawn Chacon PIT
Matt Clement BOS
Bartolo Colon LAA
Scott Elarton KC
Josh Fogg COL
Casey Fossum * TB
Freddy Garcia PHI
Livan Hernandez ARZ
Jason Jennings HOU
Brian Lawrence * COL
Jon Lieber PHI
Kyle Lohse CIN
Wade Miller CHC
Eric Milton CIN
Odalis Perez * KC
Joel Pineiro * BOS
Kenny Rogers DET
Curt Schilling BOS
Carlos Silva MIN
Julian Tavarez * BOS
Brett Tomko * LAD
Kip Wells STL
Randy Wolf * LAD
Jaret Wright BAL
Carlos Zambrano CHC
Victor Zambrano NYM
If Arod did say he would negotiate during the season then he would be criticized cause the team is at .500 trying to making something of this season, and if he says no then its like he’s giving a slap in the Yankees faces. As usual it’s a no win situation for him. I think it makes the best sense for the Yankees to keep Arod, and Arod to stay with the Yankees, I agree they need each other but I wonder if he’s had enough. I know you always say money is the final say but if the money is close and he’s thinking of all the crap he’s gotten from the fans and media that might push him out the door. We have to keep Mo, and Posada also. I would give Cashman one more chance, one more year and it’s time to say goodbye to Torre even if by some miracle we win the world series, it’s just time. He can go nap elsewhere.
Oh and about filling the new stadium, the Yankees never reached 4 million fans until Arod arrived, not even during all those championship years. Arod sells period, I’m sure even Pete knows that when he writes about Arod you’re going to get a huge increase in posters.
With every passing day, Rodriguez continues to prove how valuable he is. The Yankees are NOT showing how they can get along fine without him. Maybe from his perspective it better to wait longer since the Yankees’ situation continues to look more and more desperate.
Jennifer –
Not a single one. Are these all the free agent pitchers after 2007 season?
C. Zambrano has also said he doesn’t want to play for the Yankees (although we all know money can change most players’ minds), but also that he likes to get to bat, so he’d prefer to stay in the National League. I see the Mets perhaps making a run for him. I hope the Yankees do not.
Great points, Pete and CB.
In the end Boras and the Yankees will negotiate and get what they both want. ARod will get an extension and the Yankees will get ARod’s bat for the rest of his (hopefully numerous) good years with the benefit of the Texas discount.
With an extension, the Yankees will spend an absurd amount of money on ARod. But ARod is an absurdly good player. The fact that he was the best-hitting 3B in the league in 2004-2006, won an MVP, and could win another this year as a right-handed hitter in Yankee Stadium is extraordinary.
He is also playing Gold Glove defense at third this season. He is not slowing with age; he’s getting better. When he does start to lose a step, he will likely have the talent to play an above-average first base.
chris in fairfield, sorry to single you out but your post is so recent: the Yankees absolutely need bats, ARod’s bats in particular. Right now we have Phillips at first and it would be a small miracle if he continued to hit well. What if we can’t get Teixeira? What if Damon and Giambi are finished – who’s our DH? What if Cano can’t turn it around next season? What if Posada or Jeter falls back to earth, or God forbid, gets injured? Who replaces Abreu in right field? What if we can’t get bench players who can hit any better than Cairo?
If you take ARod out of the lineup this season, you’re left with an offense that’s just about league average. We’re not going to have anything more than an unlikely shot at the wild card that way.
I don’t agree that the Yankees need ARod as a hood ornament. They have Jeter for that. They need him to win games and to help deal with all the question marks I listed.
Nice Yankee win over the Rays but how dumb are those cowbells clanging away in Tropicana Field ? The place holds 43,772 and here the top drawing road team in baseball are in for a 4 game series and they play in front of 21,907 ? No wonder the Rays are laughingstocks year in and year out.
“When Brian Cashman said in spring training that he would not negotiate during the season, he was the king of all he surveyed.”
always QUESTION AUTHORITY.
cashman never deserved to have that kind of power. he’s clearly been exposed.
I think a darkhorse team that may pursue ARod is the SF Giants. Think about it—they’d be able to replace Bonds with the next HR champ. How else are they going to replace a player of the impact of Bonds?
“The Yankees can’t keep YES profitable and fill their new stadium on pitching prospects and aging stars. They need a hood ornament and A-Rod certainly is that.”
With all due respect Pete, DEREK JETER IS AND ALWAYS will be the TRUE “hood ornament” to the NY Yankees. I understand your point, but I and I’m sure a lot of NYY fans don’t see ARod that way.
Chris in Fairfield,
Having said that they Yankees look as though the need Rodriguez more and more every day, I agree that pitching is MUCH more important that hitting. Good hitting teams are always at risk of being shutdown for a night or a series by hot pitchers. The ONLY remedy in that situation is to have a bunch of pitchers you can match the zeros on the scoreboard. This should be obvious to anyone who watched the 1996-2001 Yankees. How many times did they bash their way to wins? How many times did they pitch their way to wins?
On the other hand consider the Yanks of the mid to late ’80s. Always bashing, rarely pitching well, and never making the playoffs.
Maybe we could send giambi to sf. wouldn’t he fit in over there?
Here’s to another 3 wins at Yankee Stadium South (the trop).
Derek Jeter will always be the face and soul of the NY Yankees. But A-Rod’s chase for power records will put people in the seats always.
No, ARod is the fancy hood ornament, but Jeter is the car.
Designated Blogger –
I wish I had said that!
Doreen,
Let’s keep it going! Torre is the driver, Cashman is the mechanic, Cairo is the spare tire, Clemens is the original factory radio, Bernie is the hubcap that was lost on the side of the road, Damon is the A/C (cos he’s cool), Posada is the rear bumper. OK, I’m reaching now…
Giambi isnt going anywhere.In fact if he hits .265/.410/.550 we will sign him to 2/24 after the season.Hes a force when healthy.
I think A-Rod is as good as gone. No way does he re-up in this market. Up until this year, his time in NY, playing baseball and all else was absolutely torturous. Alex has a fragile psychological makeup, he’s admitted as much in interviews when he very bravely admitted to receiving therapy dealing with a range of issues that stem from his abandonment by his father.
And before all of you kill me on mentioning that, know that this matters in a big market where the intensity of tabloids, radio and ESPN is non-stop and unlike any other city in the game. His mental makeup is too emotional and “unmanly” a mention? Tough.
The fans sat on him and booed him thoroughly from 2004 up until this year. He’s been ridiculed in the press. Now they want him to stay? No such luck. There’s no love lost for A-Rod if he decides to leave. He gets to move away from what’s been a mostly toxic situation for him to another place that won’t be nearly the circus that the Bronx has been for him. And, he undoubtedly gets a huge raise.
My prediction? He goes to Boston. Shortstop’s open, and the 2003-04 trade “episode” is corrected. Boston has the best chance to win, as much as I hate saying it, and they are much more willing to spend than in years past. And he will have great success with the short left field measurement. He will be the first 35 million dollar player. I think it is absurd that any one person makes that kind of money, but that’s a whole other topic.
Concerning the new stadium, don’t be too certain the fans will show up in ’09 if they are fielding a subpar team. This isn’t a ballpark located in the middle of the city. It’s out in a borough. Don’t get me wrong, I love the Bronx very much, but a new stadium combined with an underachieving team could be a real financial disappointment. It remains to be seen what the farm teams yield in terms of prospects (Hughes, Chamberlain, Sanchez, Jackson, Tabata—all exciting). With that list of FA pitchers posted earlier, I think the Yanks have to go with what they’ve got and hope the team enjoys a resurgence.
Thanks for reading and drive safely.
Arod is the one of the greatest of all time, Jeter is great but come on, I’m a Yankees fan but not that delusional.
looking at jennifer’s list: headcase or not, Carlos Zambrano’s going to get PAID this offseason.
i agree . if a-rod opts out then let him go but if the yanks can extend him and still get the 30 mill form texas – great . BUT IT’S ALL ABOUT PITCHING PEOPLE . CONSISTENT , YOUNG , QUALITY PITCHING .
