Breaking news: A-Rod opts out
Posted by: Peter Abraham - Posted in Misc on Oct 28, 2007 
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Sports Illustrated’s web site is reporting that Alex Rodriguez will opt out of his contract and become a free agent.
If the Yankees hold true to their vow not to pursue him as a free agent, his tenure with the team is over after four seasons.
Given that Rodriguez made his decision without first negotiating with the Yankees, it appears he never had any intention of staying in New York.
UPDATE, 11:21 p.m.: Scott Boras is claiming that Alex Rodriguez made his decision to opt-out based on the uncertain status of Jorge Posada, Mariano Rivera and Andy Pettitte. Posada and Rivera are free agents while Pettitte has a player option for next season.
“Alex’s decision was one based on not knowing what his closer, his catcher and one of his statured pitchers was going to do,” Boras said. “He really didn’t want to make any decisions until he knew what they were going.”
However, Rodriguez had until 10 days after the World Series to inform the Yankees of his plans. The team has said it would make lucrative offers to Posada and Rivera while Pettitte was expected to decide his future early next month.
One thing for certain: We now know the answer to the question of who is the biggest phony in sports history.
Wow.
NA NA NA NA
NA NA NA NA
HEY HEY HEY
GOOOOOOOOOOOOOD BYEEEE
good riddance. he’s too much of a coward to handle new york.
What?!!! This must be a joke!! I can’t believe this. What an idiot.
What a jerk,he didn’t even give Yanks a chance to present an offer. Let him walk, we lost with him, we can lose without him…………
As I said, if you don’t want to be here, we don’t want you here.
Wonderful.
screw him for leading us on like that
This and potential sox sweep in the same night. What a night. Arod, if it wasn’t meant to be it just wasn’t meant to be. I think Paul Byrd told us that.
The Yankees won without him. The have not won with win.LOife goesa on. The Yankees will find a way to replace his production. Granted, it might take a couple of years but that’s life. I wanted A-Rod to stay but The Yankees cannot be held for ransom.
I’m a big Alex Rodriguez fan and will miss him alot, but I’m a Yankees fan first so Alex like Hank told you “Good luck”
Bring on Miguel Cabrera.
Damn, that is somewhat of a surprise.
I get the feeling much of Yankeedom is about to explode with sour grapes.
A majority of Yankees fans wanted Alex to stay, now everyone will say “good riddance, who needs you?”
lol at him saying “I want to be here, I’ve come full circle in NY.” Maybe he should try a career in acting after his baseball career is over.
Lowell will look good in pinstripes again.
If Sports Illustrated is correct, then A-Rod never ever was a true Yankee in his heart. He’s all about the money and his ego. So Long, farewell and thanks for the four years (two of them MVP years)
This just on the Keith Law Game Chat…
Matt (Madison): Alex Rodriguez notified the Yankees on Sunday that he’s opting out of his record $252 million contract, SI.com has learned.
SportsNation Keith Law: (10:29 PM ET ) That particular writer gets a lot of info straight from the Boras Corporation, so let’s see how this plays out (he doesn’t have to decide to opt out yet, and there’s no reason for him to formally do so until the deadline) before we get too excited.
I’d call myself a huge A-Rod fan, and argued for him, and regarding his value to the team for every year he was here. But if he opts out — in other words, if this is true — and without even negotiating with the Yankees?
Good riddance.
yanks would have to give up a package of hughes/joba and melky for cabrera. no way that’s happening
This is a great day for us Yankee fans. Further proof of why we never liked him. He’s a choking, lying phony. Good riddance.
I wonder if he was told who the manager was going to be and did not like the choice?
If Sports Illustrated is correct, then A-Rod never ever was a true Yankee in his heart. So long, farewell and thanks for the four years and 2 MVPs. It was fun. But parting is not all that sorrowful if you don’t want us (though you said you did).
The guy couldn’t even show up tonight to pick up his Hank Aaron award. That says something … (He’s no Hank Aaron)
Good riddance if he didn’t even talk to the Yankees.
Que Sera, Sera
Whatever Will Be, Will Be…
So that’s that. I think the Yankees need to stick to their guns on this one.
Stephen, just to be clear. The Yankees will, or already have, make him a huge offer. Probably more than anyone else can afford. And they can do that, in part, because the Rangers are still on the hook for some dough. But if A-Rod wants to play the larger game and see what’s out there? Okay. But he’ll do it without the Yankees, and without their ability to drive up the bidding.
This is a classic Boros maneuver. It’s great for his rep. Less so for his client.
lol if this is true, then this just proves that he cares more about the money than the team. Although I’m going to hold off the “pay-rod” bashing until there’s some sort of official announcement.
2008 season……hooooooo boy doesn’t look pretty……*rolls eyes*
And say no to Mike Lowell or Wilson Betemit @ 3B!
Cabrera would cost alot of prospects, Lowell is a horrible choice for a replacement, I’d rather move Cano or Gonzalez to 3B and Betemit or Gonzalez to 2B
I still think it’s a negotiating tool for him, it will be interesting to see how this plays out. Tom Hicks is sure to be popping some champagne right about now.
I wonder if this is a Boras ploy. Threaten to leave on the night the Yanks biggest rival looks like it will sweep the series. If the Yanks were evr going to panic and give into A-Rod, this would be the time they’d have the most leverage. We’ll see what happens.
Bolting without even giving the Yankees a listen? All that love the Yankees talk, love the fans, love NY… I’m just smiling at what a freakin’ push over I was to buy it even for a second. The thought of this guy’s cojones… Can’t wait to see where he winds up, the press conference where he dons the uniform of the next team he isn’t taking to the WS. I cannot imagine who is stupid enough to pay him what he wants without the $21 million subsidy.
Cash, if you’re out there, man, I hope you’re laughing. Have an ice cold beer or two, think of all the money and aggravation you just saved and go do something amazing.
I’ll bet he ends up in Boston. Yankees fans treated him like crap for most of his time in NY. All that “not a real Yankee” stuff. Unbelievable. Not a good day for Yankees fans.
A-Rod is a jackass.
Wonder if this has anything do with Joe G. being linked as the next manager. Maybe he doesn’t want some manager riding his butt when he makes an error or two. Wonder what the rest of the team will think of this situation. Me says, a lot of them will breath a sigh of relief- No more pretty boy around. What big bat can the Yankees get now?
and a-rod once again is the biggest scumbag in NY…. well out of it
I wonder what the chances are that this is just a ploy to get the Yanks to up their offer. I think it’s unlikely, but with Boras, you never know.
AROD:
YOU SUCK
da da da da
YOU SUCK
da da da da
You SUCK da da da da
October 28th, 2007 at 10:29 pm
Now we will hear how A-Rod is a greedy choke artist, well he will go put up his monster numbers up for someone else, I guess Hank was right tis really is going to be a team in transition….Me I’m going to go out and buy David Wright a first basemans glove, A-rod is buying that home in Greenwich CT. What a night for Yankee Fans A-Rod Bolts and the Sox win the World Series OH BABY !!!!!!!!!
Unreal. How much money does one need to play this game?
I wonder how much of this is true. When I hear the Yanks respond we will know. Is this Borsa spin/hard ball tactics…?
How much does someone need- consider people who lack healthcare or lose their life savings in long-temr care and $30 million is not enough – as Edward R. Murrow said Goodnight and Goodluck. I will add good bye and good riddance.
If I’m Girardi or Mattingly, I don’t take the job now. No one can succeed next year with an A-Rod-less Yankees.
Lets get Lowell!
yanks said they won’t sign him if he opts out, yet a-rod still opted out. shows you he doesn’t want to be here
The Rockies deserve to lose the WS..look at these characters singing during the 7th inning stretch. Wonder if these are the Hansen Brothers – plus a cousin of theirs?
Folks, a few weeks ago, ESPN was reporting that Torre had accepted the Yanks offer to manage in 2008.
