July 16, 2007
A-Rod To Boston? Really?
Alex Rodriguez playing for the Boston Red Sox. The dream scenario we envisioned and almost came to fruition in the winter of 03-04 once again has a chance to turn into reality.
It’s completely understandable that mixed feelings enter the scene when discussing Rodriguez. He’s on pace for 56 HR and 158 RBI in his age-31 season. He is a pompous, self-indulging brat that tried to pick a fight with Jason Varitek. There is an excellent chance Rodriguez will end his career as the greatest player of all-time and the home run king. He bush-leagued his way through Game 6 of the 2004 ALCS, slapping the ball out of Bronson Arroyo’s hand illegally. He has a career .306/.387/.577 line. He jumped ship to the Yankee boat almost immediately after the Red Sox deal fell apart and after he lied about returning to the Texas Rangers.
As we all have heard, Alex Rodriguez has the chance to opt out of his Yankee obligations following this season. In 2007, Rodriguez got off to a dynamic start and has not slowed down. He’s on pace for 189 hits, 149 runs, 40 doubles, a .306 average and the previously mentioned 56 HR and 158 RBI, the highest run producing total of his storied career and only 1 HR behind his 2002 mark. He leads the league in VORP at 54.5, along with a .338 EqA, and those numbers are down from most of this season. The year before his opt-out clause kicks in is the year A-Rod decided to really turn it on. With Scott Boras being his agent and looking for 30M annually, let the bidding begin.
Ken Rosenthal is 100% sure A-Rod is gone. Of course, the Yankees could still work out an extension with Rodriguez after he opts out, but leaving the constant front-page harassment and intense scrutiny of New York is a plus for Rodriguez. Always hounded by the media and the baseball world for one verbal slip and under the spotlight of being a 25 million dollar man for the Yankees can get old fast. For A-Rod to escape and find a new start in a new city could reap major benefits.
The California teams are being mentioned as possible destinations. The Angels are the early frontrunners and Artie Moreno has great admiration for A-Rod. The Giants and Dodgers have been mentioned. The Cubs and White Sox, too. The other team involved in the rumblings is none other than your Boston Red Sox.
Could this possibly make sense? Even though the media and fan scrutiny is just as intense in Boston, would A-Rod be convinced to come here? Fenway Park has been kind to Rodriguez in his career, with a .366/.534/.900 line, 19 HR and 52 RBI. Yes sir, A-Rod is slugging .900 in Fenway Park. With Scott Boras likely suggesting A-Rod go to the highest bidder, and Boston having the most financial wiggle room outside of the Yankees, there is an opportunity.
A New York Daily News article reporting of the Red Sox interest also says that the wooing could go past Theo Epstein. It would be against his will to lock up a player after his age-31 season for about 20% of the payroll, even a player of A-Rod’s caliber. It’s star-loving Larry Lucchino, who was against the Nomar trade, wanted Pedro and Damon back and was the primary negotiator for A-Rod after 2003, that would push for the deal. He also realizes the slap in the face the Sox give the Yanks would be simply terrific.
Can it work financially? Here are the additions/subtractions to the Red Sox payroll for 2008:
Additions
$2M more for Manny Ramirez
$1M more for Julio Lugo
$2M more for Daisuke Matsuzaka
$3.5M more for Josh Beckett
$1.25M more for Coco Crisp
Subtractions
$13M for Curt Schilling
$9.5M for Matt Clement
$9M for Mike Lowell
$2.8M for Eric Hinske
$4M for Joel Pineiro
$2.8M for Mike Timlin
Doing the math, Theo and his cohorts have 31M to use for the 2008 season if they plan on keeping the payroll in the 143M vicinity. Even if A-Rod gets a 7 year, 210M deal offer from the Red Sox, that still fits in the payroll picture. Also, a lot of those subtractions can be easily replaced. Schilling leaves to make room for Buchholz or Lester. Clement isn’t even a part of the picture next year, maybe only for a huge salary decrease. Lowell leaves for A-Rod. Hinske is gone. The two bullpen arms, Timlin (who will likely retire) and the mostly ineffective Pineiro can be replaced. That’s a lot of salary coming off the books for average to below average players.