I just think we have a lot of holes on this team. It would be nice to re-sign him but if his price is more than $30 million then he should leave. We’ll need an outfielder (maybe Brett Gardener
), maybe a starting pitcher, first baseman, and maybe a bullpen arm. If A-Rod does leave, there aren’t many third basemen out there either. Predo Feliz, Mike Lowell, and Mike Lamb. Andy Phillips can play third. I don’t know. It’s going to be a long second half full of drama. I hope we can re-sign him but I’m not holding my breath.
Jennifer,
As far as your list of pitchers go, there aren’t many who CAN pitch, lol. If not Zambrano, take a flyer on Freddy Garcia, Jason Jennings, and Joel Pinero.
i love big Z
“C. Zambrano has also said he doesn’t want to play for the Yankees (although we all know money can change most players’ minds), but also that he likes to get to bat, so he’d prefer to stay in the National League. ”
so we use the DH in place of Nieves on days Zambrano’s pitching.
designated that is hilarious!!
Designated Blogger:
Matsui is the Japanese import; CM Wang is the CD Player (made in Taiwan); Mariano is the brakes; Proctor is the spark plug?
e-roc I wouldn’t take anyone on that list. Luckly we have a bunch of guys on the arm who are doing very well. Hopefully they will amount to something and they don’t have to over pay for garbage.
Arod isnt coming back to NYY… I hate the Red Sox, but I cannot stand when people, yes you PETE, say they cannot afford him lol… John Henry is absolutly loaded they could spend as much as the Yankees could and maybe more…. Thats the truth, I am not saying Arod will be a Sox, but dont count them out…. Remember Manny’s contract is up soon and Mike Lowell is also a free agent…. THink about it?
Saucy –
That WOULD be an improvement.
Kyle Karnsworth is the power window that keeps getting stuck?
If A-Rod ends up with the Red Sox, I’d hate to see what happens when they come to Yankee Stadium. Can you imagine? It’s not like Randy Johnson, who can just opt out of traveling if he’s not pitching in order to avoid the NY media.
Between the Texas fans, the Seattle fans, and Yankees fans, A-Rod would truly be the most hated player in all of baseball.
Jenn -
I was trying to think of one for Krazy Kyle. That’s pretty good!
Hi Everybody,
Thanks for discussing my master. I haven’t been able to post in the past because Alex was constantly sitting on me as I was stored in his back pocket. Now, for some reason, he’s moved me to his front left pocket, making it easier for me to punch the keys on his Blackberry and post to all you rabid obsessive fans.
Well, I think my owner will opt out. Why? Because as Alex always says:
Da Moneyclip has gotta be da shizzlenit!!!
What does that mean? I have no idea. Heck, I have no idea with most of the stuff he says. For instance, we were strolling in Central Park one day and there was a juggler performing for a group of kids. All of a sudden, out of nowhere, Alex runs up behind the juggler and yells “HA!!!!” The juggler dropped all the balls, the kids booed, and the juggler is now scoopin up lion poop in the Central Park zoo. This same thing was played out one time in the off-season when my owner was visiting Rio de Janeiro, but the juggler was tossing flaming torches. The result was tragic.
Anyway, being a moneyclip, I am always hungry. And Alex, for whatever else he does, always feeds the moneclip when the moneclip is hungry. The money clip in turn regurgitates the money into Alex’s hand, allowing him to pay for a number of things: diamonds, socks, kittens, butter, strippers with strong jawlines and thick hands, milkshakes, Transformers, goldfish and of course bowling pins.
So Alex will want to feed the moneyclip with as much money as possible for as long as he can. Wherever that may be. Just remember Alex’s motto:
Da Moneclip is da shizzlenit!
Love,
Harvey the Moneyclip
Doreen,
I like Mariano as the brakes! Proctor’s not good as a spark plug though. That should be the leadoff guy, but Damon is already the A/C. Maybe Melky? Stick Michael is the GPS system.
Giambi and Pavano are the repair bills.
Here’s a thought: Why can’t the Yanks and A-Rod mutually agree to extend the opt-out date in his contract? It’s basic contract law that the two parties can agree to mutually alter any of the terms of a contract. Would take away the pressue of having to hammer a deal out in a short amount of time.
Of course, if the Yanks miss the playoffs they’ll have plenty of time to negotiate an extension.
Giambi the performance exhaust that unfortunately isn’t street legal.
I totally agree with your view on this, Pete.I think that is the bottom line.
Hopefully, guys like Karstens, Rasner, Ross Ohlendorf and maybe Alan Horne can fill the void. Clemens will retire again, Pettite might retire, and Iggy sucks. That leaves Wang, Moose, and Hughes as locks to be in the rotation next year. That’s scary.
“does even Alex have enough phony pills to pretend he wants to play in front of fans who have despised and mocked him for four years?”
LOL, although 30 million dollars a year can buy a lot of phony pills….
Thanks Doreen, I also thought of the gas tank that always gets clogged. Cause he can throw gas, but he walks guys?
Saucy,
I like that Giambi isn’t street legal!
I think Farnsworth should be the gas pedal shaped like a funny foot. He gets the car going too fast and Mo has to put on the brakes.
Designated –
I thought because of Proctors tendency to set things aflame, but yeah, the spark plug is usually the guy who jump-starts things. Melky, maybe — he even kinda looks like a spark plug.
I like Stick as the GPS.
And Bronx — good one!
Myers is the worn out left brake pad.
Farnsworth is the mudflap with the naked lady on it.
Proctor is the odometer.
Cairo is the pine tree air freshener.
Abreu is the alternator.
Posada is the bumper.
Melky is the ignition coil.
Clemens is the steering wheel.
Jeter is the struts.
A-Rod is the engine.
Mariano is the clutch.
Jennifer –
That would work, too, I think.
also, A-Rod is not going to sign with Boston. he just won’t. if he leaves it will be to escape the vicious, back-biting NY media. Boston won’t change that at all.
if he leaves, i think the favorites look like this:
Dodgers
Angels
Cubs
and then a wildcard team like the Mariners. yes, the Mariners. the prodigal son returns, all is forgiven.
hmmm
LMAO!!! Ummmm…..what is Torre??
LMAO guys, I love this Yankee players as car parts thing! I’m assuming this is a pimped-out ride, right? It has to be if it’s the Yankees! So in that case maybe Cano is the chrome rims, spinners or window tint? Bruney has to be the loudest part of the audio – the Rockford Fosgate amp perhaps? Moose is probably the owners manual, filled with 10-cent words… or he’s the guy who sold you the car and keeps making excuses why things break! Haha j/k, I love Moose.
Hmmm –
You may have the definitive list there!
Hmmm
Don’t forget about the Giants. Barry will be leaving or he could stay for less. A-Rod did like the Giants.
Couldn’t Bruney be the spare tire — kind of just hangs around in the trunk with no use?
Plus, he kind of has one.
Peter –
Do you see what you started???
Farnsworth is the “my child beat up your honor student” bumper sticker.
Andy Phillips is the floormat, and Torre is the guy who keeps stepping on him! :[
Kevin M:
Maybe I misunderstand your point, but…
1. Altering the opt out date is tantamount to an “extension” isn’t it? That’s already one of the (very costly) options on the table.
2. If by altering the opt out date you mean just delaying the opt out date briefly (to Spring Training? The Winter Meetings?), what does A-Rod gain by delaying the moment of truth? The opt out date is the thing that gives A-Rod the leverage, forcing people to the table on his schedule. Consider his price at the end of this season as opposed to some other time. Why would he give up the advantage he has created for himself this year with the monster season?
Timing, my friend, is everything.
LMAO @ the 11:10 comment Doreen – hey, more to love!
“Don’t forget about the Giants. Barry will be leaving or he could stay for less. A-Rod did like the Giants.”
excellent point.
yup, throw the Giants in there.
BBB,
I think Mussina is the airbag!
“Moose is probably the owners manual, filled with 10-cent words… or he’s the guy who sold you the car and keeps making excuses why things break! Haha j/k, I love Moose.”
lol.
maybe Moose is the battery, b/c if you let it sit for more than 5 days, it won’t start.
Torre is the driver who has been up for 3 days driving cross country and is so exhausted that he keeps drifting into the other lane, then wakes up just in time to keep the car from careening off the road.
ROTFL @ Moose as the battery!
Kei Igawa is the pair of expensive sunglasses sitting on the dash that have only effectively shielded the sun once.
