A-Rod to opt out of his contract and become a FA (1 Viewer)

[the moops]

At people abusing this deal. If we lost him we wouldve heard how we let the best player in baseball go when we had the money. None of you can bring me down from my high from keeping ARod. HES THE BEST PLAYER IN BASEBALL. And will be for the next 7 yrs. Ill worry about years 8-10 then. Thats a LONG ways off.

And wilked yes I used the term we.

I know I am a Cards homer, but I think Pujols is the best player in the game.

Runs Created 2001-2007Arod 159, 153, 148, 120, 163, 117, 166 Total=1026

Pujols 141, 126, 176, 157, 156, 151, 132 Total=1039

Now this covers Pujols rookie year in 2001 as a 21 year old, whole it is Arod's prime years, ages 25-31.

Arod plays a more important defensive position, but by most metrics he is an average defensive 3rd baseman. Pujols is the best fielding 1st baseman by a huge margin (at least according to fielding bible).

Arod will turn 33 midway through next year's season. Pujols will be 28.

Pujols >> Arod

Are u implying he's alot better than ARod?

Nope...just that he is as good of a hitter, a superior defender, and nearly 5 years younger.I think any team would be wise to choose Pujols over Arod....do you disagree?

 

[Reaper]

ALEX'S BIG A-POLOGY

My wife and I finally feel like we're New Yorkers.

SIMPLE 'SORRY' KOWTOW TO STEINBRENNER CLAN

By BRAD HAMILTON and JAMES FANELLI

With his public image taking a hit, a humbled Alex Rodri guez flew to Tampa without his agent to meet Hank and Hal Steinbrenner.

"There were mistakes made by his agent [scott Boras]," Hank Steinbrenner told The Post yesterday. "[Rodriguez] very strongly apologized."

The mea culpa was what the Steinbrenners needed to hear before hashing out a soon-to-be-inked 10-year contract with the slugger valued at a record $300 million.

"I needed to be convinced that he really wanted to be a Yankee, and he really does," Hank Steinbrenner said. "He wanted me to know that."

A-Rod's penance to the Pinstripes capped three weeks of a messy breakup with the team, which saw the third baseman heed the advice of his combative agent and opt out of the last three years of his contract.

"This year was a magical season," Rodriguez told MLB.com. "The way things went, we came up a little short at the end. But other than that, I'm happy with the way the year went. My wife and I finally feel like we're New Yorkers." The Yankees had offered the slugger five-year extension for $140 million.

"We reached out to him, and then he didn't call us back," Steinbrenner said. "Scott did mess things up."

Boras announced that A-Rod was opting for free agency during the late innings of the final game of the World Series. The frosty relations between the Yankees and A-Rod's camp didn't start to thaw until days later, when the slugger asked billionaire buddy Warren Buffett how he could ingratiate himself with the Steinbrenners.

The financial whiz and avid baseball fan told A-Rod to approach the clan without Boras, The Wall Street Journal reported on its Web site yesterday.

Rodriguez then contacted the Yankees through friend John Mallory, a Goldman Sachs executive who handles a Steinbrenner account.

Mallory passed the word on to Goldman partner Gerry Cardinale, head of media and telecommunications investments, who told Yankee President Randy Levine that Rodriguez was filled with remorse, according to the Journal.

"I don't know why. Maybe he was shy about calling back," Steinbrenner told The Post, when asked why Rodriguez did not approach the team directly.

Rodriguez is close to finalizing a 10-year deal worth $275 million and is negotiating a possible revenue-sharing deal that could push the contract beyond $300 million.

brad.hamilton@nypost.com

 

[Balco]

I think the length is a little excessive, but this is a good deal for the Yanks, considering who they are keeping. AROD is arguably (not going to get in the Pujols debate) the best player in baseball. He stays in tremendous shape, so there is no reason to think he is going to decline significantly in the next 5-6 years.

And please, please Yankees fans. Stop dismissing everything you disagree with as Yankee hating. I think the Posada deal was atrocious. Many fans here started to cite OPS, and his year last season. Great, that is the debate I like. Saying that it is Yankee hating gets old fast.

I saw a couple Yanks fans say that they should still keep the young pitchers at all costs. What? You just signed an old Jorge Posada, 32 year old Alex Rodriguez, and are going to sign a 97 year old MAriano Rivera. And you think you need to keep the young guys? It is win now again for the Yanks. They need to move Joba back to the pen, keep either Hughes or Kennedy, and then pull out all the stops to get Santana. And that means given up at least 1 of the big 3 pitchers along with Melky or Cano, and a top prospect.

 

[Mister Martie]

At people abusing this deal. If we lost him we wouldve heard how we let the best player in baseball go when we had the money. None of you can bring me down from my high from keeping ARod. HES THE BEST PLAYER IN BASEBALL. And will be for the next 7 yrs. Ill worry about years 8-10 then. Thats a LONG ways off.

And wilked yes I used the term we.

I know I am a Cards homer, but I think Pujols is the best player in the game.

