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They'd spin 180 so fast they'd be in the hospital for a month with whiplash.

And A-Rod would hear a whole new level of booing.

If Alex goes on to set the all-time career homerun record as a member of the Red Sox, does that offset the Babe Ruth deal in terms of "ammo" for Yankees fans in taunting Sox fans?
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There's zero comparison between A-Rod and Ruth in that situation. The Sox gave Ruth away to the Yankees. Also A-Rod, if he goes to his fourth team, will be a bit of a mercenary. I don't think he'll come to symbolize either team. Ruth also dominated baseball like no man has or ever will. He was hitting sixty bombs when teams didn't hit sixty bombs. Who Ruth was and what he did will never be duplicated. Any Sox fan who suggests otherwise is out of his mind.

I know Boras and A-Rod always follow the money, but I think in this situation they probably hope the highest bidder ISN'T Boston. A-Rod could not look like a bigger hypocrite if he goes and plays in Boston. Those fans absolutely savaged him. For him to stand there and smile and call them the "best fans in the world" would just be the phoniest thing ever. He would hit sixty home runs in that ballpark, but I hope for his sake he doesn't end up there -- it would just be another smudge on his image.

~Will Yankees fans boo Alex like the fans in Seattle and Texas did after he left those towns?~

Yankee fans booed him during an MVP season. There's no doubt that those fans will boo him when he comes to town as an opponent.

~How will the members of RSN feel about having "Slappy McBlue Lips" on their team? Will they pull a one-eighty on Alex?~

RSN accepted Cone, Wells, Mendoza, and Stanton with open arms. I have a feeling they'll find room in their hearts for Alex.

I just don't see him going to any other team really, because as long as the Yankees are willing to extend him, they keep the money from Texas and ARod can get the money in his pocket.

And, aside from that, my opinion of Alex Rodriguez is that he's more interested, at this point in his career, as to what his legacy will be instead of just and extra $30M over the next 10 years because Team A was willing to pay more than Team B. He's close to having more HR's as a Yankee than as a Ranger or Mariner, and if all goes well, he'll march through the all time HR records (I think he's on the doorstep of #14 all time) as a Yankee. He's also giving himself the best shot to win a ring if he stays a Yankee (yes because we have the payroll to support winning teams, but also because we have promising youth in Wang, Melky, Cano, Hughes, Joba, Kennedy...)

And if there is legitimate pissing contest between him and Jeter, what better way to cement your status as better by playing alongside him and contributing more (which he's done this year.)

Maybe I've got the blinders on, but I just don't see him going anywhere. If he does, my opinion of what he's all about will change drastically.

j - FWIW, Marchman makes a good case on why Alex will opt out, when he writes:

"There are two reasons why this is clear. The first is that Rodriguez's agent, Scott Boras, prefers whenever possible to have his clients set their value on the open market. The second is that the Yankees have loudly proclaimed that if Rodriguez does become a free agent they won't be bidding on him, a claim to which general manager Brian Cashman has publicly attached his name and which has precluded any negotiations on a contract extension that would keep Rodriguez in the Bronx. Because Boras's tactics are sensible and consistent, and because Cashman is not known for publicly lying, it would seem there is only one possible outcome here, absent a sentimental decision on Rodriguez's part to surrender control over his future in exchange for having his games called by Suzyn Waldman."

Where did the name "Slappy McBlue Lips" come from?

The second is that the Yankees have loudly proclaimed that if Rodriguez does become a free agent they won't be bidding on him, a claim to which general manager Brian Cashman has publicly attached his name and which has precluded any negotiations on a contract extension that would keep Rodriguez in the Bronx.
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Cash said they won't bid on him if he opts out. He didn't say a thing about giving A-Rod an extension. If he stays a Yankee, it will be because Cash ponies up enough money that Boras knows no other team will beat it on the open market.

Whether that happens or not, who knows? I hope it does.

~~~Where did the name "Slappy McBlue Lips" come from?~~~

It goes back to 2004-2005. It's RSN's pet name for A-Rod. The "Slappy" part is for trying to slap the glove of Arroyo in the '04 ALCS. The "Blue Lips" part is because of when A-Rod's lips appear blue (or purple) on TV during big games. I have no idea who was the first to use it, but, if you google it, you'll see that it's used a lot.

FWIW, The Boston Dirt Dogs were calling A-Rod Slappy McBlueLips as far back as 1/21/05:

http://bostondirtdogs.boston.com/Headline_Archives/2005/01/slappy_speaks.html

This is an easy decision for Cashman. Yes, he will be bidding against himself if he signs him to a huge extension. But, if he hits the market, he will have to bid against the Sox, who will make it tough no doubt. I do not believe for a minute after what he has done this year that Cashman will not bid for Arod if he opts out. He is doing the right thing though in making it seem as though he won't. NY is finally a good fit for Alex, plus he will get his money. He is staying.

----- The "Blue Lips" part is because of when A-Rod's lips appear blue (or purple) on TV during big games. -----

What the...? "During big games"? This is news to me. I didn't know an athlete's lips changed colors during important games.

Marchman is wrong. Ask the now-underpaid Dice-K.

Boras will take the big money from the Yanks right up front. I don't think he'll chance it. There is no true "open market" if the biggest dog isn't playing. Cashman has him cornered. If the Yanks don't enter the free agent bidding war, then Boras runs the risk of A-Rod going to another team at less money than the Yanks offered. And the other teams might consider low-balling Boras knowing he doesn't have the Yanks to fall back on.

Unless A-Rod really wants to go, the Yanks are a very safe way out for Boras. Money will not be the issue here.

~~~Boras will take the big money from the Yanks right up front. ~~~

Has a Boras client ever taken the money and not tested Free Agency?

Andruw Jones signed a 6 year contract for 2002-7 "against" Boras' better judgment.

I apologize if this is a double post but I can't find the one I thought I sent:

Andruw Jones, a client of Boras, signed a 6 year contract in 2002 with the Braves supposedly against the advice of Boras.

Steve--Again, it's not really "free agency" if the Yanks are not bidding.

He'll take the money and run unless A-Rod really just wants out.