Until and when a public announcement is made (and in this high-stakes game of chicken, until the opt out is actually exercised), I refuse to chastise A-Rod.
which ever team he goes to and he comes back to yankee stadium hes gonna get booed out of the stadium next year even if He goes to the N.L hes going to make the all star team
Trade Abreu if this is true.
I certainly want A-Rod back, but don’t think it’s the end of the world if he opts out and leaves. That’s almost $30 million in payroll that can be spent elsewhere. The Yankees would certainly miss the offense, but they have a deep line-up and if they could pick up a grinder as a replacement, it wouldn’t be the end of the world. Cashman should stick to his guns with A-Rod. Even a ten year contract at 30 million per could be devastating for a team at the end. The focus needs to continue to be pitching.
I’ve said it many many times Arod is a MERCENARY, a hireling
to the highest bidder.Now will you guys believe me. With him it’s all about the benjamins baby! Boras has worked his mojo on that head case.Good riddance to his act. NEXT!
“However, Boras said Rodriguez felt there was no way he could make a decision to stay in that short a period of time since several situations remain unsettled, including those of Mariano Rivera, Jorge Posada and Andy Pettitte.”
The excuses for him have begun.
I’m pretty sure it’s true, no matter what Keith Law says. The story is at the top of the nytimes.com website. Boras would lose any leverage if he said A-Rod is opting out and then changes his mind.
Relax and wait and see what happens. Until he opts out, no need to jump all over the guy. SI has been wrong before. Plus, it makes no sense for ARod to announce he is opting out right now. The Yanks need Pettite and Rivera next year more than they need Arod anyway – not that he wouldn’t be missed. We will see….
With A Rod gone that saves the Yankees almost $50 million, Torii hunter could be on his way to the Bronx.
I really wanted him on this team and thought he would stay. But obviously he knows he cant take the NY heat and is totally brain washed by Boras. All of his bull about wanting to be on this team but didnt even give the Yanks 5 minutes to hear about there offer. Everyone said this would go down to the last day but 11 days before the deadline he already knows he wants out. That shows he couldnt wait to get out of here. I guess moving around every couple of years doesnt bother him and winning a WS isnt that big on his list or contributing to one, he just goes where the money is.
I still like A-rod but here is why I don’t like him right now.
In 2001, he went to the Rangers becuase he wanted to win a world series. (the rangers)
In 2004 he agreed to a trade to come to the Yankees and get a bundle of money
now: he leaves the yankees for more money
all’s he wants is money he doens’t give a #$#@$ about a championship.
B:
“If I’m Girardi or Mattingly, I don’t take the job now. No one can succeed next year with an A-Rod-less Yankees.”
You’re team is winning the WS and you still have time to troll?
arod is aphony piece of cr-p. rot in hell you piece of garbage and may i wish you all the millions in the world and never have the pleasure of playing in a world seires game you LOSER
I hate Scott Boras. I would hate A-Rod, but I can’t. So I will direct my hate at Boras because he’s a little troll anyway.
Stephen said: “I get the feeling much of Yankeedom is about to explode with sour grapes. A majority of Yankees fans wanted Alex to stay, now everyone will say “good riddance, who needs you?â€?
It’s not sour grape, it’s Yankee Pride. I’m a big Arod fan, but have been waiting to see what he would do not just for the obvious reason concerning the team’s interest but I was curious about his real character. I’ve been thinking that if he chooses to stay – terrific. But if he turns out to be insincere about NY and chooses money over the team, then I’ll be glad he leaves. We’re not asking him to work for minimum wage, we’re offering a lot of money and a lot of team. If he still chooses to leave to make an extra buck or two (relatively), then he’s poison anyway. A winning team with real character and legacy like the Yankees cannot be built around someone with hallow attitudes like that. Just look at Barry Bonds. So I figured either way whether he stays or leaves, it works out for us in the long run.
Now that Rocket’s probably gone (for real this time), looks like it’s Joba turn. If, God forbid, Farnsy is still here, let him serve the suspension.
I read somewhere that as part of his insane contract that the team he leaves does NOT get compensatory draft picks from the new team that he signs with as a free agent.
Pete, do you know if this is true?
The more I hear about this story the more ticked off I get. Did Arod really take into consideration who is catcher, closer and starting pitcher would be when he signed his deal with texas. I doubt it because if he took a look at thier starting pitchers he would have never signed.
I think most media and fans will see through this PR spin that Boras and Arod are putting on this in a New York minute.
Itis really a shame as he could have gone down as one of the greatest Yankees ever. At this point he will be just another player.
And what happened to no news during the World Series i guess Boras thinks Arod is above that ban as well.
Arod is worried about what to provide for his great grandchild(Times 14)!
Boston Dave: ESPN says they got an email from Boras, and Sweeney has said something similar as well.
Dee’s got it right.
It’s about pride.
We want those that WANT to be here, that WANT the World Series.
Seattle won 116 games the year after A-Rod left them…
who knows what this means for the Yankees…
he didn’t want to be here plain and simple. that’s that. move on.
that being said this is a crappy day to be a yankee fan. the rag sox are about to win and arod will surely sign with them over the winter.
without even talking to management, he really didn’t want to be here. remember that yankee fans, he didn’t want to be a yankee. whatever he or boras says from here on in, he didn’t want to be a yankee
i hate him already.
Assuming this is true.
Why opt out so so quickly after the World Series? Declining the New York meeting, not even attempting to negotiating with the Yankees. This coming from a guy who was prancing the “I love New York tune” all year long.
Good riddance A-Rod, ya phony!
Wake Up !! All of this ESPN has been wrong before stuff is comical, read the story Boras is quoted. Half of you guys don’t want to believe it and the other half are killing the greatest player of our time for being a greedy choke artist. I’m waiting for someone to come on here and blame Pres. Bush for the whole thing… HOMERUN BOBBY KIELTY.. WHAT A NIGHT … The empire is crumbling from within and the Sox win the series…and tomorrow we say goodbye to Donnie Baseball as he goes back to the farm.
It could be a ploy by Boras to get the Yanks to make an emergency offer (especially with Boston about to win the series). It just makes zero sense to not wait a week or so to decide. Even if they had no intention of signing with NY, it makes no business sense to do this. It’s…. unBoras-like.
It could be a ploy by Boras to get the Yanks to make an emergency offer (especially with Boston about to win the series). It just makes zero sense to not wait a week or so to decide. Even if they had no intention of signing with NY, it makes no business sense to do this now. It’s…. unBoras-like.
I have been cycling through thoughts on this one. We wouldn’t have even made it to the playoffs without ARod’s production. On the other hand, I used to love hating him. I would feel so right about disliking him – it was almost better than loving other players. Now I can return to that intense dislike, and just in time – Barry might not be back.
Also, I kinda’ want Boston to get him. I want Boston to have a higher payroll than the Yankees. They already have precious few homegrown players, now if they will just bump up their payroll with a few more free agents, the Yankees can start being the scrappy, hard working, homegrown team of the AL East.
But, heavens, am I going to miss his VORP.
If you’re a Red Sox fan doesn’t the timing of this announcement seem a little out of place. Why would you announce this only a few hours before the Red Sox are going to win the World Series…seems like it steals a little of their thunder. Tomorrow’s headlines will be, “ARod Opts Out…and oh by the way the Red Sox won the World Series.” I’d be a little perturbed if I where the Red Sox and Bud Selig for that matter. No one player should be bigger than the game.
“Alex’s decision was one based on not knowing what his closer, his catcher and one of his statured pitchers was going to do,” Boras said. “He really didn’t want to make any decisions until he knew what they were going.”
Oh really Bor-ASS you had another 10 days to see what happened. What comes out of his mouth is such garbage like Mo or Posada are going anything. If Arod didnt realize yet Mo and Posada are on a TEAM, if he knows what that is. They have been on 1 for 12 years, you love the organization. So if you are offered $1.00 less to stay on the team or leave you dont care about the dollar, it means nothing to you. But obviously every last one means something to him. What a pig. The Yanks better put a muzzle on Hank because I can only imagine what he will have to say about Arod and his master over the next couple of days. Arod deserves it…I wonder what Cashman has to say about all of this??!!