The Red Sox could sign A-Rod this winter for 7/210 and still maintain a payroll for 2008 no higher than 150 million. The addition to the payroll is less than 5% from 2007 and still more than 40 million less than the Yankees. It makes sense.
Would an investment of this length and bulk be smart for the Red Sox? The five-year forecast by PECOTA would disagree with the deal, but they also predicted Rodriguez to finish 2007 with 34 HR and 107 RBI, along with a .288/.385/.531 line and a 48.0 VORP, far below his actual totals. In 2011, PECOTA predicts A-Rod’s VORP will be at 22.0 by his age-35 season with just 79 RBI.
Rodriguez shows no signs of slowing down. His body is in tremendous shape, his defense has become very stellar and his offensive capabilities have no limits. He could easily replace Ramirez if we find the need to trade him, or Rodriguez can join a fearsome lineup already with Ortiz and Manny. The 2008 Red Sox lineup could be: Ellsbury (CF), Pedroia (2B), Ortiz (DH), Rodriguez (3B), Ramirez (LF), Youkilis (1B), Drew (RF), Varitek (C) and Lugo (SS) with a rotation of Beckett, Matsuzaka, Buchholz, Lester and Wakefield, or a free-agent pickup. Also, the bullpen will be mostly back.
It depends on Rodriguez. Are the hard feelings from his experiences in Boston too much to chance loyalties so quickly? Of course, this would all change with the first standing ovation from the Fenway crowd after a Monster seats home run. If A-Rod and Red Sox fans alike can forget past experiences and embrace a 50 HR hitter like they should, Rodriguez on Boston isn’t that far-fetched. This could be where listening to Scott Boras pays major dividends.
Lucchino and Henry will make the push, and the 2007-2008 offseason could get very interesting.
Discussion
40 Comments on "A-Rod To Boston? Really?"
#1
Posted by Daniel Rathman, July 16, 2007 12:01 AM
Sean O:
The VORP-translation for that would make the PECOTA computer blush.
John:
Do you honestly think Scott Boras would agree to anything less than a six-year deal worth $30M+ for each of those years? 2-years, $76M just doesn't make a whole lot of sense for either party.
#2
Posted by Evan Brunell, July 16, 2007 12:36 AM
Would I like A-rod? Uh, yeah.
At the 6-y 30mm price? See ya.
#3
Posted by Daniel Rathman, July 16, 2007 1:07 AM
It's probably remote, but Holy Toledo would it be awesome to have Papi-ARod-Manny batting consecutively in our lineup.
The interesting thing is, Rosenthal said during the Giants/Dodgers game on Saturday that the Sox could offer A-Rod as much as $38 million per year, in a front-loaded deal that could also include perks -- potentially an opt-out clause -- without placing much additional financial strain on Henry and Co.
Our potential lineup next year:
1. Drew, RF
2. Pedroia, 2B
3. Papi, DH
4. A-Rod, 3B
5. Manny, LF
6. Youkilis, 1B
7. Varitek, C
8. Crisp/Ellsbury, CF
9. Lugo, SS
It's too good to be possible. It can't happen. But I'll be dreaming about it tonight!
#4
Posted by Mike Edelman, July 16, 2007 1:38 AM
A-Rod also has players who actually like him on the Red Sox. In New York there's significant clubhouse tension between A-Rod and at least some of the other players. In Boston he'd be able to play with some of his best friends in Manny Ramirez and David Ortiz.
