A-Rod Leaving New York?
Alex Rodriguez has opted out of his 10-year, $252 million deal. This has fascinating implications:
By opting out, Rodriguez will forfeit the potential $91 million that is left on his contract. Also, the Texas Rangers, who traded Rodriguez to the Yankees in 2004, will not be responsible for subsidizing $30 million of his salary.
First off, can you even imagine kissing up to $30 million a year (his current deal was through 2010) goodbye on the assumption that you’ll be able to earn more on the open market? I so need a new line of work.
Hank Steinbrenner’s quotes are classic:
If you don’t understand the magnitude of being a Yankee and understand what that means, and being the highest-paid player in baseball, I think it’s pretty obvious.
And further down:
If we’re going to make you rich and we’re going to give you the privilege of being a Yankee, you’ve got to show us you want to be here.
Hank is George’s kid, but you probably guessed that already. I suppose the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree. Or would that be the Big Apple doesn’t fall far from the tree?
Either way, the next question is, who will give Rodriguez more money than he was making in New York? I mean, if baseball’s biggest spender can’t afford your services, then who can?
I smell bake sale…
Like what you just read? Subscribe to Knuckle Curve and you’ll never miss another article…
Tags: alex_rodriguez, baseball, free_agent, mlb, sports, yankeesRelated Stories
POSTED IN: Hot Stove, Personalities
5 opinions for A-Rod Leaving New York?
Steve C
Oct 30, 2007 at 8:38 am
Ill take why I hate the Yankees for $300 Alex!
“If we’re going to make you rich and we’re going to give you the privilege of being a Yankee, you’ve got to show us you want to be here.”
What is all Steinbrenner’s are Jerks!
But really I think since A-rod took both NY and BOS out of the bidding there is no way he gets more than $25/year and im thinking it will be more like $22
Geoff Young
Oct 30, 2007 at 11:50 am
Steinbrenner’s kids seem to have his personality but lack his experience. I have a feeling they’re going to make a lot of the same mistakes he did. For all the criticisms of Joe Torre, the Yankees will miss him more than they realize. It would not surprise me to see the organization stumble a bit within the next few years as it did after Casey Stengel was “retired” following the ‘60 World Series. Not that I’d mind, of course…
Jim
Oct 30, 2007 at 12:20 pm
I don’t know what the hell A-Rod was doing with the timing of the announcement. Not only does it piss off the Yankees (who weren’t going to sign him anyway) but it also pisses off the Red Sox, thus cutting them out of the equation.
More importantly, it demonstrates why spending $30 million on A-Rod is insane. For that kind of money, you need someone who will be the face of the franchise (in other words, likable). A-Rod just isn’t that guy. Whether its the “I got it” thing, or the slap thing, or the strip club thing, A-Rod is damaged goods (fair or not).
What team would sign him? The Mets are out because of Reyes and Wright. Chicago might sign him if the Cubs get an owner anytime soon. LAA or LAD might, but its hard to believe that Moreno would want to create friction with Vlad, and Torre’s opinions on A-Rod are fairly well known. Maybe some other team, like the Rangers, will go out on a limb to sign him, but I just don’t see it.
Funniest of all, is Boras attacking the instability at the manager position and closer position as the reason A-Rod opted out. Classic Boras. When Kevin Brown left San Diego, he claimed the reason he left was because the Padres let go of Caminetti and Finley, not because of the money/private jet. Talk about insult to injury.
anthony
Oct 30, 2007 at 6:16 pm
This should be a fun offseason in NY. The junior Steinbrenners are already making the old man look like a model of patience and class. I predict at least one major panic move, like unloading a bunch of talent to land Santana or giving Michael Barrett a 5 year/$40 million deal.
Geoff Young
Oct 30, 2007 at 6:25 pm
Jim, I think you’re spot-on with the assessment of A-Rod’s chances with the Red Sox, who would seem to be one of the logical suitors. I’m no great fan of Boras, but he’s usually a pretty shrewd guy. From the outside, it almost looks like he feels he’s run out of challenges and is purposely trying to make things more difficult for himself and his client just so he can prove how good he really is.
Have an opinion? Leave a comment: