A-Rod the owner? Seems unlikely
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By now you may have heard about the story New York magazine did on Alex Rodriguez. In essence, a source claims that Scott Boras has negotiated a 10-year, $300 million deal with a prospective owner of the Cubs that will include a chance for Rodriguez to purchase part of the team.
The writer is Will Leitch of Deadspin fame.
It’s hard to believe on several fronts. The sale of the Cubs is not likely to be completed until January, if then. If Rodriguez were to become a free agent, it’s unlikely he would wait so long to sign with a team.
If a prospective ownership group were discovered to be negotiating with a player under contract with another team, that would be grounds for their bid to be terminated. Rodriguez is good. But no player is good enough to take that risk.
The leading contender for the Cubs is an investment group leaded by John Canning Jr., a friend of commissioner Bud Selig. It’s hard to believe Canning would go behind Selig’s back in such a way.
Finally, would Boras really risk his entire empire by doing such a thing? Agents talk to owners all the time. But if Boras was found to be negotiating such a deal six months ahead of time while Rodriguez was still playing for the Yankees, he would lose whatever trust he has built up with the 29 other teams.
It’s a well-written story. But nobody is quoted. A-Rod may not be Churchill, but he’s available twice a day, every day if you have a question. As for Boras, if you can’t get him to talk about Alex, you’re just not trying.
Which may well be the case. Maybe the writer didn’t want anybody to refute his source.
You also need to consider the source of the story. New York is a good read if you find a new sushi restaurant or you’re dying for the gossip about Fashion Week. But sports?
But get used to it. Between now and whenever a final decision is made, there will be dozens of stories referencing dozens of sources about what A-Rod will do. Most will be abject speculation. Throwing something up there and seeing if it sticks is part of the business.
What is certain is this: The Yankees drew 4.2 million people to the Stadium and that’s an awful lot of Cokes, hot dogs and $30 caps. With a new stadium rising and YES on the air, the only real surprise will be if Rodriguez ever gets to free agency in the first place.
UPDATE, 11:33 p.m.: Somebody did ask Rodriguez today – hey, actual reporting! – and he called the report “nonsense.”
This from Scott Boras: “Great players with great demand create great rumors. While I would enjoy having lunch with Mark Cuban and Canning, at this point of the year that conversation would not include Alex Rodriguez. I have not talked to anyone.”
Cuban is also bidding for the team.
Boras also pointed out that it’s against MLB rules for a player to have equity or potential equity in a franchise. So unless Boras figured a way around that, it’s another strike against that story.
This entry was posted
on Sunday, September 23rd, 2007 at 7:52 pm by Peter Abraham.
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Chad Jennings
Sam Borden
Josh Thomson
I also think this is a lot the usual hot air you find coming from Boras when one his clients is about to hit the market.
I also think, however, that the next owner of the Cubs has been predetermined by Selig. The ownership circle is an exclusive club, and Bud tries his hardest to only let in allies. This happened around 2002 when Selig awarded the Sox to John Henry over the Dolans, even though they had offered more money. Hopefully when the Steinbrenner family sells — and I think this is guaranteed once George passes away — Selig will ensure that Cablevision never gets its incompetent paws on the Yanks.
Does this make Leitch a sellout, writing for the mainstream media?
Pete,
Completely agree, No way the Yankees let Arod opt out. They have 30 mil from Texas which is a huge advantage on top of their already huge advantage of being the richest and prettiest Belle at the Ball. My guess is that Cashman will ink him to an extension at 30 mil per give or take for 7 years.
I bet the only one that Boras is talking to is Cashman. Ten days is a short period of time to hammer out all the details on what must be a complicated contract. Part of the talking is probably how much that waiving that opt-out clause is going to cost.
I guess it must be a slow news day when you resort to speculation for news !!!!!!
Agree with everything you said Pete when I read the story this morning.
I would be shocked if the Yankees let Alex head into free-agency without him staring down the barrel of absurd financial compensation.
Why would ARod need a deal in place now that would allow him to acquire an ownership interest in a team 10 years from now? Presumably, with his money, he could become a part owner of any number of teams down the road, if that’s what he wants to do.