Runs Created 2001-2007Arod 159, 153, 148, 120, 163, 117, 166 Total=1026

Pujols 141, 126, 176, 157, 156, 151, 132 Total=1039

Now this covers Pujols rookie year in 2001 as a 21 year old, whole it is Arod's prime years, ages 25-31.

Arod plays a more important defensive position, but by most metrics he is an average defensive 3rd baseman. Pujols is the best fielding 1st baseman by a huge margin (at least according to fielding bible).

Arod will turn 33 midway through next year's season. Pujols will be 28.

Pujols >> Arod

Are u implying he's alot better than ARod?

Nope...just that he is as good of a hitter, a superior defender, and nearly 5 years younger.I think any team would be wise to choose Pujols over Arod....do you disagree?

You're splitting hairs.

 

[Michael Brown]

At people abusing this deal. If we lost him we wouldve heard how we let the best player in baseball go when we had the money. None of you can bring me down from my high from keeping ARod. HES THE BEST PLAYER IN BASEBALL. And will be for the next 7 yrs. Ill worry about years 8-10 then. Thats a LONG ways off.

And wilked yes I used the term we.

I know I am a Cards homer, but I think Pujols is the best player in the game.

Runs Created 2001-2007Arod 159, 153, 148, 120, 163, 117, 166 Total=1026

Pujols 141, 126, 176, 157, 156, 151, 132 Total=1039

Now this covers Pujols rookie year in 2001 as a 21 year old, whole it is Arod's prime years, ages 25-31.

Arod plays a more important defensive position, but by most metrics he is an average defensive 3rd baseman. Pujols is the best fielding 1st baseman by a huge margin (at least according to fielding bible).

Arod will turn 33 midway through next year's season. Pujols will be 28.

Pujols >> Arod

Are u implying he's alot better than ARod?

Nope...just that he is as good of a hitter, a superior defender, and nearly 5 years younger.I think any team would be wise to choose Pujols over Arod....do you disagree?

You're splitting hairs.

Not to mention, being a superior defender at 1B isn't all that important. It's more impressive to me to be an average fielder at 3B than a great fielder at 1B. The only reason Pujols had the chance to become a GG first baseman is because he couldn't hack it at third OR left field.

 

[Michael Brown]

I saw a couple Yanks fans say that they should still keep the young pitchers at all costs. What? You just signed an old Jorge Posada, 32 year old Alex Rodriguez, and are going to sign a 97 year old MAriano Rivera. And you think you need to keep the young guys? It is win now again for the Yanks. They need to move Joba back to the pen, keep either Hughes or Kennedy, and then pull out all the stops to get Santana. And that means given up at least 1 of the big 3 pitchers along with Melky or Cano, and a top prospect.

A lot of this post makes no sense. Are you suggesting that since they are going to have old guys, they should get as many as possible? Newsflash: they wouldn't have made the playoffs last year without the young guys.And the whole 'Mariano is 97 years old' joke...not as hilarious as you might think. Name the closers you'd rather have for the 2008 regular season than him.PapelbonNathanPutzSaitoJenks (maybe)K-Rod (maybe)Corpas (maybe)*I say maybe on the latter three because it's not assured that you'd take those guys over Mo in the regular season, though all are at least close and have experienced high levels of World Series success.Now how many of those guys have proven the ability to handle pressurized playoff situations? Who are you left with?PapelbonJenksK-RodCorpasRivera is amongst the top five best options for the Yankees, and the suggestion that he's either A) Too old or B) Ineffective, is completely flawed.

 

[shadyridr]

I saw a couple Yanks fans say that they should still keep the young pitchers at all costs. What? You just signed an old Jorge Posada, 32 year old Alex Rodriguez, and are going to sign a 97 year old MAriano Rivera. And you think you need to keep the young guys? It is win now again for the Yanks. They need to move Joba back to the pen, keep either Hughes or Kennedy, and then pull out all the stops to get Santana. And that means given up at least 1 of the big 3 pitchers along with Melky or Cano, and a top prospect.

A lot of this post makes no sense. Are you suggesting that since they are going to have old guys, they should get as many as possible? Newsflash: they wouldn't have made the playoffs last year without the young guys.And the whole 'Mariano is 97 years old' joke...not as hilarious as you might think. Name the closers you'd rather have for the 2008 regular season than him.PapelbonNathanPutzSaitoJenks (maybe)K-Rod (maybe)Corpas (maybe)*I say maybe on the latter three because it's not assured that you'd take those guys over Mo in the regular season, though all are at least close and have experienced high levels of World Series success.Now how many of those guys have proven the ability to handle pressurized playoff situations? Who are you left with?PapelbonJenksK-RodCorpasRivera is amongst the top five best options for the Yankees, and the suggestion that he's either A) Too old or B) Ineffective, is completely flawed.

No chance in hell Id take Saito over Mariano in 2008. Saito is also old. I also dont think Id take Nathan. Id take Papelbon, Putz, and maybe KRod or Jenks.