Also, when A-Rod does opt out of his contract, even if he does resign with the Yankees it will cost them $29 million. Because when A-Rod opts out of his current contract, the Rangers will then be able to keep the $29 million they still owe the Yankees for A-Rod's current contract. So either way, whether A-Rod eventually leaves the Yankees or stays with them, he will be crippling their ability to rebuild. The ideal situation however would be for A-Rod to go to the Red Sox. It could set back the Yankees for years, even with their obnoxious payroll. They're a .500 team even with A-Rod carrying them and there's no way they could replace A-Rod's production or defensive abilities.
#5
Posted by Mike Edelman, July 16, 2007 1:42 AM
The Red Sox could also cut an additional $4 million by replacing Crisp with Ellsbury. And then after 2008, the Red Sox will no longer be paying for Renteria's contract and the Red Sox could cut another $20 million a year if they choose not to exercise Manny's club option.
I'd also like to see the Red Sox go after a defensive minded shortstop if they do sign A-Rod. They wouldn't be hurting for offense and if they sign a good defensive shortstop, they'd likely have the best infield defense in baseball. They'd probably have to pay for some of Lugo's contract or throw in a decent prospect.
They could definitely work something out though.
#6
Posted by mouse, July 16, 2007 1:43 AM
All I can think is "cognitive dissonance."
A-Rod's a tremendous player having a tremendous year. He'd certainly help the Red Sox win a lot of ballgames, and isn't that what matters most?
And yet I hate the guy so much. He's such a preening jerk and can be a pretty big distraction. The tabloid headlines, the bush-league plays in the field, etc. During the homerun derby, when all the other All-Stars were hanging out and having fun on the field with their kids and teammates, A-Rod was wearing a suit because he'd made dinner reservations during the event. (This was all revealed on ESPN's cameras if you missed it.) That image sums it up a lot better than words somehow.
I keep waffling on the idea of A-Rod in Boston. He's a great player and really, the most logical sucessor to the impending post-Manny era not named Miguel Cabrera. But I just can't stand him as a person. Ugh. My brain...it hurts.
#7
Posted by Daniel Rathman, July 16, 2007 1:57 AM
Nice to hear from you again, Mike!
Good point about $4M coming from making the Crisp/Ellsbury switch; I just hope Coco does some serious raking in the second half to get us a chance at a decent prospect in a trade.
#8
Posted by Patrick MacKenzie, July 16, 2007 3:49 AM
I enjoy reading your blog, but the one thing that bothers me about it is the same thing that bothers me about what I perceive to be Boston's front office's perspective on players -- there's a tendency to crunch numbers and not look at other aspects regarding that player. I will bet my ball sack that J.D. Drew, when it's all said and done, will be a bust. He is not a Boston guy. He's soft, he's weak, he's a puss. He will never possess the intangabiles we desire, no matter how hard you try to convince us that he's going to be okay. Fans want to root for players they can identify with. Derek Jeter? He could be a Boston guy -- no question about it. Every Red Sox fan I've ever met hates the Yankees but respects Jeter. If Jeter was available, our fans would embrace him with open arms. But despite what the media may try to portray, we will NEVER want Alex Rodriguez. We hate him. I don't care if he saves a kid from a burning house. I hate him. I hate Roger Clemens. I hate Barry Bonds. And so does every other Red Sox fan I know. And if the Sox got any of these guys, we would lose interest in the team. The Sox don't need A-Rod to fill seats -- they will sell out the next 3 seasons at least, regardless, so what ancillary benefit does he provide? I can't see the Sox offering him more than $20 million tops (that would be $7 million more per year than David Ortiz gets), so I imagine they wouldn't get him anyway, but if ownership pushes for it, I think Theo Epstein will resign as General Manager. Do you really want that? One last thought -- if money is the primary concern, A-Rod SHOULD re-sign with the Yankees because they will overpay -- despite the "rumblings," he will get a contract much close to $20 million than $30 million. Sucks to be him, huh?
#10
Posted by Shane, July 16, 2007 8:10 AM
I wonder if A-Rod could still play shortstop. I'd rather replace Lugo than Lowell. :)
#11
Posted by Jcs, July 16, 2007 9:26 AM
Judging from the current lack of power in our farm system, I think A-Rod will be in Boston. I really do.