Viking Coach,
ESPN isn’t the only one reporting it. It’s everywhere.
Maybe Boras just said things to take attention away from the World Series. Crazier things have happened.
well there goes the Yankees. Welcome back 1980′s.
all I can say is the Yankees better stick to their word.
and listen to what his blow hard of a agent said!
* “Alex’s decision was one based on not knowing what his closer, his catcher and one of his statured pitchers was going to do,” Boras said. “He really didn’t want to make any decisions until he knew what they were doing.”
What the heck?? He had 10 days after the ws to decide? He decides when the game is going on!! I was falling asleep only to hear that, that ahole of a third baseman was opting out! The Yankees better keep their word. I hope he goes to KC where he will never make the ws.!! YOU STINK ALEX!!
I am thinking no Yankeeography for Alex.
By the way, that means Girardi is the next Yankee manager. I’m sure A-Rod and.or Boras got word of the Yankees decision and A-Rod doesn’t want to play for Girardi.
Nice job Little Steinbrenners.
Well, I dont think Arod deserves to be blasted even if he does opt-out. I think it will be a huge mistake because he may never see the playoffs again, but it’s his choice.
Boras was soo nice to leave Cashman a voice mail because he didnt pick up the phone.
The Yankees cannot negotiate for him. Not after they went on and on how if he opts out he is gone. No agent will ever buy their bluff again.
I will not wish Alex luck, nor thank him for what he did in the regular season.
he opted out and now cashman has to blacklist every boras player from now on. we cant have this ego maniacal moron holding us hostage, we need to show him who is boss.
I vlove the clowns that say poor Arod was mistreated in NY.. Poor little arod, he got booed some and got paid about $100 mill for 4 yrs and about 8 playoff wins in total..
it is amazing people still support him. anyone who thinks he did this because the unknowns for the Yanks are simply moronic. Yeah the Yanks are going to become the Pirates.
Man can we winn without him? Ooops we won jack with him….
Yeah his next press conference will be hilarious..If the Yanks go back on there word and negotiate with hime I will be real mad..
Adios bug boy, what a clown parasite and anyone who cannot see thru his phony show is a total MORON..
I am ecstatic to get rid of him and the soap opera… what a novel idea, team baseball, well balanced team, wow who does that????
The more I see of the Red Sox, the more I’m reminded of the dynasty Yankees, with guys who battled every at bat and came up big in the clutch. As much as guys like Pedroia and Youkilis annoy me, the Yankees would be much better off with guys like these than a big name slugger who perennially chokes when the money’s on the line. A-Rod was great, but time to move in another direction. And man, how good has Ellsbury looked so far? It’d be killer to have that guy.
Also, no to Lowell. Too old, and he’s a Fenway creation.
Global,
I know that,heck Buck, McCarver and Rosenthal were just talking about it. They wer glleful in the speculation that the RedSox would make run at him.
A-Rod is going to Boston or Anaheim. I’m sure Boras already suborned tampering and ensured either or both would offer him $260-280 million.
where’s the a-rod positive energy fanclub now?
the only shocking thing about this development is that anyone is remotely surprised. i can’t believe people bought this guy’s act to begin with.
say good riddance all you want, but here’s where the yankees are at right now:
- no torre
- no a-rod
- facing the possibility of losing posada, rivera, pettitte, clemens and abreau
- one of the thinnest free-agent classes in recent memory (if you think mike lowell is the answer, god help you)
- a very thin system in terms of position players
there are a couple of bob dylan lyrics that spring to mind when thinking about the yankees: “going 90 miles an hour down a dead-end street” and “it’s not dark yet, but it’s gettin’ there.” this team is going the wrong direction in a hurry and some of you appear delusional enough to believe it’s progress. enjoy reliving the stump merrill era. i wasn’t particularly fond of it the first time around.
Ah well. The greatest baseball play ever wants to get paid, so good for him. I liked having him play for us, but I’m not worried about the team. Cash’s plans will work out.
I agree, Pete. Clearly he did not want to stay. He had 10 days until the end of the period and gave us a BS reason. Pettitte, Mo, Posada, and the management up in the air? Why didn’t he wait to both negotiate and see what happens with those guys in that time? Pettitte has the same time limit for his decision. Mo and Posada are most likely coming back and the managing decision will be made tomorrow. What a jerk. He really doesn’t care about anything but money.
This doesn’t surprise me in the least. See ya, Tips!
Just think of all the money that frees up to give to Johan Santana.
Refresh my memory….how many World Series winning teams has A-Rod been on since he cam into the league?
If this is true, this is a great day for the Yankees. We are finally free of that stat padding head case.
A-Rod should understand that with this move, he will be reviled from coast to coast (Seattle, Texas, NY, west, center, east).
What a loser…Can you imagine the ovation he gets when he returns to Yankee Stadium next year? Hopefully he signs with the NL and then shows up for the All Star Game. Then the world will see the best player in the game getting booed right off the field
Fellas, all this nonsense about A-Rod opting out because so and so is managing or so and so is a Free Agent and pending is all bogus.
A-Rod is leaving because he feels he can get more money else where. Heck I’m sure Boras already knows what team he’s going straight to. There’s no reason to opt out so fast if you don’t already have a plan set.
Like I said, good riddance A-Rod.
The word I meant to type was GLEEFUL…..Six More Outs What a Night !!!
Ken Rosenthal said on the WS that Boras said he will still negotiate with the Yanks if they wanted to. Haha Hopefully the Yanks dont and Cashman hangs up on him if he calls him. I wonder if they will go after Jones or Hunter now…But Jones is a Bor-ASS client also.
Eff You Alex. I believed in you. Really. I cheered. I cheered when it felt like everyone else was booing. I thought you could do it. New York showed you love this year. You could have been the greatest. Your skill is the best but you have no heart. Good riddance. Have fun going into the Hall with no team even wanting you to wear their cap. I still cant believe it.
Why is everyone so darned pessimistic?
We have pitching now.
I’m really not worried.
If Joe G. is about to be named manager,, then don’t expect Miggy Cabrera anytime soon. They hated each other in Fla, it was well documented.
Screw him… that dirty, mercenary A-Rod. I hope they get rid of all their big-name, free agent busts this winter. I know A-Rod was a trade and not a free agent, but you know what I mean. Guys like A-Rod, Giambi, Damon, they signify what is wrong with the current Yankees. Let him go to the Mets, Dodgers, Cubs or Sox.
Move Cano to 3B, or Betemit, and get a stop gap 2B. Trade Damon for a bucket of balls, and try to get either Torri Hunter or Andruw, someone to replace the RH power we lose in A-Rod, plus beef up the OF defense. Just don’t trade Melky, Cano, Joba, Phil, or Ian. Build around those boys…
What a douche. I loved A-Rod. May you never see October again. Never thought I’d actually hope Bonds kept the record. Man, this night sucks.
I can’t wait to turn on Channel 4 in about 5 minutes and hear Francesa tell everyone that he knew that this was going to happen.
stop blasting Arod!! We would all be feeling great if he resigned.
bottom line, they would have been better next year with him but they absolutely can win without him. i, for one, am glad the yanks have Brian Cashman. it is so much easier to sign free agent hitters than pitchers… and the yankees have some of the best young pitching in baseball. there is no optimism tonight with boston winning, but there is reason for optimism next season. relax.
I can remember a commment APud made after a game about any place other than NY just wouldn’t feel right b/c NY felt like home. Seriously…why waste the breath? You don’t usually get a whole lot better when the best player in the game makes the decision to leave the team. I can’t decide if this is Boras or APud but the front he put on was mindless. Whatever happened to being accountable.
“We now know the answer to the question of who is the biggest phony in sports history.”
True.
This answer only holds water if he waited the ten days to see what happened with those guys. He’s completely phony.