I think the Yankees would be better served spending that money on two 100 mill contracts and a 80 mill. One for Zambrano (or Sabathia), one for Texeira, and one for Tori Hunter. Adding those three guys would make their team better.
Also, somebody needs to be the “check engine” light, but I can’t figure out who.
Kyle is the right speaker on the blink. One day it’s pumping out some great, great tunes, the next day it doesn’t even work. But the next day after that all is good. You don’t know whether to exchange it or just put up with it, cuz when it works it sounds really, really good.
BBB –
Guidry? Or maybe the trainer?
I totally disagree with Pete…Yankees need ARod more than ARod needs Yanks. ARod doesn’t care whom he plays for. If u pay him 50 Mil a year he will even play in Antartica. And y do u think RedSox will not be a player if he opts out. They will be in it atleast to drive the price up to astronomical levels for the Yanks.
My conculsion is Yankees are desperate(with new stadium.. etc) to resign/sign ARod than ARod is to play for the Yanks.
The Yankees have no one but themselves to blame for this current MESS. If they hadn’t said at the beginning of the season that they wouldn’t negotiate during the season they might have a leg to stand on. But they said it and Alex, Posada and Mo all agreed to their terms now all of a sudden the Yankees want to changes the rules of the game? In the middle of a very crucial part of the entire 2007 season! Why? what’s the rush? Why are they all of a sudden panicking?
“I think the Yankees would be better served spending that money on two 100 mill contracts and a 80 mill. One for Zambrano (or Sabathia), one for Texeira, and one for Tori Hunter. Adding those three guys would make their team better.”
perhaps, but it’s not realistic to say the yankees can just get all 3 of these guys. there will be other bidders for Zambrano, and he will definitely get more than $100M. plus, i would be shocked if he leaves the NL.
Teixeira is not a FA until after next season and what happens when Baltimore offers $150M? because they will.
i personally think Hunter will be in pinstripes next year. i think he has always wanted to be a Yankee.
also, are you implying the Yankees could get all 3 guys for the price of A-Rod? those 3 guys will make close to $60M total each year, and we are talking about $30M for A-Rod, right?
i understand you overall point, that it’s better to spread the money around on more players, but the problem is that economics of the game are rapidly changing. those guys are all going to be $20M/year type players. i think i’d rather pay $30M for A-Rod than $20M for Zambrano who has a million miles on his arm and walks tons of hitters. same goes for Teixeira. A-Rod is TWICE the player Teixeira is.
Sabathia would be nice though. we’ll see if he hits the market.
Torre is asleep at the wheel.
“In the middle of a very crucial part of the entire 2007 season! Why? what’s the rush? Why are they all of a sudden panicking?”
i don’t think this sudden announcement coming the day after Ichiro got his extension is a coincidence at all.
that contract MOVED the market.
it’s $20M for an excellent player, but one who is going to be 34 in the first year of a 5 year extension.
the Yankees realized they absolutely cannot let Posada hit the FA market. i could easily see the Mets offering him 4 years, $60M.
Peter-I think you’re right and I hope it works out that way.
This doesn’t solve all their problems for the coming years, but a very wise poster on another blog suggested that if ARod opts out (and that poster believes he will), the Yankees should shift Cano’s strong arm to third and go after a second baseman like Orlando Hudson.Doesn’t sound like a bad idea to me. As Hmmm and others here have pointed out, it’s all about the pitching. If NY’ers could be more patient (I know, that’s good for a laugh), and Cash survives this year’s expected crash (and perhaps with all those worn out car parts, they might actually surprise us with some great mileage in the 2nd half), they would most likely see a new Dynesty born in 2 – 3 years with great young arms leading the way. I go back far enough (and beyond, quite truthfully)to remember the Baby Birds of the 60′s. They had the Robinsons and pitching; Palmer, McNally, Dobson,Cuellar etc. The Yanks need to look at a few clever moves with some key FA signings and let the boys on the farm grow.
These are the things we know for sure:
-Nobody knows what A-rod is thinking.
-If he stays, it’ll be a mystery until the end and he’ll top Roger’s announcement. Though, I don’t know if Suzy will get the exclusive.
-A lot of GM’s/free agents will be in a wait & see mode until Alex decides what he’s going to do. He is the biggest FA of the offseason.
-If he stays, great. $32M is commisurate with what he’s delivering this year and other far less worthy players (pitchers) are getting paid lots of money.
-If he goes, it won’t be the Yankees fault. The Yankees know they need him, and won’t offer less than what he’s getting now.
-If he goes, then that money is freed up for other big ticket players.
-It won’t be the end of the world if Alex leaves. The Yankees will still be relevant.
hmmm:
I’m usually squarely in your corner, but I’m not sure about A-Rod’s next destination.
I don’t see A-Rod going back to the rainy Pac West. How does Seattle plan to afford Ichiro and A-Rod? Moreover, Ichiro and A-Rod in the same locker room would not work. Ichiro is by all accounts Mr. Spoiled Superstar and used to being #1 on that team and they just “showed him the love” to the tune of $200 mil. If A-Rod can barely manage his relationship with Jeter, how’s he going to do a quiet side-kick routine to Ichiro if he’s making more money? Besides, they don’t even have a real skipper as yet so A-Rod can’t evaluate whether he or Ichiro would be teacher’s pet.
If it’s true that Mark Cuban is going to buy the Cubs, A-Rod could be reunited with his mentor, not so sweet Lou, and the Cubs could afford the salary. But, Cuban is a knucklehead. If you thought Steinbrenner was tough and meddlesome, you ain’t seen nothing yet. On top of that, does Cuban know anything about baseball? Under his leadership, are they going to be able to field a competent team and win some rings? In addition, IMO there would be a giant EGO clash between Cuban and A-Rod. That town’s not big enough for both of them. The money might be there, but the organization could be a disaster unless and until Cuban learns enough baseball and he and A-Rod always agree on everything. (BTW, The Mavs haven’t won since he bought them in 2000).
Between the Dodgers and the Angels, you have the right town but do you have deep enough pockets? I doubt it. They always whine about being “small market” with payrolls about $100 mil less than the Yankees’ budget. Unless those two team are ready to step up to the big time, $30 mil per year will be a huge change for them and put enormous pressure on A-Rod to produce. Plus such big coin will hamper their ability to replace position players and pitchers as needed to be WS ready.
To me, it’s only the NYY or Boston. (No offense to Willie, but A-Rod does not want to be a Met for chrissakes. Not to mention the fact that they have a solid young 3rd baseman and maybe soon Reyes will be the best all around SS in baseball).
With the money Boston just sunk into Drew and Dice K, I don’t see them easily swallowing A-Rod’s price tag. The Yanks have a new stadium (which I believe is a set-off against luxury tax), several big contracts coming off line in the immediate future, and some good young cheap pitching coming up. Maybe I’m being myopic, but the Yanks look the most economically fit to do this while being able to add the necessary pieces to win it all. IMO A-Rod stays.
Now Alex, Mo, and Jorge hitting the market at the same time must be causing Cashman to lose what’s left of his hair. Jorge is looking forward to free agency since he’s never been there. Other teams will stroke his ego, throw big numbers at him, then the Yankees will match it and keep him. Jorge is cut from the same cloth as Jeter and Mo. They’re Yankees for life.
If you could only keep one who would you choose? The future HR king, an irreplacable backstop, or the immortal closer? That’s tough, but I know that really good catchers don’t grow on trees.
A-Rod will hit 900 – 1000 Career Home Runs and will finish his career as a YANKEE. End of Story. PERIOD ! Good ‘ol STEIN is salivating at the Chance to return the all time leader in Career Home Runs STAT to a New York Yankee and his ONLY realistic shot at that is to sign A-Rod eventually through the year 2017, when at age 41 he is doing the UNTHINKABLE by setting his sights on his 1000th DINGER ! Mark your calendars NOW !!!
Make it 3 in a row tonight
Nieves is the bird crap on the windshield?
“Also, somebody needs to be the “check engineâ€? light, but I can’t figure out who.”
the check engine light is the New York Post, always going off when there really isn’t anything wrong to begin with.
Just adding my $0.02 here about the FA’s and Alex’s possible destination if he opts out (although I pray Pete’s right that he stays!)
