November 15, 2007

ARod returning to the Yankees. :
Asked whether the only remaining details were putting the deal on paper, Steinbrenner responded: "pretty much so."

read story | posted by grum@work to Baseball at 8:37 PM CDT (38 comments total)

Good. I'm glad that episode is over.

posted by jerseygirl at 8:41 PM CDT on November 15

Never say never again. Not only the best un-licensed Bond movie but an applicable quote in this here thread.

posted by HATER 187 at 8:44 PM CDT on November 15

The deal for 350 million was never there. Boston never seriously entered the bidding which meant there was no team that could compete with the yankees financially. The yankees called his bluff, though I'm amazed they couldn't have gotten him for a little less.

posted by justgary at 9:00 PM CDT on November 15

Hopefully the deal also includes A-Rod firing Boras.

posted by mr_crash_davis at 9:37 PM CDT on November 15

A Rod's managed to stay with the Yankees while saving the Rangers $21.3 million. Have I told him lately that I love him?

posted by rcade at 10:01 PM CDT on November 15

A Rod's managed to stay with the Yankees while saving the Rangers $21.3 million.

True. The Rangers are the big winners.

posted by justgary at 10:03 PM CDT on November 15

Buster Olney's take (free insider).

posted by justgary at 10:18 PM CDT on November 15

The Rangers are the big winners.

November's a shitty time for that.

posted by yerfatma at 10:31 PM CDT on November 15

Reading the Olney stuff, specifically the links in the NYC papers, does anyone believe A-Rod is seriously upset at Boras? This seems like Boras falling on the sword, like he's done so well for other clients. Additionally, much as I love Mike Lowell and don't want him to go anywhere just yet, if he does go to the Yankees, the pain will be dulled by seeing him deployed at first: the Yankees move A-Rod to 3rd instead of keeping him at a position he was good at defensively, now they move Lowell to first instead of doing the obvious thing and sending A-Rod there. Jeter must have some serious intangibles to be worth all that shuffling of high-priced talent.

posted by yerfatma at 10:35 PM CDT on November 15

Wow ..

Things couldn't have worked out better .. for the Redsox, that is. Reduces the market value of the player they want for 3B (Lowell), guarantees the Yanks post season failure for the coming years.

posted by cixelsyd at 11:35 PM CDT on November 15

Pay-Rod what he wants, he enjoys counting his money.

posted by longgreenline at 12:34 AM CDT on November 16

So much for Olney. This leaves us wondering in LA, we must get Cabrera. The Santana deal seems to be doingwell as same with Torii.

posted by Joe188 at 1:23 AM CDT on November 16

does anyone believe A-Rod is seriously upset at Boras?

I could easily see Boras realizing he's screwed up and basically telling arod to contact the yankees while he stepped aside. As far as lowell, I thought sure he'd stay with Boston two weeks ago. This morning I thought he was definitely gone. Now, if the choice is between playing 1st for the yankees or 3rd for boston I have no idea where he'll go. I don't see how he'd pass on NY if the money difference is as large as some are saying (20 million), but there's no way he wants to play first.

Things couldn't have worked out better .. for the Redsox, that is.

How can the yankees signing a player that averages 40 HRs and 120 RBI on an off year be a good thing for boston? The best thing for boston would have been arod joining another team far away from NY. Besides, if the rumors are true and they want him for first base his market hasn't changed.

posted by justgary at 1:29 AM CDT on November 16

The Rangers are the big winners.

November's a shitty time for that.

Beautiful point.

I believe A-Rod did a great deal to improve his image by actively seeking to restart talks with the Yankees. True, he's making boatloads of money and the market wasn't what he probably assumed it would be, but I still think the overall attitude the Yankees had (about not getting involved again should he opt for free agency) had the most to do with Boras. He's a jackass. As soon as he was out of the loop, everything improved between the two sides. Boras will make a great deal of money from this, too, but his reputation has taken a huge hit. His coming out and saying the Yanks had to put up $350 million just to speak to A-Rod shows that he's the real problem.

The best thing is A-Rod chose to stay with one team this time and see something through that he started. Maybe the Angels or someone would have given him similar money, but his actively looking to stay in New York was a good move for him.

As for Lowell, as much as I like and respect him, expecting another year like he enjoyed this past season would be ridiculous. Asking him to chip in and stay healthy would be more realistic. Maybe playing first base would be a good move for him at this juncture. I don't foresee him signing with the Yankees, but it's usually after I say that someone does exactly that.

posted by dyams at 5:40 AM CDT on November 16

I believe A-Rod did a great deal to improve his image by actively seeking to restart talks with the Yankees.

Me too, or at least I believe that was the idea, which is why it feels Boras-orchestrated to me. A-Rod may be a smart guy, but he's never struck me as introspective. Image-conscious, yes.

I don't think Lowell will continue to put up numbers like the last two years (though staying at Fenway would help hide some of the aging), but he should be third until he can't play third anymore. He's a joy to watch there, a datapoint for the Sport as Art debate.

posted by yerfatma at 6:42 AM CDT on November 16

I'll just ramble all over the place on this one...

I think that's part of the plan you enjoy when you have Boras as your agent: He'll be the asshole for his client. He'll be the bad guy in the media so they don't have to. He'll fall on the sword and I think he did as far as trying to apologize and right the perceived wrongs as far as announcing the opt-out during Game 4, etc. I do have to say, I love that the Yankees said "Yeah, we'll deal with you, ARod... but not Boras." The Hank/Hal Steinbrenner Era is going to be like having old George back.