 

[SteelCurtain]

I saw a couple Yanks fans say that they should still keep the young pitchers at all costs. What? You just signed an old Jorge Posada, 32 year old Alex Rodriguez, and are going to sign a 97 year old MAriano Rivera. And you think you need to keep the young guys? It is win now again for the Yanks. They need to move Joba back to the pen, keep either Hughes or Kennedy, and then pull out all the stops to get Santana. And that means given up at least 1 of the big 3 pitchers along with Melky or Cano, and a top prospect.

A lot of this post makes no sense. Are you suggesting that since they are going to have old guys, they should get as many as possible? Newsflash: they wouldn't have made the playoffs last year without the young guys.And the whole 'Mariano is 97 years old' joke...not as hilarious as you might think. Name the closers you'd rather have for the 2008 regular season than him.PapelbonNathanPutzSaitoJenks (maybe)K-Rod (maybe)Corpas (maybe)*I say maybe on the latter three because it's not assured that you'd take those guys over Mo in the regular season, though all are at least close and have experienced high levels of World Series success.Now how many of those guys have proven the ability to handle pressurized playoff situations? Who are you left with?PapelbonJenksK-RodCorpasRivera is amongst the top five best options for the Yankees, and the suggestion that he's either A) Too old or B) Ineffective, is completely flawed.

I'm a Red Sox fan and not trying to be a jerk......Is Mariano going to be an elite closer for 3-4 years? I don't watch the Yankees, so I didn't know if the Yankee homers have insight into whether he's a big injury risk. I also can't remember a closer being an elite guy into his early 40's. That being said, I don't remember too many closers being incredible with just one pitch which Rivera has done with his cutter. Either way, Rivera goes down as the greatest playoff reliever in history and one of the best playoff performers I have seen in my lifetime.I can only hope that Papelbon is able to do the same over the next 10-12 years of his career.

 

[shadyridr]

I saw a couple Yanks fans say that they should still keep the young pitchers at all costs. What? You just signed an old Jorge Posada, 32 year old Alex Rodriguez, and are going to sign a 97 year old MAriano Rivera. And you think you need to keep the young guys? It is win now again for the Yanks. They need to move Joba back to the pen, keep either Hughes or Kennedy, and then pull out all the stops to get Santana. And that means given up at least 1 of the big 3 pitchers along with Melky or Cano, and a top prospect.

A lot of this post makes no sense. Are you suggesting that since they are going to have old guys, they should get as many as possible? Newsflash: they wouldn't have made the playoffs last year without the young guys.And the whole 'Mariano is 97 years old' joke...not as hilarious as you might think. Name the closers you'd rather have for the 2008 regular season than him.

Papelbon

Nathan

Putz

Saito

Jenks (maybe)

K-Rod (maybe)

Corpas (maybe)

*I say maybe on the latter three because it's not assured that you'd take those guys over Mo in the regular season, though all are at least close and have experienced high levels of World Series success.

Now how many of those guys have proven the ability to handle pressurized playoff situations? Who are you left with?

Papelbon

Jenks

K-Rod

Corpas

Rivera is amongst the top five best options for the Yankees, and the suggestion that he's either A) Too old or B) Ineffective, is completely flawed.

I'm a Red Sox fan and not trying to be a jerk......Is Mariano going to be an elite closer for 3-4 years? I don't watch the Yankees, so I didn't know if the Yankee homers have insight into whether he's a big injury risk. I also can't remember a closer being an elite guy into his early 40's. That being said, I don't remember too many closers being incredible with just one pitch which Rivera has done with his cutter. Either way, Rivera goes down as the greatest playoff reliever in history and one of the best playoff performers I have seen in my lifetime.

I can only hope that Papelbon is able to do the same over the next 10-12 years of his career.

I think he can be a top 5 closer for the next 3 yrs but maybe I am biased. I dont know if Id use the term elite.

 

[Sammy3469]

I saw a couple Yanks fans say that they should still keep the young pitchers at all costs. What? You just signed an old Jorge Posada, 32 year old Alex Rodriguez, and are going to sign a 97 year old MAriano Rivera. And you think you need to keep the young guys? It is win now again for the Yanks. They need to move Joba back to the pen, keep either Hughes or Kennedy, and then pull out all the stops to get Santana. And that means given up at least 1 of the big 3 pitchers along with Melky or Cano, and a top prospect.

A lot of this post makes no sense. Are you suggesting that since they are going to have old guys, they should get as many as possible? Newsflash: they wouldn't have made the playoffs last year without the young guys.And the whole 'Mariano is 97 years old' joke...not as hilarious as you might think. Name the closers you'd rather have for the 2008 regular season than him.

Papelbon

Nathan

Putz

Saito

Jenks (maybe)

K-Rod (maybe)

Corpas (maybe)

*I say maybe on the latter three because it's not assured that you'd take those guys over Mo in the regular season, though all are at least close and have experienced high levels of World Series success.

Now how many of those guys have proven the ability to handle pressurized playoff situations? Who are you left with?

Papelbon

Jenks

K-Rod

Corpas

Rivera is amongst the top five best options for the Yankees, and the suggestion that he's either A) Too old or B) Ineffective, is completely flawed.

