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So I wonder if this contract issue will motivate ARod to have a super-duper year or if all the questions about it, together with all of the questions from last year, will make for another exhausting and frustrating year.

I wonder...if A-Rod loves NY as much as he says he does in the press (and who knows if that's true) will he will direct Boras to try and work out an extension with the Yankees instead of opting out? If A-Rod's perceived "clutchiness" problems are resolved this season, wouldn't the Yankees be smart the extend him, rather than let him walk away?

The problem is, A-Rod won't be the "bargain" that he has been for the Yankees since I assume Texas would be off the hook for their portion of the salary if a new deal is struck. So I think the Yankees will wait for A-Rod to make the first move, and if A-Rod does, I think the Yankees will let him walk.

On one hand, I don't see anyway that he can make more than $72 million in 3 years. On the other, I never imagined contracts getting as ridiculous as they did this off-season. Personally, as good as he is, I don't see him being worth that much, and with his reputation, whether deserved or not, as a choker and headcase, it will probably scare some oweners away.

Anyway, I think Boras is doing his client a disservice in this case. The last thing A-Rod needs is ANOTHER distraction, and Boras has just filled a year's worth of tabloids for his client.

If Soriano can get $136M over 5 years as a 31 year old, why can't ARod get the same (or better) contract? ARod's better and more well-rounded than Soriano, is he not?

As for Boras doing his client a disservice, that's never stopped him before. Boras is only there to reap maximum financial rewards for his guys (and himself) and certainly doesn't seem to care about any distractions or bad press that he or his clients get.

Soriano's deal is for 8 years MJ. That's still $7 million shy of A-Rod's deal per year. I'm sure A-Rod can get more years right now, but I'm not sure he can get more dollars per year than he is getting. But who really knows?

The problem is, A-Rod won't be the "bargain" that he has been for the Yankees since I assume Texas would be off the hook for their portion of the salary if a new deal is struck.

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If he signs an extension, I think they're still on the hook. If they agreed to a whole new contract, though, I don't think they'd be responsible anymore.

My guess is that he can't get as much AAV, but he can get more years and more total money than 3/$72.

Yes, this is going to be another distraction this year -- a big one -- and Boras and A-Rod are too dumb to see it because they're both greedy little businessmen.

How annoying will it be by the All-Star Break when fifteen million stories have been written about the idea that A-Rod could potentially leave?

The fact that Boras basically gave credence to the idea that A-Rod might leave is just absurd -- after all the distractions A-Rod has had, why reinforce another?

A-Rod could have solved this issue quite easily. The Yankees came to him this off-season and asked if he would waive his no-trade. Nope, he said, I want to finish my career as a Yankee (he says this to the press too). Okay, Cashman should have said, prove to me that this is true -- let's eliminate your opt-out clause.

If A-Rod is so serious about staying with the team and winning with them, he would have gotten rid of his clause so it wouldn't be an issue.

To not do so is to be the phony everyone thinks he is. Either be definitive about it or just be quiet.

By the way, pitchers and catchers haven't even reported yet and it's already all A-Rod all the time. Ha, ha, ha, ha. Something tells me it's going to be like last year all over again. Oy.

The big question is... Will someone be willing to give him ~23MM/year for 8 years starting in '08? Possible, but unlikely. If that type of deal isn't out there, he's probably not going anywhere. Here's why... According to ESPN, A-Rod has 81MM coming his way over the next three years. That's ~27MM per. Let's say someone offers him 160MM for 8 years. Excluding '07, he has to give up ~55MM over 2 years (08-09) to get it, so he ends up at ~17MM per for the next 6 after that. Not chump change, but less than he might otherwise get. Someone would have to offer him ~180MM over 8 years to cover the 55MM he's got lined up in 08-09, then allow him to average out ~21MM per for the next 6. The list of teams that can or would pay him 180MM for 8 years is short. Boston? No way; not with that Dice-K contract, Drew's deal, and Manny still owed 20MM in '09; the Mets? Possible, but he's still facing the NY press and loses the chance to DH down the line, so why bother; from the Mets point of view, they’ve got some pretty good infielders on the left side for a lot less. Dodgers, possible, but very unlikely given their history and the DH issue. Someone else? Tell me who.

The other interesting thing about his contract is, again, according to ESPN... "It includes a clause giving Rodriguez the freedom to opt out after the 2007 season, and again in 2008 or 2009 if he's not earning $1 million more than the second highest-paid position player in the game." No way anyone will be within 1MM of his salary, so it's leave after 07, punt the 55MM he has under contract (which the Rangers, above all, would love), and hope he can get 180MM or more for the next 8 years, -- OR -- stay put, play well, win some rings, and hit up the Yankees for 6 years at ~130 - 135MM after '09. If he's smart and has the guts to stay in NY, he'll end all this discussion and seek that kind of deal extension with the Yankees sometime over the next year or two. Boras will council against it, always egotistic enough to think he can wangle more in the open market. However, A-Rod must know that the stigma of his original Boras created contract monster is, at least, 50% of his woes. On the Yankees side, 6 at ~ 130 -135MM after '09 makes sense. Salaries will be creeping up by then, he'll be young enough to still be a big contributor, and he’ll be chasing all kinds of big league records in the last few years of that contract. “Come watch A-Rod pass the Babe’s record”…. “Come watch A-Rod bring the all-time home run title back to Yankee Stadium and wipe that steroid stain from the baseball record books”… will sell and sell big. Also, look at it from A-Rod’s side. 55MM for 08 & 09, plus 130-135 for the 6 after that adds up to 185-190MM over the next 8 years. If he opts out of the current contract after ‘07, to come out ahead on the dollars, he’ll need to find someone willing to give him 8 years at 185-190MM (23-24MM per), just to break even

FWIW...Here's the link to the ESPN article where I got the 81MM over the next 3 and the quote about the contract option clause in '08 and '09...