I see alot of people think Alex could go back to the M’s. My father does too, but I’m not sure because they just spent a lot of $ on Ichiro and you would think they’d want to lock up Felix next. Do they have that kind of $ to be able to give Ichiro, Felix AND Alex large deals?
Carlos Zambrano, I know he has great stuff, but I’m still a bit leary of NL pitchers. Also, he has said he wants to stay in the NL cause he likes hitting…I’m sure he’d be willing to go to the AL for enough $ but commenting on how much he loves hitting will only drive his price up that much more for AL teams..which is probably why he’s doing it.
Torii Hunter is an interesting case. Personally, I don’t want him – he is having a career year with the bat. His D is great but so is Melky’s and it’s a lot cheaper too. Plus Melky does seem to be a spark plug to go back to the car analogy, and he plays such an important role in team chemistry. I really think he should be the everyday CF especially b/c if for some reason he doesn’t work out, we have Gardner as another possible option.
The other thing is, a few years back Torii used to be highly complimentary of the Yankees, talking about aura mystique etc. But in the past 2 seasons, he seems to be popping off left and right about how much he hates us and our huge payroll. Last year I remember him saying something before a series vs MIN that he makes minimum wage (yes, he said minimum wage..OK Latrell Sprewell!) and it’s wrong how much our guys make. But now he wants to become one of them? He just seems like a bit of a hypocrite to me, the way he made the jump from being Mr. “I love small market Minnesota” to Mr. “F U Pay Me.”
Last but not least, without looking up stats aren’t his career numbers at Yankee Stadium not too great? Perhaps he’s just in awe of our aura and mystique, LOL, but perhaps that would continue. Besides, if we sign him, we lose out on facing him!
I agree with what Pete wrote last night – we have a cheap, good option at CF in Melky. So why put so much money into that position when it could be spent elsewhere?
Like on Scott Linebrink. Saw his name on a list of this year’s FA’s, not sure if the list is correct or not but if it is, I hope the Yanks go hard at him. Myers’ contract is up after this year, right? (please say it is!)
I don’t see Alex going to the NL. He wants to play in the best league and be in a position to DH in his old age when he goes for the record.
yeah, as for Seattle, i meant that there might be a team out there waiting in the shadows that NO ONE has thought of that could come out of nowhere like Texas did. i thought Seattle could be as good a bet as anyone. when Seattle is good, the fans come out in droves. it is a very profitable team. you would looking at a very exciting core of A-Rod, Ichiro, and King Felix. it would be a very marketable product. maybe they could defer some money to make it work.
i didn’t mean to make it sound like i was doing anything more than taking a wild guess. really, i don’t know what will happen. i really don’t.
i’d put it 60-40 he is a Yankee. but with A-Rod, man, nothing is surprising anymore.
but i still don’t think he’d go to Boston. i just don’t see it. i think if it came down to Boston or NYY, he’d sit tight. wheras if the money was close between NYY and LAA, he might leave.
there is only one thing i DO know: this won’t be our last thread talking about it.
Question:
Was anyone in the Yankees organization actually quoted as saying they are willing to discuss a contract extension with A-Rod in the middle of the season.
I can’t recall if I read anything other than an anonymous inside source saying as much.
Anyone?
20 mill for ichiro is as insane as 55 mil for meche .
I don’t buy the “the Red Sox wont…” argument for one minute. They’d be itching to deal Manny for nothing, lose Schilling and sign A-Rod. I’m really starting to think that A-Rod is certainly gone from NY, and GM’s are going to pay whatever Boras asks for him. The whole A-Rod to Boston thing isn’t as much as we all like to think… it was his first choice coming from Texas, but the Player’s Union wouldn’t let it happen, which is when NY stepped in.
I’m sure he’ll make some kind of press conference that imposes that kind of thinking on their fans and all will be forgotten, just like when Damon came to NY. It’s all about the Uniform, and when he’s in that one, they won’t even rememeber him in the pinstripes.
Yeah, Boston is going to be in the mix and that’s all there is to it. They can move too many parts to get it done. Someone will take Manny for just his salary…like, the Mets or Angels, or any number of teams.
Saucy, right on about the Post as the check engine light! I have always called it the idiot light since it goes on so much sooner than necessary – so the Post is truly perfect for the position!
I know I’m being a Pollyanna, but I think that Boston is the last place Alex will end up.
It’s definitely solid logic on why SEA would go for him, hmmm – I do remember reading somewhere that their owner also owns Nintendo Wii so he does probably have the $$$ (maybe all Yankee fans should boycott Wii so they won’t be able to afford him, lol) …the question is is he willing to spend all that money. I’m not really sure what Seattle’s economic philosophy is, but I guess we will find out!
Per the free agent list…
I would love to see Big Z in pinstripes next year. A power pitcher in his prime is exactly what this team needs to mix in with all of the young arms we have coming up. As for him being a headcase, after his incident in the dugout with Barrett the Cubs moved the catcher and Z has been dominant since then. That being said, he did state that he wants to stay in the NL and the Mets would be an awfully good fit for him and they have the cash to spend.
“Yeah, Boston is going to be in the mix and that’s all there is to it. They can move too many parts to get it done. Someone will take Manny for just his salary…like, the Mets or Angels, or any number of teams”
oh, i do not disagree that Boston will be in the mix. they will have the cash. and they will go after him.
i just think if the Yankees are outbid by Boston it means one thing: Steinbrenner has unfortunately passed away.
Peter,
Maybe a “Where will A-rod play in ’08?” poll?
I’d be shocked if A-Rod even considered going back to Seattle and I highly doubt they would be willing to pony up the money it is going to take to sign him.
They don’t really need to when you think about it. It’d be nice, sure, but with Felix needing a contract and some decent bats hitting the FA market this and next offseason, they have the capacity to buy cheaper, but still bring in someone effective.
Yeah, they are going to lose Lowell too, which cost them ten mill/year. So Alex will have a spot on a team who has the ability to lose close to 50mill/year at the end of the season without getting hurt bad at all by signing A-Rod. Them not being interested or unable is just silly. They’ll be at the head of the pack – especially since they have a VERY good working relationship with Boras already in Matsuzaka, Varitek, Drew, and soon A-Rod contracts all on their books.
Don’t hold your breath for them to not be in it.
Schilling -13+
Manny -20+
Lowell – 10+
Wakefield?
Mirrabelli?
Timlin?
They have the ability to do this, Peter.
just think if the Yankees are outbid by Boston it means one thing: Steinbrenner has unfortunately passed away.
Excellent point, but why would the Yankees say that if he doesn’t sign the extension, they’re done with him? To scare him? That’s just stupid. These are not our father’s Red Sox – on or off the field. If nothing else, they’re going to drive the price through the roof, and if it ends up on their hands, they’ll just deal Manny for nothing. We all know Schilling isn’t coming back. The money is equal, or near equal, at that point. The Mets would be itching for Manny in that lineup, and I bet they get him.
BBB…I hope you’re not serious about the Wii quip..
Carlos Zambrano is bad news.
He is an emotional rollercoaster and would be eaten alive by the NY media.
A waste of money and completely unnecessary. Why not see what we have in the farm before we go signing pitchers who will require at least $20 million/year?
Has enyone else heard about the Jorge Cantu / Ty Wiggington rumor to the Yanks today in the papers….. I heard they may reach a deal by the end of the week… But it seems like the Yanks and Tamba Bay been talking trades for about 4 years now…. lol
Larry, I agree completely. The AL is not the place for him. He’s a hothead, and really, who wants someone who beats up his catcher? Why don’t we just sign Milton Bradley?
LMAO: “Nieves is the bird crap on the windshield”
I don’t even know how ya’ll got that whole thing started. Could Iggy be your blind spot? Or could he be that 100 yr old person that has no business driving?
I would be leary of guys like Zambrano and Buerhle. If people haven’t noticed what happen to Freddy Garcia, you should. He hurt his shoulder because of the amount of workload his shoulder taken throughout his entire career. It could be career ending or career altering injury. Yeah, Zambrano has thrown 200 plus innings the last 4 yrs and you know that’s going to catch up to him sooner or later. Or maybe he is in the best shape of his life and it doesn’t matter. I don’t know. NL pitchers do scare me but I would take a chance on someone who is cheap and capable of pitching in NY.
