Baseball Musings
Baseball Musings
October 29, 2007
Why the Excuses?

Alex Rodriguez opted out of his contract yesterday. The manner of his opting out isn't going to make Scott Boras any friends. First, he contacts the AP in the middle of the last game of the World Series so the story runs along side the Red Sox victory. Secondly, he makes a lame excuse for opting out:

Boras made his announcement by e-mailing The Associated Press during the World Series game. The uncertain futures of closer Mariano Rivera, catcher Jorge Posada and pitcher Andy Pettitte, who are potential free agents, affected Rodriguez's thinking. The Yankees are also in the process of hiring a manager to replace Joe Torre.

"Alex wanted to know what the composition of the team was going to be," Boras said. "What those players are going to do is important. He didn't want to have a deadline on making this decision." Boras spoke to General Manager Brian Cashman about Rodriguez's decision by telephone.

"He told me to thank Alex for all that he had done," Boras said. "He told me that he was a great player."

For all his talk of wanting to stay in New York, A-Rod and Boras didn't even give the Yankees a chance to keep the third baseman. That's fine, but a simple, "I think I can do better on the open market," would suffice.

Of course, I understand Boras' game. Scott needs bidders for Rodriguez, and if he negotiated with the Yankees for ten days, he runs the risk of scaring suitors away by rejecting a big offer. With the way the World Series played out, he also ran the risk of losing Boston as a bidder as they might decided to re-sign Lowell quickly. Now Boston gets to make a decision between having Mike for his decline or A-Rod setting records for eight years. They could even do both and move Alex back to shortstop!

And Boston is the key. If the Red Sox enter the bidding, it will be difficult for the Yankees to stay out. That could make the price for Alex very high. Of course, it could all backfire and both Boston and New York stay out. With the Mets having no need for Alex, what other team is going to spend the big bucks? Are Dodgers going to talk to Scott after Drew leaving? The Cubs ownership is up in the air. The Cardinals don't seem that eager to spend money now that they have a new park and a World Championship.

It may come down to Texas again. Hank Blalock hasn't exactly been the Rodriguez of the future. And the Astros want to win again, and want to win quickly. A Berkman-Lee-Rodriguez heart of the order with Pence setting them up seems like a good way to score runs. Even Cleveland, with their fan base returning and no World Series Championship since 1948 might want to put themselves on the map with Rodriguez, unless they still think Marte is the answer at the hot corner.

There's a lot of gamesmanship going on here, so it's tough to see the true motives of the players. But it's already an interesting off season.


Posted by David Pinto at 08:52 AM | Free Agents | TrackBack (0)
Comments

Don't forget San Francisco

Posted by: Adam B. at October 29, 2007 09:28 AM

And it might have been personal. Don't you think Arod might have tired of Yank ultimatums? They've been coming from Cashman since last season, since this season ended Hank has poured fuel on the fire. He finally said the Hell with you, I'm off.

Posted by: abe at October 29, 2007 09:34 AM

I suspect the reptilian Sawx ownership had already made an illegal offer to Arod, just as they did to Nancy last season when he opted out of his Dodger contract.

Here's hoping Arod's season in Boston next year matches Drew's this year -- minus the world championship of course. That said, even a terrible subpar season from Rod would be better than Lugo . . .

Posted by: Yankee Fan in Chicago at October 29, 2007 09:43 AM

Totally lame excuse. Gawd, but Boras can be such a transparent snake.

Posted by: rbj at October 29, 2007 10:26 AM

I suspect the reptilian Sawx ownership had already made an illegal offer to Arod

I am sure the Red Sox are not the only team that has contacted Boras regarding an un-official offer, or at least a starting place.

Posted by: dave at October 29, 2007 10:39 AM

I have no problem with A-Rod looking elsewhere. Yes, his stats say he's incredibly valuable, but I suspect A-Rod's been a huge distraction in the clubhouse, where other Yanks with long term contributions aren't making as much, nor are they making as much of a fuss over every little thing. For years we've had to deal with A-Rod getting his head on straight. The one year he does, he kicks ass and sets records, but how dependable will he be in the 3-8 years of his next contract? I believe we can and will enter a rebuilding phase, there's not a whole lot we can do about it now. I look forward to Jeter playing without distraction, despite the fact he's not playing every day without one of his old friends next to him.