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/hotstove06/columns/story?columnist=crasnick_jerry&id=2755852

That's a great post, #15; your logic seems indisputable. I bet that it is pretty much what the Yankees thought, because, if the Yankees were really worried about the opt-out clause, I bet they would have explored trade offers more seriously this offseason.

jonm, the fact that Cashman went to A-Rod to ask him to waive his no-trade (according to Joel Sherman) means he WANTED to explore trade options, but wasn't able to. There was no point seeing what he could pry from the Angels if A-Rod would kill a deal. I think Cashman got the word from Boras that A-Rod wouldn't waive the no-trade and then he hit the press with "We have no intention of trading Alex Rodriguez."

great. another season of Arod-gate.

Boras and Arod are obviously going to explore options after the season. if they get a better offer than he has now, they'll take it, simple as that. The Angels are a possibility. And why not the Cubs? They could move him back to SS.

baileywalk,
I disagree. If the Yankees were really worried about losing ARod after next year, they would have done things differently. They would have worked out a deal with the Angels and then went to ARod. Then, they would have brought the Angels into the discussions; the Angels would have given him his extension; and the deal would have been done. If the Yankees had thought that losing ARod was a live possibility, they would have not risked the distraction and risked just getting a draft pick next year as compensation.

#15's argument supports this interpretation. Do you think that there's a team that is willing to give him $180 million over 8 years?

Travis,
I’m pretty sure that A-Rod wouldn't be allowed to negotiate while under the existing contract. Hicks made a mistake, but that would be criminally stupid. A-Rod would have to opt out (thereby leaving that golden egg on the table), and then start talking to other teams. Jonm’s point is good. While A-Rod can't talk to other teams (or they to him because of tampering rules), there is no restriction on the Yankees having "what-if" conversations with teams to see what the market might be for A-Rod. If they get some positive response, they approach A-Rod as see if it will float.

Bailey,
The point is not what Cash wants to do, but rather that A-Rod has crazy money coming to him for 08 & 09. So crazy in fact, that only a wildly off-trend deal (or unfathomable discontent with playing in NY) could encourage him to move on after ‘07. With that said, Hicks proves that owners can make big mistakes and badly overpay. Boras might think he can get some other owner to make a similar mistake. After 09, there might be several (but not too many) teams willing to pay ~130-135MM for 6 years, assuming he doesn't fall off in the next 3 years.

Anyone else think the Giants might be interested in ARod next season? They've already had Bonds so they are used to the hoopla and he will more than likely be retired next season and ARod will be a saint compared to Barry. I'm sure he would feel alot less pressure from the media out on the west coast. I think that is the perfect situation for ARod and the Giants would need his big bat to replace Bonds. They just shelled out that big deal to Zito so who's to say they wouldn't give up some cash to ARod(if they can still afford it). Also, if ARod does opt out at the end of the year and leaves for basically more money, he will get bashed even more because he already has a 252 million dollar contract and at this stage in his career he should be more concerned about winning than getting paid. So if he doesn't stay with the Yankees who are always in contention, he is just going to look greedy. So I think the Yankees have some leverage in that situation. I doubt that they will shell out big money for him and extend him. Maybe extend him an extra year or two so he doesn't opt out but that's it.

Antone,
Not a bad thought, as they have a large enough market to piss in the tall grass with the big boys if they decide to. Also consider that A-Rod will not want a one or two year extension. He's too young and will still be too much in his prime at the end of 09 to not seek a 5-7 year deal for large money. That may well be his last shot at a big, long term contract. I'd consider the Giants as a potential suitor after '09. Changing leagues, moving further away from Florida, spring training in Arizona, losing the chance to DH here and there (and more and more over time), are probably negatives. Giants 06 payroll was 90MM including Bonds. Add in Zito's 18MM and they are already jumping a large percentage year over year.

From ESPN ....This off-season, the club agreed to terms on a $126 million, seven-year contract with ace left-hander Barry Zito; on an $18 million, three-year contract with center fielder Dave Roberts; catcher Bengie Molina for $16 million and three years; first baseman Ryan Klesko on a $1.75 million, one-year contract; and right-hander Russ Ortiz on a $380,000, one-year deal to rejoin the Giants and likely be the fifth starter.

They may have shot their wad.

"Okay, Cashman should have said, prove to me that this is true -- let's eliminate your opt-out clause.

If A-Rod is so serious about staying with the team and winning with them, he would have gotten rid of his clause so it wouldn't be an issue."

Not to rain on the Arod-is-a-phony-greedy-businessman parade, but don't you think the Players Association might have had something to say about him doing that? They wouldn't let him take less money to go to the Red Sox, what makes you think he'd even be allowed to just decide to eliminate clauses in his contract just to prove that he's loyal and a not a phony greedy business man?

Cashman isn't an armchair GM, there's actually rules out there he has to work with.

Say it's so Alex, say it's so! Please go.

Just more proof of what a fake, phony, fraud Alex really is.