Let someone else suffer in the postseason with the choke artist. Time to build for the future, we have to face it NYY fans…
All this bs that I bought into hook line and sinker, I love the Yankees, I love NY, I love the fans. Clearly all of it was total BS. Alex better bring ear plugs when he returns to Yankee Stadium. He will be showered with a chours of Bronx cheers.
On the plus side, didn’t the Scranton Wilkes-Barre Yankees + Bobby Abreu essentially beat the Orioles on the last day of the season?
What a phony! It just shows you that he has no balls and could never be a leader. Because others are leaving, he decides to? Be a man Alex
Tom Hicks is one happy man tonight.
Bud Selig is not.
I take back what I said about Hank Steinbrenner this week. The 2008 Yankees will really be a team in transition.
What a night for Yankee fans. Red Sox win the World Series, A. Rod walks, what’s next?
This just in, Yankees trade Jeter to the Mets where he will play 2nd base. In return the Yankees receive Aaron Heilman and Carlos Delgado.
“no torre”
- good.
“no a-rod”
- not great, but whatever.
“facing the possibility of losing posada”
- old.
“rivera,”
- old,
“pettitte,”
- he has one year left wherever he goes
“clemens”
- huge waste of money to begin with, who cares?
“and abreau”
can’t field anyway.
I have 4 A Rod jerseys. Now what do I do?
PAY-ROD is a true POS…A poseur of the highest order…A politician masquerading as a baseball player. Don’t put all this on Boras. Yes, he’s a snake as well, but Alex is a big boy (and probably more of a shrewd businessman than Boras is)…Boras wouldn’t have made the announcement if Alex didn’t give him the go-ahead.
What others have said is true…They never won anything with him…He’s not the magical elixir that will bring the Yanks back to the promised land. Showalter took the Yanks to the postseason with a much less glamorous roster…Now it’s Girardi’s turn to figure out how to do it.
I’m guessing the Angels…so he and Boras can be close together. Also, as a Yankees fan who lives in LA and have had the misfortune of attending Angels games, Angels fans don’t care about winning and would never boo a star player. They leave games early to try and beat the traffic.
Ma, I’m shocked, I really did like Arod and thought he’d stay. But I’m sure this is just the beginning of the posturing and negotiating…its certainly not a done deal. Let’s see what happens over the next few days.
I guess you can throw me in the “sour grapes” group. I tried to be supportive of ARod, but I’m actually glad he’ll be gone…he’s a classic mush. I feel good that the Yankees won’t be spending almost 30 million on one player. That money can be better used elsewhere…it’s called pitching. I’m actually excited to see what the Yankees do.
ARod will do just fine counting all the money the Mets will give him.
I pray they don’t trade for fat Miguel Caberra or old Mike Lowell
Andrea – Burn ‘em!!!
kasey your Arod comment is right on but then you become your panicky whining self.. some facts the yanks have an option on ABreu.. What that means in english is if the yanks want him back he comes back…and pettitte, posada, and mariano are going no where… where are they going Dr.???
they are true Yankees.. Isn’t mister bood and guts Arod a true Yankee?
I love the whiners that panic over losing him. Arod will not be replaced but some of that money if used wisely will pay off in other areas…
the Yanks will have a very good team next year so do not worry about it….
Takes a special kind of person to be a Yankee. Guess he didnt have it.
Leaving for more money is bad enough, but to blame it on the status of Mo, Po and Andy, that’s just pathetic and cowardy.
Like I said, now we finally know he’s someone who lacks character, pride and the will to win (and certainly lacks a ring!). We should be glad we get to free up $30mill a year and clear out some poison at the club house. His character doesn’t fit the true Yankee DNA.
I’m emailing the Yankees office to ask them to stick by their words and not go after Arod. If you feel the same way I do I encourage you to do the same. We need the world to know that no one player is bigger than the NY Yankees.
Ok, so A-Rod is gone. Now, the focus of the off-season is to get Bedard and Miguel Cabrera. Play GM and figure out how you get those two for Tabata, Kennedy, Marquez, Betances and some combination of other youngsters or roster guys. Proceed…,
Nothing is official until the free agency paperwork is filed.
The thing that is even worse, he didn’t even listen to what Cash had to offer!! If he listened and didn’t like it, i’d still be ticked. But this looks so much worse!
rot in hell you compiler a rod…may you continue to compile your stats elsewhere and continue to never ever play in the world series.
what a phony piece of garbage
Bad day for the Yanks, but screw anyone who hits a ball of leather with a stick and thinks they are worth the GNP of Albania. I always disliked this guy.
He will end up with the Sox, mark my words. The SEG (**** eating grin) worn by John Henry at the game while on his Blackberry tells the whole story. The Sox represent his best chance at repeated rings and there he’ll go because they’ll be willing to pay him with Manny coming off the books next season.
We’ll see what happens, but I am pessimistic with Dumber and Dumberer (Hank and Hal) running the show. This feels like 80s Yankees times and so be it. You’ve got to endure the bad times too when you’re a fan.
Congrats to the Red Sox on the 2007 Championship. They certainly deserved it!
Goodbye, and thanks for all the rings – oh, that’s right. The Yankees won them without you.
I hope Cashman is on the phone with Selig right now telling him about Boras’s tampering. There is No way he would opt out if he didnt know for sure that, I am assuming it is the Angels would give him that kind of money. Boras did it with Nancy Drew and he does it again. Arod knew what he was going to do, if Mo and Posada were signed then his excuse would be the manger. If Torre came back then I wouldnt be surprised if he didnt use the excuse that he doesnt know who the 1st base coach is so he cant stay…He would of thought of anything…Like he needs to know if Villone is coming back..
Ok, so A-Rod is gone. Now, the focus of the off-season is to get Bedard and Miguel Cabrera. Play GM and figure out how you get those two for Tabata, Kennedy, Marquez, Betances and some combination of other youngsters or roster guys. Proceed…
you are insane sir… betances, tabata? give me a break.
Chicago Dave we need to have a bon fire to burn what ever anyone has of Alex’s.
I have a picture hanging on my wall that I will pull down and get rid of. He just digusts me!
How our pitching staff comes together will have a much bigger impact on our team’s success than whether or not arod is back. The bigger questions for our team are can Veras and Ohlendorf can emerge as legitimate setup men? Will Mo be back? Will Vizcaino be back/dependable? Will Pettite be back? How will Hughes, Joba, and Kennedy (or Mussina) do in the rotation? Will we sign, trade for, or promote anyone who will improve our rotation or bullpen?
The timing of this strikes me as strange. The only thing I can think of would be to opt out before the Yankees have a chance to negotiate. (maybe Boras hopes this still keeps them in the mix.) Also, A-Rod would not have opted out if Boras had not advised him to.
A-Rod is still responsible for this decision, but he definitely was pushed by Boras.
Andrea, cut them up and save some money on toliet paper.
Good bye A-Rod, Hello Johan?
The blame for this rests solely on the shoulders of you and your fellow sportswriters. What a bunch of morons. Thanks for running the best player in the sport out of town.
They’re not A-Rod jerseys. They are Jim Leyritz jerseys!
they have not hired girardi so I do not know what the hell all you are saying..
I think mattingly will be the mngr. and he will do fine..
the yanks use to have a team.. Arod with his outrageous pay and persona could never be part of a team he just cannot pull it off.
man the guy has it all but is so clueless and foolish..
i hope we get posada and mariano signed by the 10th day after the world series is over, even if it takes more money.
Does he not communicate w/ the Yankees. Mo and Jorge are not leaving the team. What a crooked excuse. Can’t wait ’til he takes his less than stellar postseason average to another team, but it won’t matter, that team won’t consistently be in the playoffs anyway.
Boras’s quotes are laughable. Uncertainty on Mariano and Posada’s futures? The only certain thing is this is a complete and utter lie. With 10 days to go, he opts out, nullifying the Yankees chance to get anything worked out. Boras has never let a thing like truth get in the way of his negotiations.
To decline what is being reported is insane. It means one or two things: 1) He doesn’t want to play in NYY 2) Boras has already found out who would pay him…..which is illegal in MLB….but once again, Boras never does play by the rules.