Numbers don't lie. Period. All of this not a Boston player bullshit is not fair to the players or the fans. Look at Coco, he's FINALLY come around (albeit too late with Ellsbury breathing down his neck) and it took him over a season to do so.
It's a difficult decision to make, I totally understand this. ARod, the guy's a fake, an egomaniac, etc....The list of negative adjectives can go on for hours. However, I'm willing to look past that for the numbers alone. He brings protection to the lineup, solves all of our trading Manny woes if Mr. Ramirez gets into another "I want out of Boston" hissy fit. He adds not only power and runs to the lineup, but he also adds speed and adds someone who has proven to be quite heatlhy throughout his career. There's no questioning his drive to play every day and play at a high level every day, bush league plays aside.
There's also this fact. I'm not entirely positive about this one (maybe one of the Firebranders can look it up, I'm at work, you may be too, sorry!) but I'll say it anyways. For the most part ARod has been on teams with slightly above average/average or below average pitching staffs. Yes this includes the Yankees staffs I would think. I think those old Mariners teams he was on were probably the best pitching he had going for him and ever since then it's been money and the winning has come secondary.
If the guy wants to win, it's a three horse race. The Sox, the Halos, or the Dodgers. Period. Each one of these teams will probably have the best pitching staff he's ever been a part of.
I just have a gut feeling here that we're going to sign the guy. It's going to be a great hot stove just for this whole ordeal alone. But I think at 31, the guy needs to go to a contender. I just hope he thinks that way as well. Maybe even to prove a point to New York.
Maybe he should take a cue from Manny and actually not speak to the media for a while, that may help his rep a bit. Just a bit though.
These are my thoughts. Please banter as you will.
#12
Posted by Sean O, July 16, 2007 9:39 AM
Can we get him today? That may be our only chance at salvaging this season.
As for the hypothetical of whether Jeter or Slappy would be more accepted here, I'd say A-rod by a longshot. Jeter is an overrated, overpaid, no-field shortstop, and Rodriguez is one of the top 5 players in baseball history.
I don't think we'll get him, but it'll be interesting. I'm still too worried about '07 to think about '08 in earnest.
#13
Posted by Daniel Rathman, July 16, 2007 9:53 AM
Sean O:
Did you see that? If Lucchino and Co. push for A-Rod, Theo might resign as GM!
#14
Posted by Sean O, July 16, 2007 9:56 AM
Daniel-
Don't toy with me. Getting the best player in baseball and losing the worst GM in once? Is there even a VORP-translation for that?
#16
Posted by Steven Roth, July 16, 2007 11:19 AM
I find it very hard to cheer A-Rod in a Red Sox uniform. It may just be me, but I couldn't do it. Just can't. Too many things have happened since he joined the Yankees.
As soon as we get Schilling and Manny's plus-sized contracts off the books, I hope we don't start shelling out the big bucks again.
Sean O - since you seem to get PISSED (which is getting old) every time the Sox lose a game, how will you feel when your Mr. 30 Million Dollar Man goes Oh for September/October and the Red Sox get knocked out of the playoffs.
#17
Posted by Sean O, July 16, 2007 11:27 AM
Steven-
If you had a basic grasp of logic, you'd realize that Rodriguez is due for a massive regression to the mean in October.
Also, GFY. If you want a hippy-dippy happy go lucky site, go to Joy of Sox.
#18
Posted by Joe, July 16, 2007 11:51 AM
Adding A-Rod is a great move. I have a little dispute on the plus/minuses of salary. The Sox should be up for some pay raises of some significance to Papelbon and Youkilis so you're probably looking at $4-5 million in arbitration awards (spitballing the number). But seriously, adding the best player in baseball....ummmm..yeah.
Anyway, back to the poster-on-poster crime now.