Not that I don’t think it’s a possibility that A-Rod ends up in Boston, because nothing is beyond that realm, but as far as the initial episode with the Red Sox, A-Rod wasn’t a free agent at that time. So, though he approved a trade to the Red Sox, I wouldn’t go so far as to say he was their first choice. As far as I can recall, no one even knew he was available for trade, and as soon as the deal fell threw, the Yankees swooped in and A-Rod approved that one, too. (I’m assuming he had at least a partial no-trade, but I could be wrong, in which case, he may have had no choice about the Red Sox or Yankees at all).
As far as going to a city where the fans “hate” him, well after he hits a couple of game-winning HRs, they’ll certainly find it in their hearts to love him. But, A-Rod will have to deal with a press corps up there that is as ornery as the one in NY.
Dan from Mass
July 13th, 2007 at 12:01 pm
Nieves is the bird crap on the windshield?
Yup. LOL.
Ichiro is getting 20 million!! For a glorified singles hitter!!??? Wait till he loses a step, and all those infield singles he beats out will be gone!
I think its pretty much a sure thing that he opts out. Boras is going to want to take him to the market and to maximize his value. He’ll probably end up with one of the LA teams, most likely the Angels. The whole thing is pretty much a disaster for the Yankees. There is no way they’ll be able to replace his production and instead will spend millions on stupid signings like Zambrano (huge workload, already dropping shoulder in delivery = injury in progess) or Hunter (not an elite outfielder in the field or with the bat, despite what ESPN might tell you). Things are about to get really bad in New York, especially if Cash gets fired and Tampa takes control again.
I was just joking InsertNewSN.
Clemens is due for a bad outing while Kazmir is due for a good one. Anyone feels the same?
“Clemens is due for a bad outing while Kazmir is due for a good one. Anyone feels the same?”
no and yes. Kazmir will have a good outing, but the yankees will run up his pitchcount and have 3+ innings to feast on their bullpen. Clemens will keep them in the game. 6-4 Yankees.
Disagree Chris, Kazmir has been out of whack for most of the 1st half and he has baseball’s absolute worst bullpen behind him which means he has to put extra pressure on himself. The Yankees will want to redeem themselves for the run support they didn’t give Roger last Satusday vs. the Angels.
The Yanks do not need A-rod to fill the stadium, we are a team full of stars now, and will continue to be in the future- what? is A-rod the only star out there? Think Jeter won’t help? Think the next 2-4 years of Free Agents won’t provide us with a Stud on the field? Please.. This is the Yanks, we dont need Arod for the reg season, we needed him for playoffs and he does not show up.. Enjoy Cali.
Adam
I don’t think it would be disaster, if he leaves. We can still be a very good team and probably will. I think Cash will restructure the team so that it can succeed. Cash knows what he’s doing. I mean, at least we tried to sign him or will try.
Does anyone else find it odd that we hear nothing about Giambi’s health progress? Nothing. I would take anything like, Giambi hit off flat ground today. Come on Pete give us something.
I agree with the idea that A-Rod would not go to an NL team. When he approaches 700 HR’s he’ll be DH material to extend his career. He needs the Yankees and vice versa. If he can handle this year with all the distractions and still put up big numbers then he’s made it in NYC. Everywhere else will seem boring to him. Like all teams, the Yankees get 20% of the road gate. That by itself will pay for A-Rod’s contract with the Yankees having been the No. 1 road team since forever.
Peter…I would like to commend you on your most recent post and I agree 100% AND I would like to say that YOU are not included in the following rant. DO you see what ESPN.COM is putting as headlines for both the A-Rod and Posada items ? ESPN is a JOKE ! For the most part, I think that ALL REPORTERS ( but NOT PETER ) fall into the category of pure sensationalists. Let’s take what somebody says, put our OWN PERSONAL twist on it and CREATE A HEADLINE ! WON’T THAT BE GREAT ???
Report: Yanks unwilling to be in A-Rod bidding war
( OK…who exactly said this ? Oh yes…the famous anonymous source )
Jorge Posada, the Yankees’ cornerstone at catcher since winning their first of three straight World Series championships in the late 1990s, said Thursday he can’t wait to test free agency.
( WRONG…he said he WILL Wait and it can easily been taken that his comments were an indication that he would like to remain a Yankee forever, but was simply interested in finding out what his value would be when calculated by the free agent market )
I have got a couple of BETTER HEADLINES for ESPN TO USE:
A-Rod tells Yankees to Sit and Spin…and Posada agrees…STORY at 11 on Sportscenter….
ESPN stinks and just because THEY put something in a headline, DOES NOT IN ANY WAY make it any closer to factual then if YOU or I wrote it down in a coloring book and showed it to the neighbor…
Doreen, I know where you’re coming from, but I remember A-Rod willing to take a pay cut, and saying that he’s always wanted Boston because of his wife’s ties there, but who knows how much pull his wife has at this point in the game:) Again, I’m not resided to the thought that he’ll be in Boston for sure, but I am of the ilk that he most certainly will involve them, and would probably love nothing more than stick it back to NY for not bidding (if they’re telling the truth). I’m not putting on my blinders for this situation, as I normally do. The Yanks are being held hostage (A Boras special, ‘ala JD Drew and LA), and there is nothing they can do about it. They’ve offered, he said no, and that’s that. If he wanted to stay with where the situation is now, he would have said yes.
On another note re: the fans in Boston: I work with six or seven guys that are absolutely in love with the idea that A-Rod is coming to Boston, and every one of them are as die hard on that team as I am on mine. They love the idea of the next homerun king coming from Boston, and the love the idea of stealing him from NY even more. It’s pathetic on some level, but like Damon again, I know where they’re coming from.
These are Posada’s actual quotes on the topic
“There’s no sense for me to negotiate something now when I can wait and see what happens,” Posada, quoted in Newsday, said. “I mean, I want to wait.”
Even if the Yankees apply the same approach to Posada that they have to Alex Rodriguez and offer to negotiate during the season, Posada said he’s not interested.
“I’ve never experienced free agency,” he said. “I’m looking forward to it. It’s the first time ever.”
Cash knows what he’s doing
I’m glad you have confidence in that statement. I don’t.
There are only 2 teams I’m scared of when Arod hits the free agent market that could lose their minds and push this past where the Yankees are comfortable.
The SF Giants and the Detroit Tigers.
SF needs a franchise player and an identity and needs to distance themselves from Bonds. They’ve already proved they will lose their minds in free agent negotiations — see Zito, Barry, for proof. Arod would be the man in SF — no star for him to share the spotlight with. It would be his team. It’s a gorgeous ballpark and it’s a beautiful city and a team with a long history.
As for Detroit, if you haven’t noticed, they’ve been doing things the Yankee way for awhile now. Trading away high priced mistakes and eating money. Paying over slot for top draft choices. Giving free agents top dollar. That owner has limitless funds to deal with and if he decides he wants Arod and Arod wants to be on a team with the best young pitching already in the majors, Detroit could offer up a kings ransom for him.
I think the Anaheim owner talks a good game, but has shown thus far to be too rational when it comes to dropping the big coin on free agents.
I don’t think Boston would ever take Arod on at that money. I think there would be a fear that he could get crushed under the expectations in Boston and take a few years to figure the city out like he had to do here in NY. You can’t pay a guy 32 million and wonder if the expectations of the rabid fan base might mess with his head. It’s a bad risk.
I think it’s the Yankees vs. Detroit/SF and I wouldn’t be surprised at all to see Arod in SF next season getting paid probably 30-40 million more than the Yankees were willing to give him total for the package.
Johnny B,
Giambi is dealing with the same injury that basically ended Mark McGwire’s career. Don’t expect him back any time soon.
Hank,
What exactly has Cashman done to make you think he doesn’t know what he’s doing?
YanksSox, you beat me to it.
The Kool-aid is out of control with some people. I’m sure Posada will stay, but c’mon, are we resided to the idea that he’s not excited about being a free agent and getting a new contract? Jesus.
What exactly has Cashman done to make you think he doesn’t know what he’s doing?
Really? Are you being serious right now? You want a list? Oh, wait. I can’t give you a list because I know you’re comeback will be “Cashman had nothing to do with that…it was all Steinbrenner and the Tampa Contingency”..
Guy, until one of the “uber studs” in the farm system actually contribute to the New York Yankees, and actually make it through the grinds of the minors without having arm trouble(s), leg trouble9S), or whatever trouble(s), I can’t give him credit for much. Micaels? Absolutely. Cashman. Nope.
He’s signed the best players for the most money with absolutely not cap. He’s made some very, very bad signings, bad trades, and the list goes on.
How nice would it be to have Sheffield hitting behind A-Rod this year? Or anywhere for that matter..
But if you want a list, just ask. It’s readily available.
I didnt know about the escalator clause but now that I do I dont think Alex leaves that on the table.It would be easier for the Yankees to add 3/90 to the end of that deal then for another team to do 6/160-200 esp with the Texas subsidy.But if Boras comes out with something stupid like 35-40 per I as a fan have no problem waving goodbye.
He’s not terrible by any means, but I’d much rather have ten other GM’s, for sure.
Ichiro’s smile hints mega-deal around the corner…..SEE ??? Ichiro SMILED and that is a HINT that he has a MEGA DEAL as reported as a headline on ESPN.COM…..he SMILED, so that is NEWS !!! IDIOTS !
Also, re-signing A-Rod to that $30 million a year contract can hamper us making an Abreu/Lidle(RIP) trade during the season too.
Give me a list. You can’t blame for anything until he wrestled complete control of the club, which was only last season. In that time, the only mistakes I see are failing to properly address 1B and the bullpen. Last offseason, there wasn’t a person alive that would have chosen Sheff coming off a wrist injury over Abreu. We couldn’t keep both and Cash got decent value for a guy that few teams wanted. Better than letting him walk for nothing.
Hawk -
You’re right. I had forgotten (how could I have???) that he would have taken quite a pay cut and the commish had to step in and stop the deal. Or was it the Players’ union? One of them didn’t like A-Rod taking the cut.
Look, if he wants a contender, Boston is a legitimate place to want to be. Last off season they crossed that line and showed they will spend the money. Plus, it’s always, always a competition between NY and Boston, on and off the field. Of course they’d find a way to get A-Rod and they’d play him at SS. So, if the Yankees really, really want to keep him, they will have to show him not only the money but the “love.”
However, I don’t buy into any of the “A-Rod wants to stick it to NY” nonsense. If he goes to Boston, it’ll be because the offer was sweeter in whatever way.
But I think if he does go, Cashman may lose his job over it, especially if he was mandated by George to pull out all the stops.
I’m hopeful that when all is said and done Posada and Rivera will still be Yankees, but they both have every right to see what their worth is on the open market. Neither should have to settle for a home town discount.
Alan,
It’s ok. Wooooossssaaaaahhhhh!!!
Boras’ hand is not as strong as people think. Something that seems to be overlooked is that Boras can not play other teams against the Yanks, or visa versa.
Until AROD actually opts out, no other team may even speak to him. That would be a clear violation. If he does opt out, the Yanks are out of it, since they are only interested if they can keep Texas’ money ynder the current scenerio. There will be no bidding war against NY.
Here is a quick list of the transactions Cashman has made since renewing his contract after 2005 and gaining more authority.
11/15/05 Agreed to terms with OF Hideki Matsui on a four-year contract extension through the 2009 season
12/29/05 Signed free agent RHP Octavio Dotel, who had been with the Athletics, to a one-year contract.
12/23/05 Signed free agent outfielder Johnny Damon, who had been with the Red Sox, to a four-year contract.
12/16/05 Acquired LHP Ron Villone from the Marlins for nonroster LHP Ben Julianel.
12/15/05 Signed LHP Mike Myers to a two-year contract.
12/2/05 Signed RHP Kyle Farnsworth to a three-year contract.
7/31/06 Traded RHP Shawn Chacon to the Pittsburgh Pirates in exchange for OF Craig Wilson.
7/30/06 Acquired OF Bobby Abreu and RHP Cory Lidle from the Philadelphia Phillies for Minor League SS C.J. Henry, LHP Matt Smith, C Jesus Sanchez and RHP Carlos Monasterios.
11/27/06 Signed RHP pitcher Mike Mussina to a two-year contract.
11/12/06 Acquired RHP Chris Britton from Baltimore for RHP Jaret Wright and cash considerations.
11/10/06 Acquired RHPs Humberto Sanchez, Kevin Whelan and Anthony Claggett from the Detroit Tigers in exchange for OF Gary Sheffield.
11/27/06 Signed RHP pitcher Mike Mussina to a two-year contract.
12/27/06 Signed LHP Kei Igawa to a five-year contract.
12/21/06 Signed LHP Andy Pettitte to a one-year contract with a one-year player option
1/9/07 Acquired RHP Luis Vizcaino, RHP Ross Ohlendorf, RHP Steven Jackson and SS Alberto Gonzalez for LHP Randy Johnson and cash considerations.
1/5/07 Signed 1B Doug Mientkiewicz to a one-year contract.
5/6/07 Signed RHP Roger Clemens to a Minor League contract.
Without using hindsight, the only moves that were questionable at the time were Farnsworth (though we needed a reliever and he was one of the best on the market), Igawa (clearly a reaction to blowing the Dice-K bid), and Mientkiewicz (truly a terrible decision).
“Also, re-signing A-Rod to that $30 million a year contract can hamper us making an Abreu/Lidle(RIP) trade during the season too.”
i’m not sure about that.
we are talking about an extension. nothing really changes in the next 3 years.
the $30M we are arguing about starts in 2011. the yankees don’t have a single player under contract for 2011 except for 1: $4M for Kei Igawa (sigh).
you can’t pass on the best player in baseball b/c you are worried about all the other FA’s you might sign before then. you may wind up with none of them. the game has changed. there are now 10-15 teams willing to spend, and spend big. it used to be 3-4. but now you have to think about the Tigers, Angels, Giants, Mariners, Giants, Padres, Cubs, White Sox, Orioles, Blue Jays, Phillies, Astros, etc. along with the usual suspects, the Mets, Red Sox, Dodgers, Yankees, etc.
not saying these teams would be players for A-Rod, but they may be after the other players you thought you could sign when you passed on A-Rod.
Joe L, so what you’re really saying is that you wouldn’t be surprised to see SF offer 60-70 mil more than what the yankees would be prepared to offer? remember the yanks still have 30 mil or so coming from tex if he extends. i see that being a tough number to beat. i just don’t see anyone offering 30 mil more than the yankees best offer. especially with so many contracts coming off the books, and with our pitching staff likely to be around league minimum for a while to come
Hawk,
On Cashman – I agree with you that until the prospects start playing in the big leagues there’s still a great deal to be proved.
That said, I think Cashman in the two odd years he’s had more influence on this team has done an outstanding job of rebuilding the organization as a whole.
Who knows the truth about the Tampa/ NY split and infighting with regards to personnel decisions at the major league level (although Cashman wanting Vlad and Steinbrenner insisting on Sheffield is still killin us).
One thing that is certain however – until three years ago or so Tampa definitely ran the draft. And that was an unmitigated disaster. The Yankees had arguably the worst drafting in the entire league.
The Yankees are at the mercy of the Damon and Abreu’s of the world now because of how poor the farm system was for the past 10 years.
For the first time since Stick they have an organizational philosophy and plan in place and they are executing it. That organizational philosophy is to be aggressive in the draft and pay over slot for young talent and to do the same in the international market. That vision is Cashman’s.
Cashman’s made fantastic organizational moves since he’s been given power. First and foremost was putting Damon Oppenheimer in charge of the draft. In the past 3 years the Yankees have easily drafted or signed more talented young players than they did in the entire 20 years beforehand. It’s not even close. Second was giving Mark Newman, whose been with the organization 19 years, control over the farm system. And lastly, was having Nardi Contreras oversee pitching development. What they’ve done with the arms they’ve drafted in terms of development is remarkable e.g. George Kontos, Zach McCallister, Alan Horne,… the list goes on.
You look at every level of the organization – from the Gulf Coast League to Scranton (and Trenton in particular) the yanks are overflowing with right handed arms. Even most of those arms won’t work out some are going to. They haven’t yet but they will.