I'm a Red Sox fan and not trying to be a jerk......Is Mariano going to be an elite closer for 3-4 years? I don't watch the Yankees, so I didn't know if the Yankee homers have insight into whether he's a big injury risk. I also can't remember a closer being an elite guy into his early 40's. That being said, I don't remember too many closers being incredible with just one pitch which Rivera has done with his cutter. Either way, Rivera goes down as the greatest playoff reliever in history and one of the best playoff performers I have seen in my lifetime.

I can only hope that Papelbon is able to do the same over the next 10-12 years of his career.

I think he can be a top 5 closer for the next 3 yrs but maybe I am biased. I dont know if Id use the term elite.

I think it's safe to say that he'll be better than Todd Jones DD>>>:hi:

 

[Balco]

I saw a couple Yanks fans say that they should still keep the young pitchers at all costs. What? You just signed an old Jorge Posada, 32 year old Alex Rodriguez, and are going to sign a 97 year old MAriano Rivera. And you think you need to keep the young guys? It is win now again for the Yanks. They need to move Joba back to the pen, keep either Hughes or Kennedy, and then pull out all the stops to get Santana. And that means given up at least 1 of the big 3 pitchers along with Melky or Cano, and a top prospect.

A lot of this post makes no sense. Are you suggesting that since they are going to have old guys, they should get as many as possible? Newsflash: they wouldn't have made the playoffs last year without the young guys.And the whole 'Mariano is 97 years old' joke...not as hilarious as you might think. Name the closers you'd rather have for the 2008 regular season than him.PapelbonNathanPutzSaitoJenks (maybe)K-Rod (maybe)Corpas (maybe)*I say maybe on the latter three because it's not assured that you'd take those guys over Mo in the regular season, though all are at least close and have experienced high levels of World Series success.Now how many of those guys have proven the ability to handle pressurized playoff situations? Who are you left with?PapelbonJenksK-RodCorpasRivera is amongst the top five best options for the Yankees, and the suggestion that he's either A) Too old or B) Ineffective, is completely flawed.

Wow, talk about taking things from my post that I didn't say:1. Where did I say they have to get more old players? I said they need to get players that will help them win now. Johan Santana is 28. Keeping Kennedy, Hughes, and Joba because they are young, makes zero sense to me. Get rid of one, and several other players to get arguably the best pitcher in the game. Yankee fans honestly don't want to give up 1 of those 3 plus Melky and/or Cano? You want to rely on those 3 guys to get you to, and through the playoffs? Seriosly?2. Where did I say Mariano was a bad pitcher? I am struggling to find that spot in my post. I think he is one of the better closers in the game. Is he as dominant as he once was? Nope, but he is still an upper echelon closer. So you going into the whole "what closer would you rather have?" was a waste of time.I still have the same opinion:- Yanks need to move Joba back to the pen (I think there is one Yankee fan on this board who agrees with me, not sure which one)- They need to decide who is the more valuable, Hughes or Kennedy (my guess is Hughes), and try to ship the other one off in a deal for Santana.Yanks offense is solid, just like last year. But that bullpen, with Joba in the rotation is a huge weakness. You are really comfortable going into next season with Wang, Hughes, Kennedy, and Joba as the core of the rotation? Who is out there as free agents? Livan Hernandez? Kyle Lohse?

 

[Michael Brown]

I saw a couple Yanks fans say that they should still keep the young pitchers at all costs. What? You just signed an old Jorge Posada, 32 year old Alex Rodriguez, and are going to sign a 97 year old MAriano Rivera. And you think you need to keep the young guys? It is win now again for the Yanks. They need to move Joba back to the pen, keep either Hughes or Kennedy, and then pull out all the stops to get Santana. And that means given up at least 1 of the big 3 pitchers along with Melky or Cano, and a top prospect.

A lot of this post makes no sense. Are you suggesting that since they are going to have old guys, they should get as many as possible? Newsflash: they wouldn't have made the playoffs last year without the young guys.And the whole 'Mariano is 97 years old' joke...not as hilarious as you might think. Name the closers you'd rather have for the 2008 regular season than him.PapelbonNathanPutzSaitoJenks (maybe)K-Rod (maybe)Corpas (maybe)*I say maybe on the latter three because it's not assured that you'd take those guys over Mo in the regular season, though all are at least close and have experienced high levels of World Series success.Now how many of those guys have proven the ability to handle pressurized playoff situations? Who are you left with?PapelbonJenksK-RodCorpasRivera is amongst the top five best options for the Yankees, and the suggestion that he's either A) Too old or B) Ineffective, is completely flawed.

Wow, talk about taking things from my post that I didn't say:1. Where did I say they have to get more old players? I said they need to get players that will help them win now. Johan Santana is 28. Keeping Kennedy, Hughes, and Joba because they are young, makes zero sense to me. Get rid of one, and several other players to get arguably the best pitcher in the game. Yankee fans honestly don't want to give up 1 of those 3 plus Melky and/or Cano? You want to rely on those 3 guys to get you to, and through the playoffs? Seriosly?2. Where did I say Mariano was a bad pitcher? I am struggling to find that spot in my post. I think he is one of the better closers in the game. Is he as dominant as he once was? Nope, but he is still an upper echelon closer. So you going into the whole "what closer would you rather have?" was a waste of time.I still have the same opinion:- Yanks need to move Joba back to the pen (I think there is one Yankee fan on this board who agrees with me, not sure which one)- They need to decide who is the more valuable, Hughes or Kennedy (my guess is Hughes), and try to ship the other one off in a deal for Santana.Yanks offense is solid, just like last year. But that bullpen, with Joba in the rotation is a huge weakness. You are really comfortable going into next season with Wang, Hughes, Kennedy, and Joba as the core of the rotation? Who is out there as free agents? Livan Hernandez? Kyle Lohse?

I know you didn't say Mo was a bad pitcher. It's just that we've been beaten over the head so many times from people this off-season that he's old, he's not going to be good anymore, this and that, and reading how he's 97 just kinda set me off. It was nothing against you, my bad there.And the implication that was made is that the young players won't help the Yankees win now as much as an older veteran player will. But that's precisely the kind of thinking that has gotten them backed into the point they've been in since 2004. They keep rolling over these young guys into veterans who are supposed to be the one or two key players that put them over the top, but at the end of the day there's something to be said for forming a cohesive unit. Yes, teams can gather spare parts and turn it into a championship (1997 Marlins, 2001 D'Backs, 2004 Red Sox) but those are a bit more rare than building a team up through young pitching and watching it succeed (2002 Angels, 2003 Marlins, 2007 Red Sox). I don't want to see any of the young pitchers go, even for Johan. I'm willing to wait on him for a year and go after him in free agency when Giambi and Mussina's contracts come off the books.Put it this way: I'd rather have Santana, Hughes, Wang, Chamberlain Kennedy in 2009 than Santana, Hughes, Wang, Kennedy, and Mussina in 2008. And that's before factoring in retaining Melky, Cano, and any other prospects that may need to be included. I don't know that getting Johan Santana puts the Yankees as the 2008 favorites anyway or turns them into a WS champion, and unless a move like that is putting you over the top I'm perfectly willing to wait and try to bid on him. He's going to command $20-$25 million per year, so he'd be a fool to not hit the open market even if the Twins try to deal him before then.Yankee23 is the guy who wants Joba kept in the pen. I understand him being lights-out there, but my theory on relievers is that a lot of them are simply failed starters. I think a lot of guys in baseball could be lights out in the late innings, and it's the wrong way to go to keep him in the pen. If you turn him back into a starter right now, you always have the option of moving him back to the bullpen someday down the line if necessary. But by making him a reliever early on, you're shortening his shelf life (most relievers typically flame out before starters) and also wasting an opportunity to have a dominant starting pitcher, a much more valuable commodity than a dynamite late-inning guy.And Shady, I'd also take Rivera over Nathan and Saito, plus a couple of other guys I listed, for 2008...but I was trying to gauge the perceived opinion of non-Yankee fans and I'd assume most of them would take those two guys since their stats overwhelm Mariano's.

 

[Reaper]

1. Where did I say they have to get more old players? I said they need to get players that will help them win now. Johan Santana is 28. Keeping Kennedy, Hughes, and Joba because they are young, makes zero sense to me. Get rid of one, and several other players to get arguably the best pitcher in the game. Yankee fans honestly don't want to give up 1 of those 3 plus Melky and/or Cano? You want to rely on those 3 guys to get you to, and through the playoffs? Seriosly?

I think a lot of us would give up ONE of those pitchers Plus Melky or Cano.....The problem is, it sounds like that wouldn't be enough.... I'd say most Yankee fans would deal Melky Plus Hughes or Kennedy for Santana.It's when it comes to MORE than that when you have to think.

 

[Balco]

1. Where did I say they have to get more old players? I said they need to get players that will help them win now. Johan Santana is 28. Keeping Kennedy, Hughes, and Joba because they are young, makes zero sense to me. Get rid of one, and several other players to get arguably the best pitcher in the game. Yankee fans honestly don't want to give up 1 of those 3 plus Melky and/or Cano? You want to rely on those 3 guys to get you to, and through the playoffs? Seriosly?

I think a lot of us would give up ONE of those pitchers Plus Melky or Cano.....The problem is, it sounds like that wouldn't be enough.... I'd say most Yankee fans would deal Melky Plus Hughes or Kennedy for Santana.It's when it comes to MORE than that when you have to think.

Not really sure of the Yanks minor league system, do they have a big time hitting prospect in the AA or AAA level? (pretty sure they don't). Hughes/Kennedy, Cano/Cabrera and hitting prospect might have a shot. I just think teams like the Dodgers and Angels have more prospects, young starters availabe.

