In the comments to my previous post on Travis Lee, some people pointed to rumors of a Yankees-Rangers deal that would bring A-Rod to NY. They seemed more like speculation to me at the time, so I didn’t comment on them. The last comment, however, points to this article by NY Newsday, which says the deal is just about done.
The Yankees are expected to send a minor-league pitcher along with Soriano to Texas to complete the deal.
The impetus for the deal was Rodriguez’s surprising willingness to agree to play third base. Once Rodriguez signaled to the Yankees that he’d be willing to play third for them and defer the coveted shortstop position to Derek Jeter, a longtime friend, the talks moved very quickly.
Soriano for Rodriguez is a great deal, especially since money doesn’t matter to the Yankees. It’s the wrong move in terms of defense; Jeter is the one who should move. And of course, who’s going to play 2nd?
Actually, they are going to score so many runs they can probably get by without a second baseman. A murder’s row of A-Rod, Giambi and Sheffield (in any order you choose), surrounded by Jeter, Posada, Williams and Matsui. All Lofton and the new second baseman have to do is play defense.
You think Boston fans are a little upset?
Update: Looks like Bambino’s Curse is taking the news just fine.
Since you don’t want profanity in your comments, I have absolutely nothing to say about this.
If this deal goes down, Jeter will end up playing 3B by 2005, because it will become apparent, even to him, that it would be in the team’s best interests.
I agree with Rich. Jeter is probably the least “ego-driven” player on the team. If it becomes clear to him that A-Rod is far better off at SS than 3B (and thus, that HE is better off @ 3B than at SS), I strongly suspect Jeter himself would be the one telling Joe (or whomever) to make the switch.
Any chance MLB squashes this because it’s bad for baseball?
It’s not bad for baseball. The biggest star in the biggest market. $$$$$$
Lots of media hype. Potential ratings boost. I would think MLB is happy.
Wow – even as a Yankees fan, I’m not sure how I feel about this. Vaguely embarrassed, to be frank. And talk about pressure to perform. If this team doesn’t relegate the ’98 Yanks to “yea, that team was OK” forgotten footnote status…
But hey – not like I have any basis to complain. And even if this is a bust, just the thought of some steam coming out of Epstein’s ears makes the enterprise worthwhile.
Oh, and ESPN just reported that Jose Contreras is the pitcher going to the Rangers.
I don’t agree with the much-advanced theory that it is good for baseball to have the “biggest star in the biggest market.” Why would that matter to anyone? I’m in Chicago, and I don’t like it, I don’t see why anyone in Texas would like it (other than those fools who think Rodriquez’ contract is the reason they can’t win), I don’t see why anybody would like it except for Yankees fans. Will this make more money for the Yankees? They don’t need it. What about MLB? Well, the Yankees will pay more luxury tax money. Big fizz.
None of what is happening is good for baseball. The Red Sox have decided they have to spend to match the Yankees, the Yankees then decide to out spend the Red Sox. again The best that could happen to baseball, sad to say for a Red Sox fan, is for Toronto to win the American League East and Baltimore the wild card.
Who will the rangers play at SS if this happens???
Soriano started as a SS. Michael Young has spelled Arod the past two years (11 games in 2002 and 7 games in 2001) and if Soriano plays 2b he could move over. Some articles talked about the Rangers moving Soriano into CF. Then the Rangers could have a Young-Young double play combo with Eric Young (who they signed as a FA this offseason) playing 2b and Michael Young at SS.
the Yankees should move Jeter to 2B, and keep A-Rod at SS. Otherwise, they’ve got a combination of Wilson and Cairo playing 2B. With Jeter at 2B, they can have a combo of Houston and Lamb at 3B and that’s probably better.
I’m from Minnesota, and a Twins fan… I probably shouldn’t comment on if it’s “Good for Baseball!”
ARod + Jeter = World Series champs Florida Marlins payroll.
Just makes the rings sweeter.
http://www.geocities.com/firebrandal
I’m taking the news fine also.
If the Yanks are deadset with Jeter at SS and A-Rod at third, then they should just pick up a 2B who can play defense really well (like Pokey Reese… wait, he’s with the Red Sox). 2B don’t hit well anyway and it will at least make the defense strong in two positions. They don’t need the hitting and the defense would be much more valuable. I just don’t know who is out there.