While they are seemingly short on position players in the minors, that’s mostly a function of the fact that their draft philosophy was only put into place since Cashman got more power. That’s only been a couple of seasons. Last year i think 14 of their first 16 picks were pitchers. Cash rightly focused on that.
The “mistakes” Cashman has made have largely been with money and are largely related to risks he had to take because the farm system was so starkly bare e.g. Kei Igawa, Pavano, etc. He hasn’t made too many mistakes in terms of trading away talent. As Yankee GM making mistakes on money rather than talent is the right way to manage risk. All GMs are going to make a lot of mistakes.
This organization is going in the right direction for the first time in 10 years. That’s largely Cashman’s doing. He shouldn’t get credit for it until those changes ripple up to the big leagues but one day he will.
I hope he doesn’t get fired before that day.
“Without using hindsight”
that’s cheating!
in all seriousness, Cashman has had a mixed bag so far. there are brilliant moves in there, and there are bad moves.
but the one thing that has to also be evaluated (and is impossible to evaluate) are the NON-MOVES.
how many people here wanted Cashman to:
1. trade Melky for Mike Gonzalez
2. sign Zito (i know there were many people here that did)
3. keep RJ
going back a year or 2, how many people would have wanted to trade a Phil Hughes or Cano for Dontrelle Willis? i know some people did.
Cashman has a mixed record with the big club, but has done a PHENOMENAL job with stacking the minors with talent. 2 years in a row he’s signed the best international FA (Montero and DeLeon), he’s had 2 great drafts and depending on who they actually sign this time around this draft could wind up exceptional as well. he’s used creative means to get talent like signing Juan Miranda. and finally, he has absolutely guarded his top prospects like a sentinel, refusing to cash any of them in for a quick fix. there is no denying this part of his job has been a smashing success, and one that will pay HUGE dividends if we are patient.
that will be Cashman’s legacy.
uhh, or what CB said better than i did.
Will,
Keep in mind that no team can offer him anything, they can’t even talk to him, until he opts out. Once he opts out, the Yankees are out of the race. Cashman has made that very clear. So if he opts out, teams are not bidding against the Yankees. Sounds awefully risky. Boras has bigbalz but he’s not stupid. AROD will sign an extension with the Yankees. You know, “A bird in the hand…”
The only reason arod goes to boston is because they offered the most dough. Not to “stick it” to anyone. Arod Inc. is about business and no one knows that better than Boras. If Boston is the one holding up the most money, Arod is a Red Sox next year. Baseball is a business and Arod’s part of the business is putting up monster numbers. Boras’ part is getting the $$$$. Boras doesn’t care if it’s Boston, Los Angeles, or Timbuktu. Whoever hits that magic number is where Arod goes – and he’d be dumb not to do it. If I’m making $50 grand a year in NY and someone offered me a $2 million a year salary to work in LA, you can bet I’d say “hell ya”. Business 101.
hmmm,
I don’t think anyone here says things quite like you!
Your three points however are excellent ones. As bad as this year has been with Damon, Abreu and Giambi all breaking down what would it have been like if they added Gonzalez to their stable of pitchers who need TJ reconstruction?
Going forward building the minors the way he has will be much more important to the future of the team than even signing ARod will be.
Winning is about pitching. The Yankees have more good young pitching than nearly every other team in baseball. Their 4th best prospect would be the best in most systems.
Over the next 5 years the area where we are going to have the biggest competitive advantage over the Sox is that minor league system. The Red Sox don’t have much in their system and they are going to pay for it.
Cashman has outdone Epstein on that in a big way.
“But I think if he does go, Cashman may lose his job over it, especially if he was mandated by George to pull out all the stops. ”
Final (ok, probably not) point about A-Rod. determining how much money to offer to A-Rod is probably not a Cashman decision.
i would imagine that with most teams, when offering 9 figure contracts, that is not the sole decision of the GM. i would imagine it is an organizational decision all the way up to ownership.
George is going to determine an upper limit. Cashman will offer it to A-Rod. if A-Rod walks, it’s b/c he doesn’t want to be here. simple as that.
i think the outcome is largely out of Cashman’s hands at this point.
Let’s not forget in ST when ARod said that it was “Cool” being the highest paid player in the MLB.
Peter:
I agree with your take on the A-Rod situation completely – it makes financial sense for him to stay with the Yankees, and both sides should be able to realize this and come to an agreement prior to the expiration of his opt-out clause. However, you are such a phony. Haven’t you been spouting all year long how A-Rod certainly will opt-out of his contract with the year he is having? You flip flop so much it makes my head dizzy.
oh, RSM, i completely agree. and i think one thing that boras is definately thinking about is that if they yanks are out of the bidding, it’s gunna drop his value quite a bit. boras likes to include the yankees as suitors in any list of any free agent he deals with, because it always adds $$$. i said it a while ago, but if boras really wanted to do it right, he wouldn’t opt out, but wouldn’t sign an extention either. it pushes back the payday, but arod most likely will not degrade in that time. it would allow one more big contract, with the yanks as bidders along with everyone else.
i just see it as too big a gamble, opting out. oh, he’ll get paid, but i think he’d make less than if he were to stay with the yankees, and i think he’ll get branded a $chaser moreso than he already is. now, i don’t buy the whole legacy is greater than money or he has enough money arguments, but if he bails, he will most likely be villified everywhere except where he signs, unless it’s boston, in which case he’ll be villified everywhere.
Will — I see your point, but you’re also assuming that Arod doesn’t opt out in your argument. Once he opts out, the Texas money officially goes POOF. It’s gone. It doesn’t come back into play.
Boras will know through back channels how far teams will be willing to go if Arod opts out and the Yankees lose their subsidy from Texas.
If he opts out (and the Texas money is gone), then I can see a team like SF or Detroit offer 30-40 million more than the Yankees will offer.
At that point he has no contract with the Yankees and everyone is starting from the same point. If SF offered a 7 year 234 million contract to Arod (32 million a season) with the Boras escalator clauses built in to make it go higher, do you think the Yankees would match that now that the Texas money is no longer there?
I don’t think they would.
I think a team like SF would pay through the nose to have the next home run champion chase in their ballpark by a player with no suspicion of steroids. They know for a fact that a home run chase sells tickets.
I don’t want Arod to go. I hope the Yankees can somehow pull this off and keep him and use the Texas money to their advantage…but if Boras knows through back channels that SF will do what I posted above (32 million a year, with escalator clauses) for 7, maybe even 8 years, then I think there is no question he will opt out and the Yankees will be hard pressed to go that far to keep him.
“Over the next 5 years the area where we are going to have the biggest competitive advantage over the Sox is that minor league system. The Red Sox don’t have much in their system and they are going to pay for it.”
I don’t believe that’s true at all. They have several interesting bats in their system Ellsbury, Moss, Anderson, etc. And a couple of fantastic arms in Buchholz and Bowden. With Clay being the best pitcher in the minor leagues.
_Hawk_
_July 13th, 2007 at 12:23 pm_
just think if the Yankees are outbid by Boston it means one thing: Steinbrenner has unfortunately passed away._
Didn’t the RedSox already out bid Yanks to get Dice-K. just imagine the Yanks rotation if the Yanks got Dice-K
Wang
Dice-K
Andy
Clemens
Hughes
And Mussina would have been the long reliever.
i think if he opts out, he’s gone, plain and simple. however, i think boras is just doing this to up the yankees offer for an extention. he’ll have the yanks bidding against the spector of the optout clause, and other teams bids, so in essence, bidding against themselves. and that’s one thing stein’s good at. we all know this will be a stein deal, not a cashman deal. long story short, it’ll be a record breaking contract, the only one bidding (or allowed to bid) is the yankees, arod doesn’t opt out, signs and extention, yankee fans love him, everyone on this board talks about how they knew he’d stay, and it was everyone else who was saying that he’d leave, jeter and arod make up, posada and mo get signed, and the partridge family sings the national anthem at next years all star game, and all the miss america contestants list world peace as their asperations.
_Hawk_
_July 13th, 2007 at 12:23 pm_
_just think if the Yankees are outbid by Boston it means one thing: Steinbrenner has unfortunately passed away._
Didn’t the RedSox already out bid Yanks to get Dice-K. just imagine the Yanks rotation if the Yanks got Dice-K
Wang
Dice-K
Andy
Clemens
Hughes
And Mussina would have been the long reliever.