Aside from that, I worry that the Yankees really have to re-think their management style. I don't believe the Steinbrenner Princes are going to be able to pull this off. I don't believe they have the fans respect nor do I feel they have backing of the existing team. I think the Princes' decisions to be completely apart in the past from running the organization to "suddenly" becoming involved have left them without an understanding of how the business has grown and changed, and instead of doing something new, I'd guess they're not doing what Cashman would want, and their years of disdain and lack of interest in the sport and the players involved really haven't helped. Again, these are all guesses and presumptions on my part, but I think if any of these factors are the case, things are catching up with them.

Posted by: Jonathan at October 29, 2007 11:25 AM

I don't see why the Mets "have no use" for A-Rod. He could play first, second or third. Is his offense not good enough to play first or something? Or is he not a good enough defensive player to man second? No. A-ROD can play, and hit, anywhere.

Posted by: Blastings Thrilledge at October 29, 2007 12:50 PM

Blastings,

You're correct. I guess it would come down to the Mets desire to move somebody to first, or trade one of their bright young stars.

Posted by: David Pinto at October 29, 2007 01:35 PM

Does anyone seriously think that any team will match the Yankees offer? I just can't believe that the Yankees still wouldn't resign him. I guess the only reason they wouldn't is that they rather have a 3rd baseman that hits in the playoffs. If they don't resign him, the logical move is to sign Lowell and trade Hughes, Joba, Kennedy, Melky (and maybe more) for Johan. That would give them a 3B who hits in October and the ace they've lacked for so many years.

Posted by: Tom at October 29, 2007 02:11 PM

trade Hughes, Joba, Kennedy, Melky (and maybe more) for Johan

Speaking in my capacity as a Red Sox fan, please, please, please, Mr. Cashman, make that trade.

Posted by: NBarnes at October 29, 2007 03:35 PM

I see these teams as the most likely landing places for A-Rod... The Angels, Red Sox, Yankees (if BoSox make serious offers), Mariners, and Rangers, Royals, Astros, and Phillies.

The Angels have proven ability to sign big names and want to win and A-Rod wants at least one ring.

The Red Sox, duh.

The Yankees...if for no other reason than to sabbotage Boston's efforts.

Mariners...they did good this year and could entice A-Rod to return like a prodigal son.

Rangers..like you said.

Royals...KC has been making some good moves the past year or so and could convince A-Rod to come in and prove he can lead a team from nowhere to greatness.

Astros... like you said.

Phillies... Citizens Bank Park would get A-Rod 900 HR's. If that doesn't tempt him, I don't know what else would.

Posted by: Devon Young at October 29, 2007 05:55 PM

Of all the things that are said about Scott Boras, I never heard it said that he doesn't know what he's doing, or that he deliberately acts against his client's best interests.

He has a tremendous track record of getting the best deals for his clients. I mean, for all of the criticism JD Drew got handed for opting out of his deal, he got a huge contract and ended up on a World Series champion, while his old team didn't make the playoffs! What more could Drew have asked for from his agent?

Looking at this through the "Boras is competent" lens, I'd guess that he has assurances (or at the least, an as-soon-as-its-legal-we'll-make-an-offer) that A-Rod's deal will top what the Yankees were prepared to offer initially. He doesn't advise his client to make this move unless he's pretty damn sure that the money is out there.

This puts tremendous pressure on the Yankees, at least from a PR perspective. Losing A-Rod takes them from a playoff team to on the outside looking in, and that's going to be hard to hold to when they realize exactly what they have on their hands.

Posted by: Subrata Sircar at October 29, 2007 06:28 PM

Theo - please just say no!! This guy has no idea what a team is. Let him go to San Francisco where they don't mind having a player put up gaudy individual stats while the team goes nowhere.

Re-sign Mike Lowell

Posted by: nomars_girl at October 29, 2007 11:09 PM
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