Also, Mike Young would be a disaster at SS. He has a -11 per 162 games in UZR (2000-2003) at 2B and short is a harder position. Soriano is average with bad hands and Young just doesn’t have range. That might get ugly…
Conteras is not going to Texas. The Star-Telegram reports that Texas will choose from a list of minor leaguers in Spring Training:
http://www.dfw.com/mld/dfw/sports/7955996.htm
You’re right, Jeremy. The Yanks could probably use their own Pokey Reese. Next up: luring Mike Bordick back from the brink of retirement.
Seriously, though, all this has me thinking about is how sweet the yearly Subway Series would have been with both A-rod and Vlad headlining. The Mets have passed on both; expect us to turn down a trade of Pujols for Cliff Floyd and Mr. Met any day now.
So the Yankees _may_ have locked up the AL East crown with this trade.
(1) They still have to win the games during the season to do it. In a division that is arguably the toughest in baseball. Through injuries.
(2) They now have a defensive infield – particularly if A-Rod plays 3rd – that in terms of questions comes close to matching the defensive skills of their outfield.
(3) As many, and many more in the future, will say: Pitching, pitching, pitching. Now, compare THAT to the 1998 Yankee staff.
Being an Indians fan, I have very little feelings on whether this is good or bad for baseball. But I will say this: it IS good for the two teams involved. The Yankees find their 3rd baseman and the Rangers get $167 million.
And John, as I see it, after 4 straight last place finishes and the owner’s public statements about trimming payroll, I’d think virtually every single Rangers fan would be ecstatic over this. John Hart left Mike Shappiro with a bloated payroll of aging stars in Cleveland. He left them with almost nothing below the Major League level. Yet, he did bring them to two World Series – funny, but I seem to recall during those days the Indians were the ONLY team who could beat the Yankees in October – and given a chance to use his new-found payroll flexibility with the Rangers, I’m sure Hart can make the Rangers come closer to competing with the other teams in the AL West.
The only Pokey Reese lever second baseman who might be available it Orlando Hudson on Toronto. He has a comparable career Range Factor (Hudson: 5.73 , Reese: 5.60), but a lower Zone Rating (Hudson: .835, Reese: .876). And in case you’re wondering, Miguel Cairo’s second base numbers aren’t too shabby, either – Range Factor: 5.30, Zone Rating: .820.
“You’ll experience Alex Rodriguez. When you summon your earliest memories of watching baseball, he might be part of them. But you won’t remember him as a Ranger, and that’s an unhappy thing for me.” – Jamie Newberg, in a letter to his infant daughter, at Newbergreport.com.
I know that many Rangers fans will be happy to be rid of the [second] best player in baseball because they believe what they’ve been told – that his contract keeps Texas from improving. Nonetheless, they’ve been told wrong. Texas problem is actually a GM who traded for Einar Diaz and signed Dellucci, Park, Jordan, Powell, VanPoppel, and many others to terrible, overpriced contracts. As long as Hart retains his inability to understand baseball economics – not to mention judge the difference between a good player and a poor one – the Rangers will always be losers, even if they had the Yankees’ payroll.
So, the Rangers will lose a great player and, presumably, sign Soriano to a 10-year, 150 mil. contract (or not,) with a possible Baerga plunge built in, and be losers forever. BUT! Some Rangers fans will be happy for the next two months because The Contract was purged and they are told everything is all right now. Still not “good for baseball,” as I see it.
Let’s see if there’s a jump in Rangers season ticket sales after the trade, shell we?
I don’t understand how getting A-Rod and moving him to 3rd makes this a better defensive infield than before Boone went down.
A-Rod is a better SS than Jeter, it’s not even close. Jeter’s main weakness, his range, is not as great a factor at 3rd as it is at SS. And Jeter definitely has the arm to play 3rd.
Instead, A-Rod, possibly the best defensive SS in the AL, gets to learn a new position. In February, right around the time Ps and Cs start reporting. He may eventually turn out to be a great 3B, but probably not in 2004.
Meanwhile, the Yankees STILL have the worst defensive SS in the AL. Isn’t SS still considered to be the most important defensive position in the field?
I have to join the bad for baseball camp – P&C report in days, and a team with a $200M+ payroll has a 3B who has never played a game there, and questions over who will play at 2B?
And that is setting aside the fact that any team, let alone a team with the highest payroll in baseball, can buy the best SS in baseball, to use him at 3B – but hey, at least he is in the biggest market….