Bring Alex back. Please.
“Didn’t the RedSox already out bid Yanks to get Dice-K. just imagine the Yanks rotation if the Yanks got Dice-K”
yes.
but one side had no way of knowing what the other side was bidding.
it’s a little more convoluted, i think.
Boras doesn’t really need the Yanks in bidding…didn’t A-r-do secure a $252M contract w/o the Yankees being involved.
Meant to say A-rod
yeah, but do you really think boras didn’t float the yanks name as a potential suitor?
Probably not, we were all set at SS at the time and A-Rod wasn’t in a position where he would be willing/need to move to 3rd. Instead, he played the Mets.
Steve:
i said it makes sense for them to stay together and once Boras reads the market, my guess is that is what they will do. But given their refusal to negotiate, it certainly does suggest they want to opt out, doesn’t it?
My point from Day 1 on this thing is that the opt-out clause is only a tool for Alex to make more money. Whether he opts out or not, he will get more money, that much is obvious. Whether he actually opts out or not is just a detail. He will get more money.
There was never a chance Alex would simply stay under the terms of his original deal. The A-Rod fan boys wanted to believe that and now that it’s clearly not true, they’re trying to spin it to make the media look bad.
What I wrote in spring training remains the case: Alex will use the clause to increase his wealth, which is his right. This idea that he has embraced New York or whatever is silly. It’s always, always, always about the money.
At the moment, I just want us to make the playoffs. Hopefully, Hillenbrand isn’t coming. Maybe we can promote Britton and Henn. I wonder who the position player will be when we make that change. I think Myers could be DFA or Bruney gets demoted.
I agree with Pete. It’s all about the money.
Boras will know before Arod opts out what the other teams are willing to do.
If the Yankees lose him, there will probably be tampering charges filed up and down, because you don’t walk away from 90 plus million w/o knowing for sure you’re gonna come close to tripling that amount. The only way he walks is that he knows he’ll make more on another team than he would with the Yankees.
If Boras know that there isn’t a team willing to do a 7-8 year deal with Arod with an avg of 32 million a year, he will work out an extension with the Yankees and he won’t opt out.
I think there are teams that would do that though.
If there’s even a glimmer of hope that he can get that kind of deal for Arod, I think his Yankee days are over and out.
I think even Steinbrenner will balk at giving Arod a quarter of a billion dollars to stay here until he turns 40.
Adam,
Check Bowden’s stats so far in AA…Not good. As far as I know Bucholz and Bowden are the only two good pitching prospects the sox have, as Hansen and Bard aren’t exactly looking great. Compare that to what the Yanks have and its not even fair.
I forgot about Lester, but still thats only three guys compared to Horne, Kennedy, Joba, Marquez, Betances, Mcallister, Kontos, Clippard, Heredia, and the list goes on.
Its all about his legacy, a monument out in monuments park, getting the New York Yankees to the WS in 2007 and beyond, Hall of Fame as a Yankee, the best Yankee 3rd baseman in history etc. He will stay a Yankee, as Michael Kay said, Arod in Pinstripes is like hanging the Mona Lisa in the Louvre, its the only place that it belongs. A lot will be written about him going to this team or that team but he is staying guaranteed. Mark it down.
I didn’t say their system was even to ours, just that their cupboard isn’t bare.
_dontfirecash_
_July 13th, 2007 at 3:41 pm_
_I forgot about Lester, but still thats only three guys compared to Horne, Kennedy, Joba, Marquez, Betances, Mcallister, Kontos, Clippard, Heredia, and the list goes on._
It is foolish to mention all the pitching prospects that r playing in the yanks minors and expect each and every one of them to be hall-of famer. Let’s compare. Lester & Huges are/were the top pitching prospects, both got a taste of majors. Kennedy & Joba have good upside So do Buccholtz & Bowden. Let’s compare side by side
Lester Vs Hughes (or Hughes Vs Buccholz would be a much better comparision based on the talent but Lester & Hughes are the only one’s who tasted the majors.)
Buccholz Vs Joba
Bowden Vs Kennedy
After seeing Clippard pitch in Majors I don’t think he has mcu upside. U Already mentioned the Yanks pitching Prospects. The Sox are deep as well in the pitching prospects. Some of the Sox pitching prospects that come out on the top of my head are Gabbard, Hansack, Masterson. Bard has been bad so far but he has very good upside.
And by the way in addition to the pitching depth in minors the Sox are much better depth in the positional prospects. Ellsbury, Moss, Murphy, Anderson etc.
“It’s always, always, always about the money.”
Maybe, but he has no rings and dies every time he thinks about Jeter having 4.
A-Rod wants money, sure, but what he does over the next 5 – 7 years (his next contract) seals his place in baseball history. Does he want to be remembered as a record holder or as a winner, a Hank Aaron or a Mickey Mantle? If it’s the latter, he needs to go with a winner, not just the biggest paycheck.
As far as I’m concerned, ARod’s “legacy” is that of a supremely talented baseball player with the baseball instincts of a Little Leaguer. If he wants pinstripes, he could play for the Phillies or wear the road pinstripes of the Twins — if either team were inclined to get into the bidding war that’s already being orchestrated by Scott Boras.
BTW, none of these $30M/year-and-up estimates of what ARod will command would even be entertained as subjects of discussion if Boras hadn’t already laid the groundwork by dropping hints. Right now the discussion has moved to the $40M/year range, and who do you think fueled those escalating estimates? Yeah, Scott Boras.
The more he gets the media to report these figures, and fans and team front office personnel to talk about these figures, the more it becomes “possible” and the less people shudder and cringe at hearing these figures.
Trust me, by the time the season ends, people will be talking about ARod getting $50M/year for 6 years without batting an eyelash. Boras will be rubbing his hands with glee, and ARod will be playing in some warm-weather-all-year-around venue with an owner every bit as wealthy as George Steinbrenner…
Legacy my foot. ARod’s true legacy is the same as Scott Boras’. Top dollar.
BTW, there’s an article by John Brattain of The Hardball Times that backs up what I’ve said above. Go to http://www.hardballtimes.com/m.....-by-boras/ for a taste of what’s to come…
Karen –
Yeah, Scott Boras is a pro. He knows exactly what he’s doing and nothing is by chance, no words ever said without being completely measured beforehand.
I would love for A-Rod to remain on the Yankees because he’s good and because it would be a lot of fun to watch him do all these baseball things in pinstripes.
But if he goes, life goes on. For me and for the Yankees.
People he’s not going anywhere believe me, it makes for a good discussion but that it.
“i think if he opts out, he’s gone, plain and simple. however, i think boras is just doing this to up the yankees offer for an extention. he’ll have the yanks bidding against the spector of the optout clause, and other teams bids, so in essence, bidding against themselves. and that’s one thing stein’s good at. we all know this will be a stein deal, not a cashman deal. long story short, it’ll be a record breaking contract, the only one bidding (or allowed to bid) is the yankees, arod doesn’t opt out, signs and extention, yankee fans love him, everyone on this board talks about how they knew he’d stay, and it was everyone else who was saying that he’d leave, jeter and arod make up, posada and mo get signed, and the partridge family sings the national anthem at next years all star game, and all the miss america contestants list world peace as their asperations.”
Will, You and I agree completely.
Pete: You better hope so, but you’ve been dead wrong often this year. The worst was your full-on rip job of Rick Sutcliffe who said in early May that Pavano would not be back based on what Pavano told Suttcliffe about CP’s injured arm.
DFC: I’d love it to be true that Horne, Kennedy, Joba, Marquez, Betances, Mcallister, Kontos, Clippard, Heredia, and Sanchez and Cox (you forgot the last two) are all big time prospects, but it won’t happen. Marquez and Clippard are borderliners at best, Heredia and Betances are babies so who knows what will happen, Kontos seems like a set-up man at best. It’d be great if Kennedy, Joba the Hutt and Horne pan out, but don’t bet on it. After all, I thought we’d ripped off the Marlins years ago by getting Yarnall, Johnson and Noel for Mike Lowell — they kept their top prospects and added a piece to a championship puzzle and the Yanks got nothing of use.
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