The thought of the Yankees with out Steinbrenner at the Helm, scares the heck out of me…Ironic that I would never have said this Back in the days of Howie Spira. I only hope someone like Trump buys them. He is an ego maniac just like Goerge and would never settle for less than WS after WS after WS….If the Dolans get them I will move to Boston and root for the Sox! I despise everything that James Dolan stands for…..
I was 99% sure that it was complete BS…thanks for the info, Pete…as always…YOU ROCK !
Don’t forget all the Joba shirts sold!
I was 99% sure that it was complete BS…thanks for the info, Pete…as always…YOU ROCK !!!!!
sorry for the duplicate comment….computer froze up…
Let’s not forget that there is a little thing called “tampering” that can be put out there by the Yankees that could lead to endless amounts of law suits. This is just another “blogger gone wild” with a mainstream platform.
This is the reason why bloggers don’t get press passes and sports writers do.
Thanks for the info Pete, I just saw this on ESPN.com and came right here for the real scoop.
I have to say though, that when I read it, my stomach sank. I hope he doesn’t go anywhere.
Leitch has been a sell-out for a while, he covered March Madness for the Times. It’s funny that he fancies himself a legitimate reporter. He was the one that “broke” the story last season about Albert Pujols being named in the Jason Grimsley affidavit, which turned out to be a completely false report that blew up in his face. Leitch should stick to making snarky, not-particularly-funny comments and posting YouTube videos, and stop trying to break the sports story of the year. Which is why I find myself reading less and less of Deadspin and more of this blog…thanks to Pete for putting the report into perspective.
The Yankees could match anything the Cubs offer and than some. Hell if he wants a piece of the Yankees, why not? Steinbrenners Kids don’t seem to want it….
Pete,
What can the Yankees get as compensation if the Cubbies are Tampering?
From the ESPN article:
Yankees’ executive Randy Levine responded harshly to the magazine piece.
“It’s a silly story, and we don’t believe it,” he told ESPN.com’s Buster Olney on Sunday evening. “However, if it was true, it would be grounds to disqualify the applicant even before he went through the process, because it would demonstrate a disregard for major league rules and procedures, and we’re confident the commissioner would feel the same way.”
I must say that the article was indeed interesting. However, I don’t believe any article speculating about A-rod and opt-out clause because it’s almost always 100% speculation on the part of the writer. But what really gets me is that ESPN is reporting this story as if he came from a legit source. Seriously, ESPN has gotten way too sensationalistic when it comes to these stories.
“hello”:
Not only that, but ESPN hates Leitch and Deadspin, and then turns around and makes one of his stories a top headline. They all suck.
One thing if Arod wants to stay the Yankees will make it happen. However, if he wants out, he’s gone. IMO he finaly has what he wants here and will retire a Yankee.
Pete, thank you for your insight!
MJL, that’s interesting I didn’t know that. The guy who wrote this story though is garnering a lot of publicity for himself and his magazine.
Hey Pete,
This was an excellent blog. One of the best I have read. Awesome.
Wren’t there thoughts the Red Sox tampered to get J.D. Drew to sign with them – the Dodgers did not pusue it so maybe they think they can get away with it and Drew is a Borsa client but as you say why would he be so reckless now
Yes, I’ve watched the Yankees for years, but since I found this blog, it’s like it takes everything to another level. Thanks, Pete, for the time you spend here. It’s much appreciated!!!
ESPN reports it as news in the hopes of disrupting ARod in time for the playoffs. Suckers.
They are really sweating it at NESPN. Yanks win tomorrow and the Sox have to go 5-1 to take the division, because the Yankees are going 5-2 at worst the rest of the way.
A Rod WILL test the free agency waters. Boras is hoping to find another Tom Hicks.
MJL,
Gotta agree with you about Leitch. I started reading deadspin about a year ago and I’ve noticed it go sharply downhill in that time. Will is hit or miss and the comment section is nothing more that a giant game of kiss-a** for Will, no offense to anyone who has an account there.
Personally, my first two sports site visits are here, and The Big Lead, who I think strike the PERFECT balance between news, humor, YouTube videos, and general stupidity.
Now the story is on the front page of Yahoo! I’m starting to think there may be a little truth to it.
Scooter,
Because the media would never, ever do something like rush to a story only to look stuid later on…
My grandaddy used to always tell me not to believe everything I hear and only half of what I see.
Any story involving A-rod whether true or false is going to be front page news.
posada and mariano need to be priority 1 in the offseason
Mike:
Good to know I’m not the only one who feels that way about Deadspin. Leitch is certainly a pioneer on the sports blog front but it’s clear that he wants to think of himself as a legitimate reporter while he simply isn’t. I can’t even read the comments because everyone thinks they’re much funnier then they really are. And the new weekend editors are borderline unreadable. Leitch had a major chance to make his platform heard this summer when he was on “The Dan Patrick Show”, and instead he turned it into a big joke. He’s also a contributor on Fox News’ “Red Eye”, which is easily the worst show on television. I have never checked out The Big Lead but I will now on your recommendation – I need a new blog to read in addition to this one and to replace Deadspin.
All A-Rod controversy this year seemed to light a fire under him and didn’t impact his play negatively. A little pre- postseason controversy is all good.
Also wanted to comment on this A-Rod business, and start out by completely ignoring the Cubs report because it simply doesn’t make any sense and Leitch didn’t quote any sources, as Pete pointed out. On one hand, it’s all but guaranteed that Alex will opt out simply because he is a Boras client. Boras and Alex are businessmen, and like any business their goal is to make the most money possible.
On the other hand, Alex automatically cripples any team he plays for besides the Yankees by consuming a significant portion of its payroll and hindering its ability to develop young pitching, pursue other mid-market free agents, etc. as we saw during his tenure with Texas. Alex is a greedy SOB but he’s also a fierce competitor who wants to win, and wants to win now. His best chance to win a ring is with the Yankees, and no one, not even he nor Boras can deny that. And if he wants to retire with ANY sort of positive legacy, he needs to decide to NOT opt out this year and finish his career in pinstripes.
On my third hand, which doesn’t exist but I’ll make it up for the sake of argument, we all know who calls the shots in the organization. Cashman can say all he wants that they won’t negotiate with him should he opt out, but if Steinbrenner wants to keep him around, he’ll find the money to do so. He wants at least one more championship, and keeping A-Rod on the Yankees and away from the Red Sox certainly helps his cause. So even if Alex opts out, there’s still a possibility he’s back next year because the Boss gets what he wants. Heck, he threw $28 Mill at Clemens for a 6-6 record and a sketchy health situation, he’ll have no problem with giving A-Rod 30-35 Million to stick around.
Sorry for the lengthy post but I’ve been wanting to get this off my chest all summer and finally found the forum to do so. GO YANKEES
I may be totally naieve, but I dont think Alex is opting out. I bet he wants to be a Yankee and have that plaque in Monument Park. Hes going to show us that hes a team player and stay right where he is. Just my thought (hope).
MJL, I still think the Steinbrenner, (Also a Businessman) will have A-Rod signed to an extension b4 he opts out. The money from the Rangers will allow the Yankees to give A-Rod an extension that would exceed any offer he would get elsewhere…Add the NY advertising $ factor and this is a no-brainer for any astute businessman….
I don’t know, Pete. The story seems plausible to me and I don’t buy any of your arguments debunking it.
Ethics wise, guys with the coin to buy ballclubs are used to playing by their own rules, and that Milwaukee used car salesman, and everyone else on the ownership committee, would like nothing more than to see Arod out of Pinstripes. Timing wise, Boras always waits the market out w/ his free agents so January isn’t out of the question. As to Boras being afraid of losing the “trust” of owners, I’m gonna assume you were being sarcastic on that one.
The wildcard is what the Yankees (and whoever the hell is running things now) are prepared to do.
I don’t see it happening, but if Arod wet his pants again this year, and we got dropped on our head in the first round, there is no way the team breaks the bank to keep him. None.