A-Rod can take all his money and shove it up his azz. We didn’t with him, so I’ll be glad to try to win without him. Buh-bye.
i made my peace with this possibility a while back. at the end the day, just like w/o torre, the yankees live on.
not the end of the world and when you really sit down and think about it, the guy didn’t exactly give us anything of real value except some “ooohs” and “ahhhs”, right?
A-Rod is a “me” player – he could care less what Andy, Mo or Jorge decide to do – I think he found out that they’re going to give Girardi the manager’s job and he doesn’t want to work for him – not to mention he’s looking for more $$$. Don’t let the door hit you in the backside, Alex.
UGH! I was trying to fall asleep now I am so angry at this greedy piece of dirt I don’t know if I can. I hope his ears are burning cause everyone in NYC is cursing him out.
There has not been much to console me since Torre’s departure became finalized.
This comes damn near close.
I am beside myself with joy regarding this opt out.
Somehow, they’ll find a way to pick up a player I hate equally as much. I’m having visions of Barry Bonds in pinstripes making me throw up in my mouth.
But with Sheffield, Johnson, Clemens, A-Rod gone, all I need to put up with is one more year of Giambi before I get a “team” back.
I’m not on the Yankees. I am not a baseball psychologist. But when the Yankees were winning in the playoffs, you had 9 guys who knew that this might be the day they have to be the hero. This new 2002 and beyond model has had stars smack dab in the middle, where everyone sits around waiting for them to save the day.
And it hasn’t happened. A-Rod’s not Papi. He’s not Ramirez.
And you know what else?
He’s also not going to be giving any more year end post game interviews telling us how much he’s “grown” over the season.
Free at last!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
i said when we lost the DS that i would burn my #13 jersey if he opted out. At least now i have something to look forward to tomorrow (2 midterms and a paper due tuesday)
A. Rod is virtually irreplacable. Whether you love him or hate him, the Yankees will feel the loss of Alex Rodriguez.
They will feel it hard.
Good thing they made the trade for Betemit. At least there is a body at third base next season.
For anyone interested in what the future holds, Chad Jennings blog has been evaluating the Yankees minor league prospects, position by position. He posted 3B last week.
http://emedia.thetimes-tribune.....semen.aspx
John Heyman also reports that Girardi is going to be offered the job on Monday. That probably factored into A-Rod’s decision as well.
Nice job Cashman.
I hope you read Abraham’s blog because if you don’t rectify this, I’m going to make it my personal mission in life to see that you join Torre on the unemployment line.
Good point Adam. Next year’s All-Star game is shaping up to be a classic. Francona managing, ARod most likely playing…Oh man, that is going to be something to behold.
yeah blame the meanie sportwriters who hurt poor little alex’s feelings…
again poor alex, so misunderstood…
anyone who blames anyone except alex for his situation is literally a child……….
can we start the “PLEASE COME BACK ANDY, MARIANO, and JORGE” petitions now??
this makes you really appreciate the true yankees.
Bob from NJ,
Light up a candle and stop walking in the dark.
Chicago Dave and Bob: I can’t burn or cut up and use as TP my pinstripes! even if it has his name. It’s just not right! That’s got to be against the law or something. I know Scotty Proctor did it, but it was more of an exorcism for him.
I think the timing and decision is tied to the choice of manager.
“we have pitching now.”
they do? pettitte may or may not be back. wang is good. hughes and chamberlain are both young. mussina’s awful.
all of a sudden the yankees have an elite rotation comprised of two rookies, an ace who isn’t actually an ace, an awful pitcher, and an open spot.
oh yeah. they’re loaded with pitching.
and stuart, i’m well aware of what abreu’s option means. would you really be surprised if the braintrust decided they didn’t want him back? and where will posada and rivera go? well, they’re free agents. in english, that means they’ll go wherever they want, and both seem pretty displeased with the way the torre situation was handled, dr.
Jennifer – AMEN!!!
We’ll Win he won’t even make the playoffs. (well one can hope)
And I hope as soon as that greedy piece of garbage signs elsewhere Cash is filing tampering charges.
Like the song goes, “if I can make it there I make it anywhere”. And you couldn’t pal, don’t let the door hit in the ass on the way out.
No, Thrillington — a GREAT day for the Yanks.
You can be certain that Cash & Co. have been planning for this eventuality and we can look forward to them being aggressive on the trade and free agency markets. Let’s put topether a balanced attack with some real grinders and spend the money arming the bullpen.
And don’t let the door hit you on the way out, Alex. I hope you find the right hair-froster in sunny CA.
Texas and Tom Hicks are doing jumping jacks about now. Lets hope for the fans of the Rangers they use that money for their team.
I want Miguel Cabreera. if Girardi is teh manager he had him in camp in shape.
This is going to be a completely different team next year..
Its going to look and feel different..
A couple of things….
1: Until the legal document is tendered, formally opting out, there is still a chance this is negotiation strategy.
2: Even if A-Rod is gone, this is not the end of the world. In the post season..who has the hot pitching. One year wonder teams (Chicago, Detroit, St. Louis) have made it the last three years. The legacy goes with teams with consistent great pitching, year in and year out. We have a chance to begin that next year.
3: This is baseball. Don’t jump out the window, don’t be mean, don’t be disrespectful, because a baseball player changes teams.
Who the Hell cares.
What makes you think that A-Rod is gone? You don’t honestly think the Yankees aren’t going to honor what amounted to a negotiating posture do you?
John Heyman also reports that Girardi is going to be offered the job on Monday.
That probably factored into A-Rod’s decision as well.
Nice job Cashman. I hope you read this blog because if you don’t rectify this, I’m going to make it my personal mission in life to see that you join Torre on the unemployment line.
of course arod cannot be replaced his numbers that is but the yanks if they use there $ wisely(that would be a change) could improve other areas and therefore have a better team overall..
the 98 team did not have any mege # guys but did have very good well balanced players like; bernie, jeter, oneil and others who did everything pretty well..
“A. Rod is virtually irreplacable. Whether you love him or hate him, the Yankees will feel the loss of Alex Rodriguez.
They will feel it hard.”
Jonathon,
They won before him and they can win after him. Heck we made the World Series the year before he got here, a task that was never achieved in his tenure here.
A hole in now at 3rd but with that money saved you can add it into another resource. A resource that is more important than one hitter. Pitching.
Hello Johan Santana!
CGramazio all the more reason to make sure to get tickets to that game!! I’ll make sure to drink plently of water so my vocal cords can boo his every move.
Andrea – Do you have a dog? You could cut the sleeves off, maybe shrink it in the wash a little, and it would be perfect dog apparel! And oh-so-fitting…
Plus it just so happens that Arod and his master did it TONIGHT to the Yanks. He figured he would stick it to the Yanks twice in one day. Suxs win WS and he leaves…Jeter should come out with 1 of his statements tonight just…”Now you know why I and everyone else never liked him”. That would be great.
First off, A-Rod can still be a Yankee. He has not done his opt-out yet. Boras the money hungry man is just trying to make the Yankees sweat. Yes, the Yankees should sweat, A-Rod could bring a lot to the Yanks. He will at some time in the future demolish Bonds home run record and kids want to be like him. All of that equals a lot of money for any team. Sure we could play without him, but I would rather have A-Rod in a Yankee uniform rather than a Red Sox uniform. As far as Posada and Rivera, been a long time since I have seen Posada play the way he did this season. HE STILL GAVE UP MANY RUNS BECAUSE HE DOESN’T BLOCK THE PLATE. Give us a young kid that will block the plate and they can teach him to hit. Mo, we all love MO, he was and is great. Honestly, how many more years can we go with the same closer we have had for over 10 years? Why do the Sox beat him? Because they see him so much. I think it is time for Mo to retire and for Posada to move on. Petite, he is a family man and I don’t blame him, I am one also. He doesn’t care about the money or the records, he cares about family. That is why it is bothering him that Torre is gone, Torre was like family. Now put Mattingly in there and you might see Andy back, anyone else, forget it he is done. Do you blame him. How can the Yankees not make Donny the manager? He is everything Yankees. Who is Girardi? I know who he is, he has never been a Yankee captain or a Yankee leader. Give the ball to Donny Baseball and give A-rod his money, Posada give him a small raise if he stays he stays, Mo give him a small raise and if he stays he stays, if not go to the hall of fame MO, you earned it.