 

[Liquid Tension]

Interesting breakdown on the deal stolen from another site:

His old deal consisted of the following:

2008 - 2010:

$30 million from Texas

$60 million from New York

2011 - 2015:

Articles indicate the Yankees were prepared to offer $150 million, or $30 million per year for these five years.

Total cost to Yankees: $210 million; $26.5 average per year for 8 years

Total cost to Rangers: $30 million

Total cash to Arod: $240 million or $30 million average per year over 8 years

Arod opts out, and the Yankees insist they are through with him. They then sign him to a new deal for $275 million over 10 years, or $27.5 million per year for 10 years.

Total cost to Yankees: $275 million; $27.5 average per year for 10 years

Total cost to Rangers: $9 million (deferred money owed to arod over next 3 years) Total cash to Arod: $284 million or $28.4 million per year over 10 years

I have ignored the marketing bonuses since I figure Arod could have gotten them from the Yanks had he come to the table before opting out and thus assume they would be a wash.

So Arod gets an extra $44 million out of his new deal. Yes, he is locked up for two additional years, but he will be 41 and 42 at that point. Not exactly his prime.

The Yankees, on the other hand, are paying out $65 million more under this deal than the old/proposed one. Yes, they get his services for two additional years, but overall all Arod is costing them more per year under the new deal ($27.5) than the old/proposed deal ($26.5). Any spin on this as Arod groveling and begging to come back is complete and utter BS. Arod's opting out cost the Yankees tens of millions of dollars.

SO Arod "grovelled"... Arod didn't grovel..... Does that get people excited????

It's not as though the Yankee's percieved extension was going to be THE DEAL either so, we can't play this game - I don't get the games anyway.

The Yankees wanted to sit down at the table before Arod opted out!!!! - I'd guarantee you at that point the Yankees were willing to give up the same deal they just gave him or probably more with the Texas money.

And I still say that when arod is 42, 30 million dollars a year at that time will be chicken feed to what guys are getting....... Same thing happened with Arod's old deal - With long term deals like this you go from laughing at it to calling it a bargain within 5 years or so......

First, the Yankees are not getting such a great deal. NOBODY else was going to pay him 27.5 for 10 years and when ARod did come back the yanks held the cards and should have made sure that the deal was 8 years IMO. The Yanks should also subtract the 21 mil from the 275 because that is money they lost. If the Yanks give incentives for breaking the HR marks then they gave in when they didn't have to.As for your bolded part, this is incorrect. ARods contract was around 26 mil a year and there are only a handful of players over 20 mil a year (I believe Pujols is at 22.5 now). therefore ARod is still at a 20% premium which is pretty high if you ask me. Compare that to Santana who said he was looking for a Zito type deal at 18 mil a year. Even if he gets 20 mil a year that is a 30% discount to Arod.

Also, even if there are people making 30 mil a year in 10 years, how good will ARod be in his 40's? Ten years was really stupid if you ask me because the Yanks held all the cards when ARod came back. I believe keeping ARod was absolutely the right move (even though MANY people were hoping ARod would opt out after 2006) but the Yanks should have given him 27.5 for 8 and that would have been a gift because they lost their 21 mil.

 

[Liquid Tension]

Interesting breakdown on the deal stolen from another site:

His old deal consisted of the following:

2008 - 2010:

$30 million from Texas

$60 million from New York

2011 - 2015:

Articles indicate the Yankees were prepared to offer $150 million, or $30 million per year for these five years.

Total cost to Yankees: $210 million; $26.5 average per year for 8 years

Total cost to Rangers: $30 million

Total cash to Arod: $240 million or $30 million average per year over 8 years

Arod opts out, and the Yankees insist they are through with him. They then sign him to a new deal for $275 million over 10 years, or $27.5 million per year for 10 years.

Total cost to Yankees: $275 million; $27.5 average per year for 10 years

Total cost to Rangers: $9 million (deferred money owed to arod over next 3 years) Total cash to Arod: $284 million or $28.4 million per year over 10 years

I have ignored the marketing bonuses since I figure Arod could have gotten them from the Yanks had he come to the table before opting out and thus assume they would be a wash.

So Arod gets an extra $44 million out of his new deal. Yes, he is locked up for two additional years, but he will be 41 and 42 at that point. Not exactly his prime.

The Yankees, on the other hand, are paying out $65 million more under this deal than the old/proposed one. Yes, they get his services for two additional years, but overall all Arod is costing them more per year under the new deal ($27.5) than the old/proposed deal ($26.5). Any spin on this as Arod groveling and begging to come back is complete and utter BS. Arod's opting out cost the Yankees tens of millions of dollars.

SO Arod "grovelled"... Arod didn't grovel..... Does that get people excited????

It's not as though the Yankee's percieved extension was going to be THE DEAL either so, we can't play this game - I don't get the games anyway.

The Yankees wanted to sit down at the table before Arod opted out!!!! - I'd guarantee you at that point the Yankees were willing to give up the same deal they just gave him or probably more with the Texas money.

And I still say that when arod is 42, 30 million dollars a year at that time will be chicken feed to what guys are getting....... Same thing happened with Arod's old deal - With long term deals like this you go from laughing at it to calling it a bargain within 5 years or so......

