Thread: The Latest on A-Rod

The A-Rod saga has taken another turn. A few weeks ago it seemed like the Yankees were done with A-Rod after he opted out.

Now, A-Rod who contacted the Yankees on his own(not through Boras) is close to signing a deal.

Here are some links

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=3109894

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/200...uez/index.html

http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/news;_yl...yhoo&type=lgns

Potential fallout from the deal

1. Market for Cabrera heats up

With A-Rod off the market the competition for Cabrera gets tighter and really benefits the Marlins. Sources say that the Marlins are definitley trading Cabrera this summer, it's just a matter of where.

Both the Dodgers and Angels have the prospects and need to make a move. I think the Dodgers can put together a better package since the Marlins want power arms and toolsy players. Kershaw, Billingsley, Kemp, and Loney/Laroche fit that build. The Angels have a very good farm system as well but other than Nick Adenhart they don't really have the arms the Dodgers do. Kendrick would have to be a part of any deal along with Adenhart, Wood too and maybe a pitcher who is in the majors now Santana?

2. Red Sox lock up Mike Lowell

I think A-Rod going to the Red Sox was pretty unlikely, but since the FA market is so thin(especially at 3B) I think they will push to re-sign Lowell as fast as possible. He's a perfect fit for the Red Sox and there's no reason to let him walk. In reality there's not much difference between the Yankees and Red Sox right now as far as finances go. I see no reason why the Red Sox wouldn't offer Lowell a 4th year. They can live with dead weight on their roster(which Lowell will probably be in 4 years) because they spend so much money anyways.

3. Trade talk for other 3Bs heat up

Scott Rolen is the big name I've heard regarding trade rumors. With A-Rod gone, I think more teams will call the Cardinals asking about him. Another option is Joe Crede as the White Sox really want to make room for Josh Fields.


Just some things to think about.....

My thoughts on Rodriguez? The guy is making the worst decisions he could possibly make. After burning those bridges in NY (with fans, not the ownership), he's going to resign with them? I can't wait to see the heat he gets from them as well as those teamates. You know Jeter is sick of the guy now and I can't imagine a manager having any authority over the guy after this. I can't wait to watch the fallout if he does resign.

Another thought on this is. . .HOW MUCH ****ING COLLUSION IS GOING ON HERE??? I'm thrilled about it, but seriously. Could it be any more obvious? You know one of his major reasons for going back is that no one was offering what he wanted. No WAY he wants to play under the lights of NY instead of some cush situation like LA or Anaheim or any other place. He must be getting lowballed like a mother-****er.

I think Arod would have been ideal for the Dodger NOW because he's a FA. I think the Dodgers would give up way too much for Miggy (even though I love the guy). I would rather see LaRoche get a shot before a Rolen($12M next 3 yrs) or Crede.

by the way GREAT analysis ASUCruz

I'm very afraid of Ned trading the farm for Miggy now........I don't if he goes to the angels if it means retaining our top guys.

Originally Posted by SmytheKing

You know Jeter is sick of the guy now and I can't imagine a manager having any authority over the guy after this. I can't wait to watch the fallout if he does resign.

If anything the fallout will be Boras losing, which he never does with his high-profile guys. The Yankees will be fine. Why wouldn't the manager have authority? A-Rod practically came back on his hands and knees saying "I messed up, please keep me!"

You think Jeter is upset the Yankees are keeping the best hitter in baseball? I doubt it.

Originally Posted by SmytheKing

Another thought on this is. . .HOW MUCH ****ING COLLUSION IS GOING ON HERE??? I'm thrilled about it, but seriously. Could it be any more obvious? You know one of his major reasons for going back is that no one was offering what he wanted.

Quite the assumption there. You answered your own question with that last sentence. A-Rod's price tag (and the duration he was looking for) limited him to just a handful of teams, the biggest of which was out of negotiations. I think fiscal restraint much more than I think collusion.

Collusion is a possibility, but it's certainly not as obvious as you're making it.

Originally Posted by jbruin152

If anything the fallout will be Boras losing, which he never does with his high-profile guys. The Yankees will be fine. Why wouldn't the manager have authority? A-Rod practically came back on his hands and knees saying "I messed up, please keep me!"

You think Jeter is upset the Yankees are keeping the best hitter in baseball? I doubt it.

No doubt that Boras is losing in this one. Both these guys made a play, and they lost. Long term, I don't think either guy is going to be upset with what they're getting out of the deal. . .but it's far less than what they were looking for.

This is a new manager though. It's not Joe Torre. Girardi will probably be a good manager, but he doesn't have the clout in the clubhouse like Torre did these last couple of years. I just think it will be an interesting dynamic if this becomes a distraction. How will he be able to do anything when the org just signed him to a 10 year deal after repeatedly saying they weren't interested anymore? Even though he gave up a ton of money, Rodriguez still holds all the cards apparently.

...and yes, I think Jeter would trade the headaches that come with this if he had his choice.

Originally Posted by jbruin152

Quite the assumption there. You answered your own question with that last sentence. A-Rod's price tag (and the duration he was looking for) limited him to just a handful of teams, the biggest of which was out of negotiations. I think fiscal restraint much more than I think collusion.

Collusion is a possibility, but it's certainly not as obvious as you're making it.

Here are the teams that were "in the running" financially for him.

Angels
Dodgers
Red Sox
Yankees
Mets

There were probably several other teams that would pay around 20-25 a year for him. The reason I suggest collusion is because of the fact that if he wanted 30+, and there were 2/3 teams willing to pay it, why go back to a team that said they didn't want you, the fans were always on you, and has the most pressure. . .for less? Doesn't add up. Now, of course you can't prove it, but I gotta figure something like that is at play. You can say restraint. . .but I'd bet there's a wink and a nod. Not to say it's not an obvious call to not commit 35 million dollars a year to one guy though. Could I say not one more time?

Losers: Teams who were angling for Cabrera; Boras

Winners: the Marlins; anyone who can't stand Scott Boras

All of this of course, is following the assumption that Boras and A-Rod honestly felt that they would get $30MM+ per year. How much of this was Boras aiming high so that when a GM is able to sign him for $25-$30, he feels that he got a great deal and so do the fans and everyone is happy?

Originally Posted by SmytheKing

How will he be able to do anything when the org just signed him to a 10 year deal after repeatedly saying they weren't interested anymore?

They weren't interested because of his ridiculous demands. A-Rod blinked first here.

Originally Posted by SmytheKing

...and yes, I think Jeter would trade the headaches that come with this if he had his choice.

I think winning will trump any personality conflict, especially one that's been subject to massive hyping and unfounded speculation by the media. ("OMG, Jeter said this, that means he hates A-Rod, OMG!")

Originally Posted by SmytheKing

The reason I suggest collusion is because of the fact that if he wanted 30+, and there were 2/3 teams willing to pay it

Why do you assume this?