Boras has an agenda that goes beyond Arod needing to be part of a particular team. They feel the opposite is true.
Look at the quotes. As if the Yanks and YES need Arod to survive. Please!
Alex’s closer. Alex’s catcher. Alex’s pitcher. Huh?
Huge shoes to fill, but the YAnks can and will certainly survive.
Also, I think lumping him with Bonds does Barry a disservice. Bonds played for FIFTEEN seasons in SF!
Plus it just so happens that Arod and his master did it TONIGHT to the Yanks. He figured he would stick it to the Yanks twice in one day. Suxs win WS and he leaves…Jeter should come out with 1 of his statements tonight just…”Now you know why I never liked him”. That would be great.
ok im not a troll, Im a die hard yankee fan. But do any of you redsox trolls know where i can get an “arod slaps balls” tshirt?
The Monarch: That will work for one of them. One has no name, but the other 3 say Rodriguez. I get them as gifts and not everyone knows that they don’t belong with names
So now I have a Leyritz jersey, and 3 A-Rod jerseys. But I still refuse to burn pinstripes! I could always be a funny guy and paint over his name if I ever choose to wear the jersey to the Stadium.
For you Arod.
http://youtube.com/watch?v=KynpC1e9I9E
Boras and A-Rod should both be fined by MLB, Selig told the Yankees that they cannot make an announcement on a new manager for fear of upstaging the ‘gala’ event of this boring world series, however Boras and A-Rod blow out the world series with this.
I loved A-Rod, wanted him to stay and break tons of records in pinstripes. But now, like everyone else, I say, don’t let the door hit you on the way out. We can use that 30mil per to pay Santana and some other 3rd baseman.
Well it appears that The Poker game has begun….Yanks open with a desire to make an offer, Boras raises that A-Rod will opt out…….If he does indees leave, I could see him playing in Wrigley drilling 75 dingers there…..What an interesting next 10 days ….
So how do they replace him? If Girardi is going to be manager, you can’t use Miguel Cabrera as an option.
Such a phony. So glad he’s gone. They should have kept Soriano, at least he respected the pinstripes.
In one night, the Sox win the WS, I lose my job and A-Rod opts out. Anyone want to come over and kick my dog? At least A-Fraud leaving will cheer me up…
Opt-Rod = A-Fraud
I sould patent that and make a tee-shirt, some bumperstickers!
Wow… Yankees are going to have the busiest off-season.
I bet they try to grab some of the offense the Rockies have.
Actually Chicago Dave. If she has a car that needs waxing she should use it to wax her car.
OK…now I think Joe G has to be the guy…much better suited now that he does not have a prima donna like ARod. He and Jetes can motivate that team.
Lets remember we won on pitching and clutch hitting…ARod was neither. We now have a bright future of hitting (see 2009) and we need to go get some key bats to fill in the clutch part of the hitting.
Listen AROD could have been in monument park in 10 years and be an all time great as only yanks can instead he is corporate and thats his choice. Lets boo him and bean him when he visits.
By the way lets not forget…they hate him in toronto too.
You all are talking as though the Yankees aren’t capable of some crazy off season bonanza.
There aren’t the Yankees for nothing, y’know…
Viking Coach-
Where the f%#^ are you from, really?
Take Okajima and move to Rhode Island together.
as long as we take the money and get a good third baseman (NOT WILSON) and maybe a solid starter and a Kyle Farnsworth replacement, then OK – Don’t take the 30 mill and give 25 of it to Miggy C because he’ll literally eat at least 20 million of it
if you think the Yankees can easily replace A-Rod either in the line-up and win or that the Yankees can just go out and trade for Santana, you’re deluded.
Do all of you forget how poorly this old lineup performed when A-Rod, Jeter and Posada were the only ones hitting. They stunk.
Without A-Rod, there going to be utterly devoid of power. And by the way, Joba, IPK, and Hughes, if you’re lucky might give the Yankees 180 innings next year.
Right now, the Yankees have a worse pitching staff than the Blue Jays and the Red Sox. And without A-Rod, their lineup isn’t much better than the Blue Jays.
yeak Kasey torre got run out of town with that $5 mill offer. Poor Joe mistreated like arod…
if the ynaks want mariano and jorge back they have the most money, even more now so I would not jump out of the building…
and there rotation will be unproven but with huge upside… yeah do I think Hughes and Joba can be very good? guilty as charged…
wang is 27 not 40 and they have tons of good young arms coming and the ones I have seen so far have huge upside…..
IF this is true and not just a ploy to get more money out of the Yankees ( which is SO likely as Scott Boras is definitely Satan’s Son ) then A-Rod will go down in History as the biggest phony in Sports History, agreed, Peter. Plus, here’s where what goes around, comes around hits ya A-AZZ ! Take your crappy postseason average and all your glory, go to the Cubs and follow THAT curse until you get hurt and come nowhere near the All-TIme HR Mark….A-Rod is making Barry Bonds look not so bad even ! As a Yankee Fan for life, I can’t be more pissed off. The BoSux about to win another championship and Son of Sataon can’t wait until the last out to let us all know that he really DOES have a deal in place for 8 years and 250mil with the Cubs…you wait and see….MLB needs to slap a huge fine on Boras and better yet, just ban the Azzhole !
What a classic A-Rod moment. He makes a selfish grab for all the dinero, which of course is his right, and he does it on the night he was supposed to be present to accept yet another award. But he couldn’t make it. There’s something telling in that he did not have the class and humility to show up to collect an award named after one of the classiest and most humble guys in the game, Hank Aaron. He also timed his decision to steal the thunder of what everyone but Colorado Rockies fans knew would be the last game of the ’07 WS. He then blames his decision on Po’s and Mo’s and Pettitte’s situation after trying a day or two ago to blame it on the manager situation.
People will not boo him when he comes back to the present or future Stadium. If I remember the 70′s correctly, he needs to know that people will throw batteries at him.
Ideas for the t-shirt yet? On the front: His face with a red circle and line through it. The back: “Pay-Rod.”
Global Warming — Yeah we’ll feel his loss when we have a guy that actually hits in the playoffs.
Well I have to try and fall asleep after all this crap.
I agree with what somone else said. #1 he tried to screw the Yankees twice in one nite. #2 I hope Bud FINES HIM BIG!!
Jennifer: I will not wax a car with pinstripes! If I could rip off the letters that spell out his name though, I could work something out….then, as the Monarch pointed out, I’d have another Jim Leyritz jersey. I’d be a HUGE Leyritz fan!
Bud can’t fine him. ARod is the only chance Bud has to forget Barry. He’s got to kiss and coddle his butt until he has the record.
I’ll say it again, A. Rod is irreplaceable. You think 3-time MVP’s grow on trees.
You think these numbers grow on trees.
36 100 .286
48 130 .321
35 121 .290
54 156 .314
Yankees would not have been in the playoffs this year without him. They would not have made the playoffs in 2005 without him.
I hate to keep harping on it, but winning the World Series is not the end all be all to a teams baseball season.
The Yankees, if they are true to their word and are not going to compete for A. Rod’s services, are going to be in for a long season next year.
Andrea: I feel your pain.
Patience is a virtue. Fold them up and then unfurl them for the parade when the Yanks win the series next year.
He who laughs last, laughs best.
kill shilling the season start again tommorrow?? or do the yanks have the oppty. to set there roster before next yr?
yeah Toronto will have the best rotation in the AL for sure if they do not have any big injuries.. That is true but they cannot hit, run the bases, and have other issues.
bostons rotation next yr. we will see what it looks like but maybe we should wait till this season is over….
the yankee lineup without arod will need some help so I guess the Yanks will try to work on it>>>Just a thought….