First, the Yankees are not getting such a great deal. NOBODY else was going to pay him 27.5 for 10 years and when ARod did come back the yanks held the cards and should have made sure that the deal was 8 years IMO. The Yanks should also subtract the 21 mil from the 275 because that is money they lost. If the Yanks give incentives for breaking the HR marks then they gave in when they didn't have to.As for your bolded part, this is incorrect. ARods contract was around 26 mil a year and there are only a handful of players over 20 mil a year (I believe Pujols is at 22.5 now). therefore ARod is still at a 20% premium which is pretty high if you ask me. Compare that to Santana who said he was looking for a Zito type deal at 18 mil a year. Even if he gets 20 mil a year that is a 30% discount to Arod.

Also, even if there are people making 30 mil a year in 10 years, how good will ARod be in his 40's? Ten years was really stupid if you ask me because the Yanks held all the cards when ARod came back. I believe keeping ARod was absolutely the right move (even though MANY people were hoping ARod would opt out after 2006) but the Yanks should have given him 27.5 for 8 and that would have been a gift because they lost their 21 mil.

Now they say the Yanks are offering another 30 mil for breaking HR records? They have the money, but this contract is now a bad as Texas'

 

[Reaper]

Interesting breakdown on the deal stolen from another site:

His old deal consisted of the following:

2008 - 2010:

$30 million from Texas

$60 million from New York

2011 - 2015:

Articles indicate the Yankees were prepared to offer $150 million, or $30 million per year for these five years.

Total cost to Yankees: $210 million; $26.5 average per year for 8 years

Total cost to Rangers: $30 million

Total cash to Arod: $240 million or $30 million average per year over 8 years

Arod opts out, and the Yankees insist they are through with him. They then sign him to a new deal for $275 million over 10 years, or $27.5 million per year for 10 years.

Total cost to Yankees: $275 million; $27.5 average per year for 10 years

Total cost to Rangers: $9 million (deferred money owed to arod over next 3 years) Total cash to Arod: $284 million or $28.4 million per year over 10 years

I have ignored the marketing bonuses since I figure Arod could have gotten them from the Yanks had he come to the table before opting out and thus assume they would be a wash.

So Arod gets an extra $44 million out of his new deal. Yes, he is locked up for two additional years, but he will be 41 and 42 at that point. Not exactly his prime.

The Yankees, on the other hand, are paying out $65 million more under this deal than the old/proposed one. Yes, they get his services for two additional years, but overall all Arod is costing them more per year under the new deal ($27.5) than the old/proposed deal ($26.5). Any spin on this as Arod groveling and begging to come back is complete and utter BS. Arod's opting out cost the Yankees tens of millions of dollars.

SO Arod "grovelled"... Arod didn't grovel..... Does that get people excited????

It's not as though the Yankee's percieved extension was going to be THE DEAL either so, we can't play this game - I don't get the games anyway.

The Yankees wanted to sit down at the table before Arod opted out!!!! - I'd guarantee you at that point the Yankees were willing to give up the same deal they just gave him or probably more with the Texas money.

And I still say that when arod is 42, 30 million dollars a year at that time will be chicken feed to what guys are getting....... Same thing happened with Arod's old deal - With long term deals like this you go from laughing at it to calling it a bargain within 5 years or so......

First, the Yankees are not getting such a great deal. NOBODY else was going to pay him 27.5 for 10 years and when ARod did come back the yanks held the cards and should have made sure that the deal was 8 years IMO. The Yanks should also subtract the 21 mil from the 275 because that is money they lost. If the Yanks give incentives for breaking the HR marks then they gave in when they didn't have to.As for your bolded part, this is incorrect. ARods contract was around 26 mil a year and there are only a handful of players over 20 mil a year (I believe Pujols is at 22.5 now). therefore ARod is still at a 20% premium which is pretty high if you ask me. Compare that to Santana who said he was looking for a Zito type deal at 18 mil a year. Even if he gets 20 mil a year that is a 30% discount to Arod.

Also, even if there are people making 30 mil a year in 10 years, how good will ARod be in his 40's? Ten years was really stupid if you ask me because the Yanks held all the cards when ARod came back. I believe keeping ARod was absolutely the right move (even though MANY people were hoping ARod would opt out after 2006) but the Yanks should have given him 27.5 for 8 and that would have been a gift because they lost their 21 mil.

Now they say the Yanks are offering another 30 mil for breaking HR records? They have the money, but this contract is now a bad as Texas'

They're also saying Johan wants 25 Million to talk at this point PLUS the players a team needs to give up..... OUCH!!!!!!!!!!I NEVER said the Yankees got a great deal - I said I thought he got the deal most people thought he'd get, which was always going to be a record setter and probably going out on a limb... Like I said, the Yankees 1st offer before the opt out wasn't the final offer and was still going to be negotiated....

Either way... Arod is at third and the alternatives were going to be painful, especially if they had to give up prospects for Cabrera.