If he rips it up and we fall short, or he plays okay and we win it all, or (best case scenario) he rips it up and we win it all, are Steinbrenner’s kids going to sign off on the kind of massive package it would take to keep him?
If their business sharps are anythng like their spouse selection skills, I’m figuring they plan to sell the team five minutes after the Boss is in the ground or declared mentally unfit, whichever they can bring about soonest. For their short term view, having Arod’s big number on the balance sheet hurts the sale price and drains cash, nothing else.
Also, you’ve got to wonder why he’d even want to come back if he got a ring this year. No matter what he does, as long as Jeter is here the team will never truly be his. A championship would give him perfect cover to declare victory, grab the extra cash, and move on to “new challenges” in a town like Chicago where he’ll get the unconditional love he will never have in the Bronx.
Bottom line, if he doesn’t deliver this year, when all his ducks are in a row, and/or if the Boss isn’t the one pulling the strings come November, I say there’s no way he comes back.
Just wanted to echo everyones sentiment. Leitch really dissapoints me here. I have a lot of respect for him, Iracane, and Rick and I will continue to do so for Iracane and Rick but this is just ridiculous.
I guess when it comes down to it, Will’s ONLY a blogger for a reason. This piece is a prime example.
randyhater – how does having AROD on the balance sheet of the most profitable sports franchise in the history of the world hurt its prospective sales figure?
He is a HUGE asset on the field and on the balance sheet.
It is a no brainer.
” if he doesn’t deliver this year”
Wake up, Arod delivered from day one. He and Posada are the only two
VOIII:
An extension is always a possiblity, I was just going on the information at hand, which is that A-Rod and Boras already said a few months ago that they will not negotiate an extension.
MJL
That is “negotiate and extension DURING the season.” Not “EVER negotiate an extension.”
Yo, Randyhater:
What are you talking about? The team is totally his, the town is totally his.
Unconditional love in Chicago???
The family sells the team???
What planet do you live on? The planet earth, perhaps, within 50 miles of the Charles river?
If the above is the case, 1 game out with 6 to play, and nobody worth a lick except Beckett, who is due for a crappy game.
the deadspin dude has it all wrong
my sources say Boras is talking to the Dodgers for a piece of “Megan Fox”:http://cdn.maximonline.com/girls/megan_fox/megan-fox-gm_l1.jpg
The story sounds credible based on the way Selig operates MLB, Inc. He does whatever he wants, no one questions him. Often, I think ESPN=MLB–they are business partners. The best idea here was to offer Arod a piece of the Yankees. Steinbrenner’s kids aren’t into it, so this would be good.
All, As someone once said “opinions are like a$$-holes, everybody’s got one) We are all just speculating, as none of us knows what is in A-Rod’s heart. I do know this however…the Yankees were fine with out A-Rod before and they’ll be alright with out him again, if that’s the way he chooses. I do know he does have a respect for the history of the game and his place in it. I believe he will choose to own the record books as a Yankee. If not so be it, The Yankees farm system is loaded and they are on the path to another dynasty. Pitching and defense wins in October. Loosing ARod’s bat would still leave the Yankees with enough offense to win it all, as long as they get the pitching, if not one bat no matter how great will not matter. I would also question why A-Rod has a career year on his opt-out year, We may not get what we pay for if we do sign him…
Sherri-
I always tell my girlfriend, “who ya gonna believe, me or your lying eyes?”
It almost always works!!
Jamie,
If they’re looking to sell the team they’re going to look to cut the payroll. Less expenses = more net income = higher sale price.
Migames,
We both know what I’m talking about. If you think the current Yankee/Arod love affair would survive another 1 for 26 first round embarassment, you’re living in a fantasyland.
Not saying I think that’s going to happen. I believe today what I’ve believed every day of this season: we’re winning the division, the pennant and the World Series.
But if he ever spit it up again, with the season he’s had and with the team and fans behind him the way they are, you really think they’d bring him back, with a big raise to boot? No chance.
Cuban will never be approved to buy the Cubs.
I’ve done a bit of a reversal on my thoughts about Arod’s potential opt out. For most of the season I’ve been saying that it would be catastrophic for the Yankees to lose the best player in baseball because of money and only get draft picks in return.
At this point in the season, I feel differently.
If Arod wants to walk away from a team set up like the Yankees are with young stud pitching already here, more stud pitching on the way, financial ability to pay the best players when they need to, the best city in the world and a chance to become one of the all time Yankee greats who might break Barry Bonds’ tainted record and be known as the best player that ever lived, he can go. I don’t want him on this team if he’s willing to walk away from all of that and the ridiculous money the Yankees can offer him.
If Arod moves to another city, it once again cheapens what he’s done. He becomes a mercenary. Team Arod. When all is said done and his career is over, I think he’ll look back and wish he stayed in NY. I also think he’ll be watching us in the playoffs in the next 5 years instead of participating.
It would suck to have to get another 3b and cleanup hitter next season, but if he’d rather take $1 more to play in Boston, Anaheim, Chicago or wherever, then he should go. Seriously. This team is going to keep winning without him.
We’re stacked and stocked for another dynasty run built around young arms. We’re already ahead of the timetable. If he wants to walk away from that, he’s a fool.
A-Rod isn’t opting out. Book it.
I don’t think that A-Rod will ever be a Cub. I think that he’ll help us win a World Series this year and spend possibly the rest of his career as a Yankee. You can look at him and tell how much fun that he’s having. Why mess with that?
On another note, there’s a slim, slim chance that Mark Cuban becomes the owner of the Cubs. He’s one headache that Bud Selig absolutely does not need. Cuban already causes David Stern enough problems. Let him run his Mavericks and leave the baseball world alone. Maybe Cuban should suit up and become a quarterback for the Bears. That performance by Rex Grossman against the Cowboys was pathetic, as usual for him.
Something seriously out of the ordinary would have to be involved for A-Rod to end up opting out instead of getting an extension from the Yankees.
As we all know the Yankees have the most money to work with of any team in baseball AND if they extend his contract they have Texas paying for 21 million of his contract over the next 3 seasons. In other words the Yankees can give A-Rod 20 million more than any other team and still actually pay less than any other team would. Boras knows this. He always goes for the most money and that’s right here. Furthermore if he opts out I’d imagine that the Yankees are gone as bidders which is never good for Boras.
A-Rod will be a Yankee for a long time unless he really doesn’t want to be.
I knew this was bogus. That’s why I love coming here instead of ESPN.com, etc. because you’re at least logical. Instead, these other sites are putting up ridiculous stories like this as “news” 9___9
I would also question why A-Rod has a career year on his opt-out year, We may not get what we pay for if we do sign him…
It probably has more to do with Alex coming back with something to prove to New York and the media AND the fact that he usually has GREAT odd years for some reason (2003, 2005??) than it has to do with his OPT clause. Although that may have helped a bit in his ability to relax because he could say screw you all if you treat me like crap again!
Dr. Acula – Hey, whatever works, man!
That’s funny.
Not impossible for the story to have been leaked by Boras or a surrogate just for the sake of atmospherics, if ya know what I mean!
This is all for the off-season but I guess the stories must be addressed…..bottom line if Arod wants to stay and get his own plaque in Yankee Stadium and help us win multiple world series he signs an extension with he Yankees for 30 million per…if he opts out he and boras know they are taking the Yankees out of it completely…boras secretly hates that the $$$$ from Texas is part of this, it gives the Yankees a reason to walk away if Arod opts out…Boras hates that other teams can’t bid and raise the Yankees price…Arod should just tell Boras to negotiate the extension and that’s it….if he opts out he gets less from some other team(Giants, Cubs, Angels????) and will play baseball where it is nowhere like New York…maybe that’s what Arod wants, I’m not sure but one thing is for sure I think his October performance and how he does will play a role in his decision….with Arod looking to prove himself in October, Jaba, Petite and Clemens back, Posada and his monster year, and Jeters’ leadership I really think this team has what it takes this year to go all the way…that’s all that matters right now, we’ll worry about next season in November….