#19
Posted by John in MA, July 16, 2007 11:57 AM
Let me recap.
The Red Sox are lovable, affable losers who, against all odds, win a lot of games. We like players who are media-friendly to a fault. And we have cash to spare.
A-Rod is a whiny, petulant child who alienates himself, regardless of the team he signs with. But he just so happens to be the greatest hitter/infielder of our lifetime (we should debate other positions; pitchers, DHs, etc. separately). If healthy he will clearly smash the record books to pieces in more than one category.
Do you spend 30 million a season on someone who may dramatically improve our hitting, even if it means hurting the Yankees in the process?
For a short-term deal (4 year, 110 mil, limited-trade clause, opt-out after 2 years, incentives worth another 3 mil a season), I'd say yes. If things get really ugly and you have to dump him, I don't want to have the financial burden for another 6 years.
All this said, I'm totally against blowing up our current lineup.
Baseball is a marathon, not a footrace. The complainers that call up talk radio after one month and said Coco and Lugo should be traded are idiots.
Yes, certain players on our team are still under-producing. But by the end of the season, Coco could be hitting .269, Lugo at .240. Chances are any upgrade offensively is going to be a downgrade defensively.
People assume that Jacoby, a rookie, can walk in, play gold glove defense and hit .325 for less money. What if he struggles? How quickly do you turn against him?
Small adjustments win championships 99% of the time. Firesales only hurt team chemistry and piss off fans.
If we eliminate Lowell, we can pay for a short stint by A-Rod. We have the money and we've put up with problem children (Vaugh, Rameriez) before. If he's willing to forgive, I'm willing, even if he is a child.
But if you start tinkering with Cora at SS and Jacoby in LF and trading for Griffy Jr. or Tejada it just gets ridiculous.
#20
Posted by dave, July 16, 2007 1:01 PM
only one person mentioned putting Stray-Rod at short.
Nobody likes Lowell? can't Lugo be traded to get A-Rod? are we paying Lugo too much to make him tradable?
#21
Posted by Kevin R., July 16, 2007 1:08 PM
I'm with Evan. Great player (obviously), would do extremely well at Fenway, etc., etc.
But that's a lot of money. A lot a lot. Let the Angels (or better yet, the Dodgers or Mets or some other NL team, so we don't have to see him much anymore) tie up their payroll instead.
(Plus, the slap. That's still my basic image of him. Hell, let's just sign Giambi and Sheffield too, and the journey to the Dark Side will be complete.)
#22
Posted by JK, July 16, 2007 1:43 PM
ONLY IF ALEX GONZALEZ STAYED!!!!! u cant pay lugo 9 million a year to be a 200 hitter and a horrible defender, why cant we get rid of JD drew i was a huge fan of him when we signed him and i still am but if we can trade him for prospects we have wily mo to replace him, if this happens we need to get rid of jd and lugo together they r getting payed about 22 million a year.... and with the lineup we should have next yr if a-rod comes to boston that means 22 million for a 7 and 9 hitter.... i think wily mo can manage being the 7 hitter and plug in a prospect or a guy like alex gonzalez at short in the 9 hole...
#23
Posted by JK, July 16, 2007 2:21 PM
my red sox dream team for next season
1. ellsbury CF
2. pedroia 2b
3. Big papi dh
4. a-rod 3b
5. manny lf
6.youk 1b
7. wily mo rf
8. jtek c
9. ANYONE!!!! ss
sp's 1 beckett 2 dice-k 3. lester 4. buchholz 5 tim (or gabbard if buchholz isnt ready/ tim decides to retire(doubtful))
back ups- brandon moss, alex cora, doug mirabelli (kottraes if he retires), lars anderson(no way hes ready a different back up 1b tho)
RP
CL papelbon,
SU okajima
MR MDC, javier, brendan d, craig breslow and craig hansen LR julian tavarez
trading bait for maybe another arm in the bullpen, a defensive, SS, and prospects-
coco, jd, lugo, david murphy, michael bowden(not a huge fan personally)
#24
Posted by Sean O, July 16, 2007 2:55 PM
JD and Lugo are untradable, like it or not. It is unfortunate that Drew is a total power vacuum, as he's ours like it or not. Same with Lugo, no one was more against his signing than I, and yet I know we're stuck with him for the time being. Our only hope for moving him is a ridiculous 1/2 season next year, and we upgrade at the deadline.