If it’s true that ARod is now a former Yankee then good riddance to baseball’s version of “The Cooler”…
Jim Leyritz said in a interview last year that he spoke to many guys in Seattle, Texas & New York that played with ARod and they all said the same thing:
“They never got to know the guy – he is distant and removed…”
Let’s get a team player at 3rd base next year…
torre was disrespected. there aren’t too many who’d argue that, although i’m not shocked in the least that you would.
rebecca, an off-season bonanza is kind of contingent upon which free agents are available. check the list. it’s bare-bones.
optimism is one thing, but blind optimism is just stupid.
If Girardi is hired on Monday as per that hack reporter’s “scoop”, then its a bad two weeks that will turn into a conflagration for the Yankees, as Mattingly will break ties with the organization.
I am not saying I think Mattingly should be offered the job now, I think he would be better served by managing Scranton or Trenton for some time. But this is like one PR disaster after another for the Yanks.
Personally, I think A-Rod is a great player. But I don’t think it ever really was a good fit for him here. I do think he is selfish, fragile, and annoying. And not worth $25 million per year, let alone $35 million.
Oh so do you actually think the yankees are a better team without Alex? Come on. Without him the Yankees would not have even made the playoffs this season. So answer this, how do you expect to win the World Series if you can’t even make the playoffs?
This is a big blow to the Yankee’s title chances for the next year or two. It will be impossible to replace him in 2008. Unless they trade for Miguel Cabrera, there is no other available third baseman even close to as good as Alex is. Good luck making the postseason with Betemit as an everyday player.
And think about a lineup of ARod/Ortiz/Manny. If he lands in Boston, that is a double blow to the Yankees chances to win it all over the next few years.
This is a huge deal, and most Yankee fans are already on the anti ARod movement. Biggest phony in sports history? Please. He’s just looking out for himself, like EVERY free player should. You would too, if you were as talented as these guys are. The yankes have the money. Just like with Joe Torre echoed with his own case, if they really want someone they will pay the money. The yankees can afford ARod. THis is not his fault.
They took his contract friom Texas knowing that he could very wel opt out of it. This is nothing earth-shattering here. Come one he is not a phony or a fraud. The yanks are phonies for pretending that they can’t afford to pay him more than any other team.
And I am a Yankee fan. But this is devastating to this team.
This clearly means Boras and Arod know they have a better offer out there. I’m almost certain it’s Boston. Boras has been around the series and could easily have had discussions with John Henry, Luchino, Theo, etc. and I think Boston is giddy with the prospect of winning the series and knowing how much revenue that means. Not to mention a 3-4-5 of Arod, Ortiz, Manny will pretty much ensure we’ll be screwed next season.
This is a bad day. The Yankees won’t see past their pride and get into the bidding and the NY media will turn all the fans rabid on Arod so he can never come back here again anyway.
It’s over people. This sucks. I like Arod. I’m a Yankee fan who is very sad to see him go.
Meanwhile, there’s a game on in Colorado…
Jonathon –
WHAT???????
“winning the World Series is not the end all be all to a teams baseball season”
What the hell is that? That is ARODs creed and why he has never won. Its only about the Series and the ring. Else we should all be Devil Rays and Mariners.
jonathon so you are a classic numbers geek who looks at nothing else….
as far as 2005 I cannot even remember back that far but the yanks are getting younger and they will be just fine..
I like the melky’s, the cano’s, the hughes, joba, ohlendorf, etc.
THEY WILL BE FINE…
I agree with Diggedy. get rid of the over-priced bums. Blow it up. Spend a little extra to keep the veterans, ie, Posada, Rivera. Would like to see Andy back…
Abreu… dump him. Damon… dump him. One more year of Giambi riding the bench, then dump him…
Go with the youth, create a team unit, build a sense of team integrity. Keep the excited youngsters like Shelley, Melky, Cano and the pitchers, Joba, Phil, Ian, Alan, etc.
If you have to get a free agent, get a guy who plays with heart, a Torii Hunter type, but don’t go overborad on years. Would have loved to have had Eric Byrnes, but resigned. Those type of hard nosed players, ie O’Neils, Knaublauchs, etc.
But giving Andruw Jones 6 years and $120 M isn’t the answer. Trying to trade for a Johan or CC is…
And at 3B? For the love of god, please no Lowell… Go betemit or Cano and get a stop gap 2B.
But if they try to sign A-Fraud as a free agent after saying they wouldn’t, I’m turning in my hat…
LOL! A-Rod is a phony, A-Rod is crap, A-Rod suck Are you all serious? The many of the ‘great’ fans of the Yankees put that man (and his family) through HELL the last 4 years practically booing him every time he made an out! It didn’t matter than he’s probably going to win his 2nd MVP in 4 years and most never let him forget he wasn’t a ‘real’ Yankee anyway.
The NY media (and yes Pete I have to include you in this) was probably the worst, always complaining about how he’s ‘phony’ or ‘too programmed with his answers” and the mintue he says something related to how he really feels it was twisted around. And the tabloid (umm the post) media was the worst….it got so bad that he had to pretend to be listening to music on his IPOD to get avoid the media….that is not a way you want to live.
The team appeared to be a little bit better this year, but except for a few players last year he was left to swim/sink on his own. Even his manager threw him under the bus in an article…while Alex appeared to move on this year I doubt he has forgotten or ever will. And honestly the moment I knew Alex would opt out is when Management said they wouldn’t go after Alex unless they had Texas money. Basically saying that they ONLY want Alex if Texas will pay for part of it. From a player standpoint I wouldn’t take that threat either….
As for those saying it was about money, it was about MORE than money. I have do doubt that Alex loves New York, the city atmosphere itself seems to fit him well. But there is MORE in his life than NY. I bet the chaos of the team, his own personal feelings (keeping his sanity) and the needs of his family…….does he really want them to grow up/live with all that scruinty.
Don’t kid yourselves while the decision was ultimately Alex’s the ‘classy’ and ‘great’ fans, media and Yankees Org ultimately played a decision in Alex’s choice.
That traitor John Henry has earplugs in!!!! What a joke.
Yanks are reportedly going to pursue Kevin Millar.
This is VERY bad news. But PayRod best go to the National League. Yankee fans will be brutal to him if he shows his face ever again at the Stadium. He’s finished in New York.
Maybe Jorge, Mo and Pettite did this on purpose, with hopes Pretty Boy wouldn’t come back. I would laugh my butt off if all three of them resign in the next month, while Bor-ASS inks Pretty Boy to the Dodgers or Giants.
I think part of his opt out clause said that when he opts out we get Alfonso Soriano back. Also in other breaking news A-Rod opts out of his marriage and then decides to marry Boras. F@ck you A-Rod, f@ck you Boras. In your quote you could have just made it shorter by saying you a greedy pricks. Have fun in San Fran Arod.
I’m looking forward to next years Yankee *team*.
These are the New York Yankees. They will surely make a splah and replace A-Rod in one way or another. Whether it be by trading for Santana or some other move/signing.
Drill this line into your head and everything will be alright.
“We won before A-Rod, we can win after A-Rod.”
This is probably a good thing in the long run. Elias does a study and ARod is only worth 10 wins a season. 30 mil for 10 wins? I think we can add Santana when he goes FA next near and fill some other gaps with that kind of cash.
Number’s geek right…
I looked at a lot of things this year, namley Alex Rodriguez carrying this team early in the season, keeping them from being buried in the AL standings and giving them a chance to make the post-season.
Maybe you should’ve paid more attention this year, but then again, if you can’t remember as far back as 2 seasons ago, I wouldn’t expect you to remember back to the beginning of the season.
Diva, have to disagree with you on this one, it goes with the territory. No one heard it worst than jackie Robinson, or Roger Maris when he hair fell out in patches or Hank Greenberg. Maybe a town like KC is what he needs, but where he is going is no different from where he left.
at least we can move the monuments close together, they had made room for a #13 but they don’t let people like a-rod in monument park with the real GREATS
we’ll get our redemption when George Mitchell’s report comes out and Arod’s name is on it as using roids and hGH!!!!!!