 

[Workhorse]

By the way, once you factor in the luxury tax over the life of that contract, the Yankees will likely be shelling out over $400 million for ARod.

 

[Reaper]

By the way, once you factor in the luxury tax over the life of that contract, the Yankees will likely be shelling out over $400 million for ARod.

Yes.That's a Lot of money.

 

[Workhorse]

By the way, once you factor in the luxury tax over the life of that contract, the Yankees will likely be shelling out over $400 million for ARod.

Yes.That's a Lot of money.

Sure is. That's one injury away from being one hell of an albatross. That's more than most FRANCHISES are worth.

 

[Statorama]

Now they say the Yanks are offering another 30 mil for breaking HR records? They have the money, but this contract is now a bad as Texas'

The media attention that a "clean" player like Rodriguez will bring, once he's on the cusp of setting THE baseball record, will be worth well over 30 Mil

 

[Reaper]

By the way, once you factor in the luxury tax over the life of that contract, the Yankees will likely be shelling out over $400 million for ARod.

Yes.That's a Lot of money.

Sure is. That's one injury away from being one hell of an albatross. That's more than most FRANCHISES are worth.

YES.No one ever debated this..... The Home run record bonuses are also somewhat of a leverage against injury VS straight out salary...The albatross was the prospect of trading young pitching for a 3rd baseman AND spending a lot then having little left to deal for possible pitching plus having to fill that hole at SP.To me an albatross is signing Giambi or Kevin Brown and having the guy take up a spot, money AND not produce at a top level..... You pretty much figure a healthy arod will deliver.But, no one ever thought AROD wasn't going to set crazy records for salary here.....Santana is going to set the new standard for pitchers once his deal is done, this year or next. If some team signs him for 20 million, 25 million, or 30 million to ME, it's not going to be worth my time debating that team's fans for too long over how much more 25 million cripples a team over 20 million a year...It's a lot of money.... More important in the whole scope of things competitvely is WHERE the player goes at this point, when you're talking about the best 5 or so players in the game. We already know that the money will be staggering.

 

[Liquid Tension]

Now they say the Yanks are offering another 30 mil for breaking HR records? They have the money, but this contract is now a bad as Texas'

The media attention that a "clean" player like Rodriguez will bring, once he's on the cusp of setting THE baseball record, will be worth well over 30 Mil

Not the point. I am saying the Yanks could have gotten ARod for less.

 

[Liquid Tension]

I think the length is a little excessive, but this is a good deal for the Yanks, considering who they are keeping. AROD is arguably (not going to get in the Pujols debate) the best player in baseball. He stays in tremendous shape, so there is no reason to think he is going to decline significantly in the next 5-6 years. And please, please Yankees fans. Stop dismissing everything you disagree with as Yankee hating. I think the Posada deal was atrocious. Many fans here started to cite OPS, and his year last season. Great, that is the debate I like. Saying that it is Yankee hating gets old fast. I saw a couple Yanks fans say that they should still keep the young pitchers at all costs. What? You just signed an old Jorge Posada, 32 year old Alex Rodriguez, and are going to sign a 97 year old MAriano Rivera. And you think you need to keep the young guys? It is win now again for the Yanks. They need to move Joba back to the pen, keep either Hughes or Kennedy, and then pull out all the stops to get Santana. And that means given up at least 1 of the big 3 pitchers along with Melky or Cano, and a top prospect.

Stepping back first : ARod and Pujols are pretty much equal value overall. Last year everyone would have said Pujols was better, but now ARod has another great year and he is better. When you look at the numbers they are 1 and 1aAs for the above, Jorge was so much better than other catchers (and has been at the top for awhile), that losing him would have been a HUGE downgrade at the position. He was 100 points of OPS better than the next best guy and if you look what is available it is more of a downgrade than Lowell to ARod if they didn't sign Posada. I would have much rather gone with 3 years, but losing Posada would have hurt more than losing ARod for Lowell (or at least close)

 

[Liquid Tension]

I'm a Red Sox fan and not trying to be a jerk......Is Mariano going to be an elite closer for 3-4 years? I don't watch the Yankees, so I didn't know if the Yankee homers have insight into whether he's a big injury risk. I also can't remember a closer being an elite guy into his early 40's. That being said, I don't remember too many closers being incredible with just one pitch which Rivera has done with his cutter. Either way, Rivera goes down as the greatest playoff reliever in history and one of the best playoff performers I have seen in my lifetime.I can only hope that Papelbon is able to do the same over the next 10-12 years of his career.

Nobody in the history of the game has EVER been so successful throwing the same speed. It is truly amazing that the professional hitters have the HUGE advantage of timing the swing EVERY pitch and Rivera has still been so great. The movement and location (with the movement) has really been amazing to watch. The best pitch ever in baseball was/is the Rivera fastball (I won't call it a cutter as it is a type of fastball just as guys throw different types of curves). No other pitcher in baseball was successful only throwing one speed.I still think Rivera should learn a change up to use once in awhile when a guy has fouled off 4 straight pitches, but he has been remarkable.