A-Rod’s OPS is currently 1.059 and while that is his highest mark so far I wouldn’t really call it a traditional “career year.” He has had an OPS over 1.000 five other times.
i would just imagine, arod sorta kinda maybe likes going to work each day, knowing the odds he is going to win, makes a itty bitty baby difference. the most money will be in ny, along with the most fun, you can not have to much of either.
er, so i’m told!
Do people really think Boras will let us use the Texas money to get a “discount”? If anything he’s going to expect what another team can afford + the Texas money from us.
Why wouldn’t Boras want Texas’s money? Opting out is basically giving Texas their money back. Why do you think he would want to do that?
You really think Boras is going turn into a 5 year old saying “NOOOOO! No discount for you haha” when it means less money for his client?
Throwing away all of that money simply because he doesn’t like the idea of us getting a discount is silly. Boras isn’t silly when it comes to money.
We can give him 10-20 mill more than any other team and still pay less which will make Boras/A-Rod happy and the Yankees happy.
You’re misunderstanding what I’m saying. If A-Rod can get $32 million/year from another team, Boras is going to want $32 million/year + the Rangers money from the Yankees or he’ll opt out.
in my opinion , a-rod is gone .
The day Trump buys the Yankees is the day I stop being a Yankees fan.
As far as the Cubs story, everyone knows Arod sells and looks like this magazine wanted some attention and obviously they got it. The story is so crazy it was hard to believe from the start.
Controversy over Leitch’s rep aside, bloggers can and have been legitimate reporters of the news. A lot of them do get press passes and have broken stories that the mainstream media couldn’t be bothered with investigating. The lines have totally blurred. The only difference I think is that independents have to work that much harder to establish credibility. People see an AP story and see it as absolutely legitimate even though there are both bloggers AND mainstream media reporters who report innacurate news that never pans out (for reference, see the mainstream media’s lead-up to the Gulf War–aluminum tubing, anyone?).
Whatever the forum, accuracy matters and those who cry wolf too often usually pay for it. If this story turns out to be false, it’s going to be a huge blow for Leitch and his reputation, especially because he’s an independent reporter and doesn’t have a news organization behind him to lessen the fall. Perhaps it won’t be fatal, but people will really be questioning any stories he breaks from this point forward.
If Leitch is wrong, he can always get a job at ESPN. Always being wrong has not hurt Peter Gammons or Steve Phillips career there.
“You’re misunderstanding what I’m saying. If A-Rod can get $32 million/year from another team, Boras is going to want $32 million/year + the Rangers money from the Yankees or he’ll opt out.”
No, I understand you. Not sure you are getting what I’m saying though.
If 30 million per year from us + the Rangers money is more than 32 mill a year why would he opt out?
This is what I mean. We pay him less but the Rangers money more than makes up for it. It’s a win/win for A-Rod and the Yankees.
Las-
_The lines have totally blurred. The only difference I think is that independents have to work that much harder to establish credibility._
well said, well spoken, all the way around, but let me add on this point.
I had a really popular and well known byline at a major blog (achieving cult status in some quarters) and yet some subjects wouldn’t still decline my request for an interview or for a quote, even when they were actively doing press elsewhere. Two of the oddest rejections, in my opinion, were from Ralph Nader (”man of the people”) and Aaron McGruder (whom I love).
ps one my buddies is a really sharp reporter, who blogs as a hobby, and she echo’s your view.
For all his good-deeds, I sense that Ralph has some prickish tendencies.
And what pray tell is this cult-status blog of which you speak?? I demand an answer! Lol.
Dr. Acula -
Aaron McGruder is one of the most reclusive people in Hollywood, so it isn’t too odd that he rejected you. Boondocks is an excellent show though.
Las- I was the one with the unexpected quasi-cult status, not the blog(Dailykos). But cult in a good way, like hunter s thompson, not in a Joseph conrad/heart of darkness way. I’m too offbeat and curious to be conventional.
MJL- I love huey and riley