Drew is still only 31, and he has tremendous power upside so i'm not giving up on him yet. But the move does look more questionable each day, especially if Moss and Jacoby keep up their raking.
#25
Posted by Daniel Rathman, July 16, 2007 3:07 PM
Drew is a solid overall ballplayer, powerless or not. He gives us great defense in RF, with a great arm, and he's a very good leadoff hitter who knows how to work the count and take a walk. Sure, $14M a year is excessive for that, but considering what he gives us, it's not a major fiasco.
Lugo on the other hand...well, if he can get his average up to .260-.270 overall, I'll take this year without too much complaining because that'd entail hitting .330 the rest of the way.
#26
Posted by Jason Michaels, July 16, 2007 3:40 PM
Keep dreaming. Red Soxs are not getting A-rod. He's either staying in New York or going out west, preferably in the NL. Think the Yankees are stupid enough to not outbid the Red Sox if they think A-rod is going to Boston? They already said they wouldn't enter a bidding war, but they also said they wouldn't negotiate during the season and just offered to. The Yankees lost a bidding war (albeit a private one) to the Sox in Matsuzaka. If A-rod is going to, the Yankees aren't stupid enough to allow it to be to Boston. The Boss is willing to outspend the Red Sox and whether or not anyone likes it, he will if it means keeping A-rod out of Boston.
Face it - Rodriguez stays in NY or goes somewhere out west. He won't be in Boston next year, sorry guys.
#27
Posted by Ken Fitzpatrick, July 16, 2007 3:52 PM
From a Yankee Fan-it's always interesting to read comments from the other side of the fence. A lot of truth and a lot of rage-the same everywhere. I only wrote because the person who said Jeter is a "no field" is an idiot. I hate Boston but like and respect several players, so give credit where it's due. My favorite guy to hate-Varitek. Why? He's good, he's clutch and he does well against us. Wish Wake could pitch every game to keep him out.
#28
Posted by cakey, July 16, 2007 4:14 PM
Here here Patrick. I'd rather lose without him than win with him.
#29
Posted by cakey, July 16, 2007 4:29 PM
wait wait this one is better lol
#30
Posted by cakey, July 16, 2007 4:29 PM
#31
Posted by M.A.G., July 16, 2007 4:30 PM
I hate A-Rod too. But I think we all can (and will) forgive and forgett if he bring his numbres to Boston.
We cannot denied the deal obviously makes sense. Yes, the guy will receive an obscene sum of money for a lot of years (maybe the rest of his career), but we are in the best possition of paying him without crippling our payroll, and without losing valuable prospects. Yeah, its a big investment, but the Red Sox certainly will receive gigantic revenues for him: A-Rod merchandising, The publicity, the future historical milestones he could achieve in a Red Sox uniform, and maybe the mayor slap in the face of the yankees in the history of baseball. So, money is not really an issue here...
On the other hand, we have the decline of Manny at hand, and we are gonna need to replace his power in the lineup sooner than later, so a deal for A-Rod certainly has sense, from any point of view...
Maybe it's too early to talk about it, but I think this is more than wild speculation. We have a very serious chance to land A-Rod next year.
#32
Posted by Evan Brunell, July 16, 2007 6:01 PM
I heard somewhere the Sox are thinking of offering a shorter contract for more money- 36m/4y or something like that. That'd be more feasible to me....
But jesus, 36m?
How are we even at the point where we're discussing 30?
This world...