Why do we hate Damon?
Sox to keep Lowell. Sign A-Rod to return to familiar SS position. Lugo will be moved.
The numbers were agreed to by Sox management and Boras this weekend, no doubt. Impressive, non stop lineup the Sox will have next year.
Schilling will also be back on a one-year contract with a weight clause.
Wait let me get this right…Yanks cant “over shadow” the WS but Bor-ASS and Arod who didnt even show up tonight because he knew that they were going to announce this…Totally blew the WS out of the water….That is ok?? Selig better fine or suspend this loser. There is a comment from Randy Levine that he didnt even know what Arod opted out.
when a-rod claimed he wanted to be a yankee, early in the year, he knew about the situations with posada and mariano… its not as if there was any doubt they wouldn’t deal with them until after the end of the season.
i hope girardi slaps giambi around a little, mr. 23 million would be too comfortable with donnie as manager.
P.S. Don’t be surprised to see this guy playing short for the Red Sox next year. And mark my words, we should be so lucky. ARod has won exactly zip, I’m glad he made a decision for us. Please don’t get caught up in the circus that ensues Cashman!!!!!
The Yankees are bigger than any one player.
“Alex’s decision was one based on not knowing what his closer, his catcher and one of his statured pitchers was going to do,” Boras said.
Can you believe this ingrate? HIS?!?!?
VOMIT!!!! I hate that damn team!!!!
Really?!?!? Only about the Series and the Ring, huh.
So all other 29 teams that don’t win World Series have wasted their time over 162+ games.
The season is a failure for all 29 teams who don’t win the World Series.
You weren’t happy to see the Yankees win 96 games, make a run at the AL East, beat the Red Sox 10-8 in the season series, play in the playoffs for the 12 straight year.
What happens to the Yankees when they eventually don’t make the playoffs? How do you characterize that type of season? Will you finally jump off the bandwagon?
Typical spoiled Yankee fan that gives all of us a bad name.
YankeeDiva brings up a great point. Yankee fans have disrespected and underappreciated A-Rod from day one. Would you want to raise your family in that kind of environment?
If you offered more money, more years, and a less hostile environment for your family from a competing organization similar to the one you currently work for, would you not take the deal? Come on. He would be an idiot to not opt out.
And once again, the Yankees can outdo any offer he receives elsehwere. But they choose not to. It is their decision to not negotiate with ARod. He is willing to negotiate with them. Remember when the Yankees refused to negotiate with Torre a couple of weeks ago and Yankee fans crapped all over them for that. Now they refuse to negotiate with Alex and they don’t get crapped on – he is the greedy bad guy. But Torre isn’t the greedy bad guy? Come on. He is not the phony here.
I know that Torre’s case and ARod’s case are very different, but I think they are similar enough in that regard to say that anyone who defended Torre for wanting the optimal deal but is bashing A-Rod for wanting the optimal deal is a phony, fraud, and hypocrite.
This just capped off a great night…I hate these pigs…
Even if you take the Texas $$ out of the equation, it would still be BS to be in the mix for A-Rod with his opt out. What ‘team’ player who ‘loves new york’ opts out just to get more money?
What to do with your AROD jersey??
You know there will some radio station or something that next week will announce a promotion whre fans will gather with their jerseys and run them over with a sanitation truck. burn them or some other thing to do
Yanks should trade for Kobe. lol
Awwww how cute, Captain idiot is crying. Dont let your mascara run.
Congratulations Boston
Go away then, if you want money more than a baseball player could have.
bobsmith, Arod isn’t the phoney? He has repested 500 times during the season how much he loves NY, now it’s about first the manager then a few days later now about Mo, Po and Andy? If so why doesn’t he wait ten days to see if they sign? Because it’s about money.
Yankeediva writes:
Basically saying that they ONLY want Alex if Texas will pay for part of it. From a player standpoint I wouldn’t take that threat either….
Geez. Balanced your checkbook lately? That’s not just a couple bucks of spare change there — that Texas supplement pay for a lot of other players…
Being upset that the fans treated him bad is an absolute bunch of crap. Listen when you are the highest paid player, going to be almost $10m more then any other player and are going to scratch every last dollar out of your next team you deserve everything you get!!! You take the good with the bad. 4 rbis and 1 homerun or whatever the #’s are, are a joke!!! For $30m are you kidding me??!!! If Manny, Ortiz, Vlad or any player in that category ever played like that then they would expect to get booed also. I am upset that he is leaving but he did absolutely nothing in 4 years to help this team in the play offs and fans are supposed to be ok with that. Bubba Crosby or Betemit could of done more then that.
What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger!
There’s plenty of drama to come, folks. I would not be shocked or surprised by anything that could happen from here on out. As Rebecca suggested, do not underestimate the Yankees. Or I suppose _overestimate_ them for that matter.
I’m extremely disappointed to read this, but I’m not going to go cursing ARod’s name. The timing of the announcement is suspect, no question – but as a few people have pointed out, this was something we have known could happen a long time ago.
I have to agree with those saying that the Yankees will feel the loss of ARod a great deal. When we won without Alex, we had tremendous starting pitching and had production from the rest of the lineup that we don’t have now. Tino Martinez was banging out 30-40 HR a year at 1B, for example.
Yes, we can win without him, but I would caution against thinking it will be easy to do so with the options that are out there to replace him, as well as compensate for his production elsewhere in the lineup. The free agent pool absolutely reeks this year. The Yankees have taken a stance against signing overpriced players and trading away prospects. There are no real options in the farm system for position players quite yet. We’ll win again, but we should prepare for a minimum couple of seasons where we may not contend. We also need to be realistic about throwing names around with the assumption that they would come to the Yankees at this point. Mike Lowell just won a WS with Boston – I would be inclined to think he’s not going to want to leave a good thing.
Anyway, like I said – the drama is just beginning.
People make it seem like the Yanks offered or were going to offer him $12m a year. How is $30m a year not enough for someone. Jeter never would of left the Yanks for more money. Bernie retired because he wanted to retire in pinstripes. Look at Tori Hunter he could and probably would stay with the Twins and leave a good $20m on the table because he loves that organization. Ortiz gets paid nothing, like $12m because he wanted to stay there..Arod couldnt even hold Mannys or Ortiz jock strap when it comes to big hits and most importantly the play offs. For some players the money isnt everything..for him it is EVERYTHING. Even though he already has plenty of it. So his talk of championships is bull, all he is after is the $$$$$. If you want to win a championship you have to contribute to 1. 4 rbis in 4 years doesnt help. There are alot of players that have left money on the table because they want to be on a certain team. Obviously teams, teammates, mean nothing to him but the money. It should be a privilege to be in this organization, get a monument and go into the hall of fame with the pinstripes on. How can anyone say that $240m is not enough??? I dont get it.
TO A-Rod
SeeeYaaa!
For weeks I’ve said Arod is a mercenary. With him it’s all about the benjamin’s baby!He’s a hireling to the highest bidder.
How dare he use Jorge,Andy,Mariano status as his reason to bolt.
The Yankees mgmt should have a covert rule that they never neogotiate with Boras.Any player that has him as their agent,trade them. With the Yankees out of his (Boras) web
he has no leverage with other teams,to suck them dry.
Down with evil greedy bad for basebll Boras,forever,Revolt!
Of course this is wishful thinking on my part.
congratulations,both A-Rod and Yankees.
Message for a-rod:
Yankees do not need “regular Season”superstar
,MVP.You are not the “completely” baseball MVP,so go ahead wherever you want to play and get a big contract($$$$$).
Message for Yankees:
saving the money to invest the perspective players and giving the youngplayer time to take the division or WS.
Forget A-Rod, he’s and Borats comments were bull! I hope he signs somewhere for a lot less and never has a chance at a W.S., he needs to go to a team that won’t make the Post Season! It makes him look better not to have to CHOKE in October!