| The A-Rod Scuffle |
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| Written by Troy Chuinard | |
| Thursday, 11 October 2007 | |
Now that the Yankees’ season has come to a sad end, just what does this mean for A-rod and his future with the organization? Many wonder whether or not Rodriguez will stay loyal to the pinstripes.
Up to 10 days after this season’s World Series, Rodriguez has the choice of opting out of his contract. Experts predict that A-Rod will no doubt test the free agent market, as his agent, Scott Boras, has already stated that his most famous client will be looking for a deal somewhere in the $30 million/year range. Right away, this eliminates several bidders, as the price tag of A-Rod will only be affordable in the league’s top markets. Given that the Yankee organization received an enormous subsidy from Texas to help pay for A-Rod’s services, it is highly unlikely that New York will bring him back. The team just does not have the kind of money to invest in A-Rod, and there are plenty of other priorities that the ball club needs to consider. For instance, veterans Jorge Posada and Mariano Rivera will also become free agents this off-season, and if the Yankees don’t want their team to fall apart, they need to focus on more than one target. But who knows? We are talking about the organization that paid Roger Clemens $28 million to pitch for less than a complete season. So what if A-Rod does hit the free agent market? His services will most likely be desired by very few teams, as the price that comes along with Mr. Rodriguez will put a sizable dent in any General Manager’s pocket. After all, agent Scott Boras is known to finalize the most expensive deals, and considering that A-Rod is probably the game’s top performer, it is no question that his potential upcoming contract will be the largest to date in Major League Baseball history. Where will Alex Rodriguez be playing next season? This is the question that every baseball fan will be pondering until a deal is made. Analysts have narrowed it down to a few locations. One probable destination is the north side of Chicago. Lou Piniella has been known to have one of the biggest impacts on Rodriguez, which dates back to when the two were both part of the Seattle Mariners ball club. However, with the pending sale of the Chicago Cubs in baseball limbo, it is unknown whether or not the organization is able to make any outstanding transactions prior to the completion of the sale. Surprisingly, rumors have circulated that agent Boras has been in talks with some of the potential owners about giving A-Rod stock in the Cubs as part of a deal. Will Wrigleyville serve as A-Rod’s next destination? The west coast teams are also known to be potential bidders. The Angels, Dodgers, and Giants could all make strong pushes, as all of those organizations are in need of a slugging third-baseman. Now that the Giants have confirmed that they won’t be making an offer to Barry Bonds, they will clearly be in need of a premiere superstar to fill the seats at AT&T Park. As for the Angels, it seems as if this team has had nothing but a hard time getting over the postseason hump. After being swept by the Boston Red Sox during this year’s playoffs, General Manager Bill Stoneman most likely has something up his sleeve. Finally, the Los Angeles Dodgers have been in desperate need of a third-baseman after showing much defensive inconsistency from that position. With the injury-prone Nomar Garciaparra a constant question mark, the team will be looking to solidify the left side of their infield this off-season. Wherever the destination may be, it will be very exciting to witness one of the most lucrative deals in Major League Baseball history take place when Alex Rodriguez and Scott Boras come to a conclusion.             |
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