Happy Valentine’s Day, Aaron Boone
It’s been an up and down tenure for Aaron Boone in the Bronx, hasn’t it? First, he come to New
Didn’t the Yankees snap up the old Cuban 2nd baseman? Think he’d get a chance to compete?
I considered that today Mike. His name is Duenas and I think, as long as he can play some good D, he’ll start. They can punt the 9 spot for good D. They have the hitting, now they need to keep Brown from going insane.
I don’t think the Yankees have helped themselves all that much to win a short series. Sure they may win 120 in the regular season. But they could still lose the ALCS or World Series because
1. Jeter/Giambi/Sheff/name a “fielder” boots one in Game 7.
2. Brown hears “and that one JUUUST got past Jeter’s outstreched glove” for about the 200th time, and has a mental breakdown right there on the mound.
3. George fires Torre on the eve of Game 7, just because he can.
4. Oh come on, you know you can think of at least a dozen others.
i’m sure george will pony up to purchase a second baseman. unlike just about everyone else, he doesn’t seem to think that the main purpose of owning a team is to turn a profit. he actually thinks winning is the real goal. what a concept.
what i’m really looking forward to is the upcoming catfight between derek and arod, los dos “captains” who makes reggie’s comment about being the straw that stirs the drink look like self sacrifice. i’m hoping they duke it out in bathing suits in a mudbath, like those 2 women on dynasty used to do. now THAT would be good for baseball.
other than that, i think that the yanks will be the runaway winners. because they have absolutely the very best hitting and the pitching is good and i think that will outweigh the fact that the fielding is, uh, horse*&$#. i think i’m glad i’m not a boston fan. wonder what sosh has to say (heh heh heh) not that you care.
i really hope this doesn’t persuade the union that they should have salary caps and parity like the (yeccccch) nfl.
Disaster for baseball. How can ANYONE say it’s good for baseball to have a team with a payroll that is 50% more than the 2nd highest payroll in the game and well more than double the average league payroll. Teams like Baltimore (not your average small market team) will be outspent by 2x by Boston and 3x by NY. How is that good for baseball?
“Musina winds up, here’s the pitch. High popup – Alex coming in from third – Posada throws away his mask – who’s got it? Now Jeter’s calling for it – Mussina directing traffic – they can’t hear him. Oh No.
OH NO!
How can that happen? How can that HAPPEN? That’s a HORRIBLE colission. Oh my God….
pAy-Rod
Alex Rodriguez to the NY Yankees? I’m surprised my colleague Armed Liberal hasn’t yet cited the whole sitation as an argument supporting the concept of redistribution. This neo-conservative is certainly wondering.
Blockbuster Baseball News
It’s official: the kid, who promises to lift the storied franchise from its recent postseason doldrums, has indeed left small-market obscurity in favor of big-media glamour. Will he be able to handle the transition and the limelight? Only time will…
Blockbuster Baseball News
It’s official: the kid, who promises to lift the storied franchise from its recent postseason doldrums, has indeed left small-market obscurity in favor of big-media glamour. Will he be able to handle the transition and the limelight? Only time will…
I really don’t know whether this is good or bad (or both) for baseball. But if the alternative is NFL “parity”; a couple of standouts, a couple of train wrecks, and most everyone else battling for the thrill of finishing either 9-7 or 7-9, I’ll take baseball, thanks.
Another reason Selig/MLB is happy:
Big distraction from Friday’s big steroid story.
ui dont reall care what and bo sox fan says the yankees are the best team and you know it they might not have the best pitching but who needs it when you can score 20 25 runs a game . so yu knwow red sox fans shut the hel up and knwo our role becasue here comes another yankees dynasty!!!!!!!!!!
Y is everyone saying that AROD is a better fielder than Jeter u guys underate him so much. Yeah AROD won a couple gold gloves but Jeter makes impossible plays look easy if I was coming into the leauge i would want to be like Derek
This is the yankees were talkin bout here…its jeters team…..jeter aint gunna move….i dont care how good u people think arod is….and u think hes better than jeter…..jeter lead them to 4 rings….arod hasnt even come close to seeing a ring….there is no way jeter is moving over….arod came to play 3rd and that is gunna be where he is staying
you people think arod and jeter dont get along when its the fans saying that dont…and all the stupid news tabloids….all i know is imma be watchin arod at 3rd and jeter at short winning almost every game.. and lets not forget who the best short stop is in the post season…jeter