#33
Posted by Daniel Rathman, July 16, 2007 6:42 PM
Evan:
Ken Rosenthal mentioned during the Giants/Dodgers game on Saturday that the Sox wouldn't face much additional financial strain if they offered $38 million to A-Rod, in a frontloaded deal, or a shorter one.
Rosenthal said something to the tune of 5-years, $182 million ($38M, $38M, $36M, $36M, $34M) could be a possibility, maybe with options at $32-35M for 2-3 more years.
Now that I think about it again though...it's almost unfathomable. Remember when we thought the same thing of the $52.1M bid for Dice-K?
#35
Posted by Steven Roth, July 16, 2007 10:35 PM
Sean O -
Happy hippy-dippy go fuck yourself. I refuse to support a team that shells out the entire Marlins payroll for one player that will wind up alienating the entire fan base.
#36
Posted by Clif, July 16, 2007 11:52 PM
I, like most of you cannot stand the guy, but I would rather have him then pitch to him. Bring Manny back unload some dead weight in the pitching staff(Clement, Piniero, Timlin will retire, and Schilling although I don't consider him dead weight). Bucholz, Ellsbury, Lester and Gabbard included and thats potentially the best pitching staff to go along with the most potent lineup since the Big Red Machine. And that is one hell of a core group of players for years to come. And most of all, Babe Ruth will roll over in his grave!
#37
Posted by damnyankee13, July 17, 2007 12:05 AM
Love/hate Arod, this is nothing but a power play by Boston management to drive up his salary in NY so the boss cant get other players. Ala the celtics/Knicks in the mid 70s.
Wont happen.
#38
Posted by rr, July 17, 2007 3:48 AM
lost in the fifties er 30s heres my take as a lifelong red sox fan arod would be nice and all the benes that go with him records and such what do you think this lineup would think about the currentaffairs of mlb , teddy in left jimmy piersallin center, jackiejensen inright, dick gernert 1st ted lepsio 2nd,don buttin budden short frank malzone 3rd, sammy white catcher tommy brewer rhp mel parnell lhp closer dick radatz and mike pinky higgins can mgr would he take arod for 30mil or more just some food for thought or would pumpsie green be allright just remembering who got you to this 2007-2008 party!!!
#39
Posted by Mike Edelman, July 17, 2007 4:01 AM
Jason, the Yankees have said they wouldn't bid for A-Rod if he doesn't sign an extension. The Yankees don't want to lose the $29 million they'd get to keep if A-Rod doesn't opt out of his current contract. So, the Red Sox may not even have to outbid the Yankees if A-Rod opts out of his contract, as he almost surely will. At least that's if the Yankees keep their word. They'll bend their Yankee "class" and "pride" in a second when they're as desperate as they are now.
A-Rod may also take less money to go to Boston. He won't be booed for putting up MVP type seasons there. A couple of his best friends are there. He has a better chance at winning a championship there. Plus, his legacy would be greater there. Not only would he famous for sinking the Yankees in leaving to their rivals, but Fenway Park would boost his career numbers. Imagine what A-Rod could do with that shallow wall at Fenway.
#40
Posted by Tomas, July 17, 2007 9:46 AM
I believe the sox are doing two things driving up the price for the NYY and letting Arod know we are game.
This guy has a need to be loved albeit he prefers blondes, I'm sure we can wig up for him.:-)
Narcissistic, oh hell yeah, so having a team lust after him might help the opt out thingie.
NYY would then counter by signing Lowell to a 3 year 40 mil deal just to spite us....
I don't want him here's why: $$$ we can better spend the money elsewhere like a Santana, Sabathia, Oswalt, Haren? (healthy) and a big bat. Nevermind pay Youk, Paps, Pedroia, Ellsbury, they will all be up for some dough during a 5-6 yr Arod contract.
Let him apply his lipstick in anaheim or LA or Chicago.....Boston we like hard core players thats why Drew has people flaming him.
Me no likey....
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