Despite what Boras was saying in the media last week, I don't think there was any other serious suitors for ARod, dyams. Teams probably sniffed around, did their due diligence by calling and that was it. Overall, I am glad this bullshit charade is over and he's signed with someone. Although I'd be lying if I said a small part of me didn't want to see this get into mid-January with ARod unsigned, just to see the panic.

Boras still mishandled this whole thing and misinterpreted the market. He thought if Drew got a ridiculous deal last year, then certainly some fool (Boston?) was going to shell out more record money for Rodriguez who is certainly a better player than Drew. But alas, no. The Yankees pretty much ended up doing what they set out to do in the first place: Extend ARod at 25-30m a year. I am sort of glad that NYY managed to tweak Boras publicly in the process though, although I am sure that didn't entirely phase Boras.

I am happy for the Rangers. Merry Christmas, Texas. Please spend it on some players.

I agree with what you said about Lowell, yerfatma. I love Lowell. He's easily become one of my favorite players in his short stint in Boston. However, if he wants to take a 4 year/60m deal with NYY to play 1B, adios and good luck Senor Lowell. I'd guess for the first year or two, he'd be decent in NYY and it'd be painful to see him in their laundry. I can't help but think of the deals Boston didn't make for Damon and Pedro and how well that panned out for Boston.

posted by jerseygirl at 7:31 AM CDT on November 16

Good analysis, jerseygirl.

I'd love to see Lowell come to New York, particularly if it means moving A-Rod to first base. Lowell at first base seems like a waste to me.

posted by lil_brown_bat at 8:17 AM CDT on November 16

Lowell at 3rd, A-Rod at short, Pedrosia at second,and Youk at first.Now thats an infield that would be the best in baseball.But of course I know in reality that will never happen.I personally am not an A-Rod fan.I just hope that Lowell remains in Boston.Keep him out of New York pinstripes and I'll be happy.

posted by Ghastly1 at 12:11 PM CDT on November 16

Is it just me, or is a 10 year deal for a 32-year-old player a bit ridiculous?

posted by bender at 12:40 PM CDT on November 16

I believe A-Rod did a great deal to improve his image by actively seeking to restart talks with the Yankees.

Did he have a choice? If A-Rod can spin this into a great PR move then fantastic (I've read opinions that this will haunt him for years and others that this will turn him into a true yankee). And if Boras is behind this whole thing he's even better than I thought he was. But:

1. There was no one that would give him the 350 million. If they would have he would have taken it.

2. You say the Angels might have given him that kind of money. I'll believe it when I see it. No one has said they would have. The Red Sox were the only team that could give the Yankees a run for their money, and they didn't. Boras couldn't use that leverage.

3. So unless 1 or 2 are wrong, his choices were to sign for less elsewhere or come crawling back to the yankees. That's a no brainer.

He basically quit his job to make more money elsewhere and when it wasn't there begged for it back. If he can spin that into "seeing something through" good for him. But the only reason he's not starting something new elsewhere is money. And there's nothing wrong with that. He's the games best player and he wanted to see what he was worth. But let's call a spade a spade.

posted by justgary at 1:07 PM CDT on November 16

Is it just me, or is a 10 year deal for a 32-year-old player a bit ridiculous?

It's not just you. Again, the advantage large market teams have are not the players they can buy but the mistakes they can afford to make. The Yankees get themselves A-Rod's production for the next 5+ years and prevented him from playing for the Red Sox (or other competition) for the rest of his career. That probably justifies the cost for them.

posted by yerfatma at 1:10 PM CDT on November 16

I think a 10 year deal for A-Rod makes sense on some other levels in addition to what yerfatma stated. In addition to above-average production for probably at least the first 7 years of that deal and keeping him away from competitors, you are buying what should be an untainted assault on the home run record and everything that goes along with that. You are also basically ensuring that A-Rod will retire a Yankee, meaning that the "Yankee aura" will be enhanced by having A-Rod go to the HoF as a Yankee and having what is likely one of the top-10 position players of all time associated that team for historical purposes.

posted by holden at 2:21 PM CDT on November 16

"Yankee aura"? What the hell? Are you Johnny Damon?

posted by justgary at 2:29 PM CDT on November 16

"Yankee aura"? What the hell? Are you Johnny Damon?

He basically enhances the brand long-term is what I meant. I though the air quotes would convey how I feel about that term.

posted by holden at 3:02 PM CDT on November 16

Many seem to want to speculate on what the market may have wound up being for A-Rod, but he just became a free agent! It's not like he's been on the market for several months. The fact he wanted to go back to the Yankees so quickly is what really strikes me. We can argue forever that the Angels, Mets, Dodgers, whoever, may or may not have been willing to ante up all that money for the guy, but this whole thing changed around so quickly. Perhaps the Yankees would have been the only legitimate team for him to ever sign with, but it's still only mid-November. I thought he'd at least play the thing out a while longer. Barely any other free agents out there have signed yet either.

As for the 10-year contract, I see it as a good move for the Yankees. If Barry Bonds can play into his 40s, I see no reason why A-Rod can't remain very productive for at least the next decade. The Yankees are moving into a new stadium, and health permitting, A-Rod will likely be challenging for the career home run record within this span. Can you imagine Yankee Stadium and New York City in general if that scenario ever comes about? A-Rod will pay for himself, even with this (ridiculously) huge contract.

posted by dyams at 4:27 PM CDT on November 16

The deal likely cements NY not winning a World Series for the next decade. I agree with the observation that this helps Boston, whether they keep Lowell or not. Arod signing for what he signed for lowers the market value of all of the other third base free agents and as a result increases the choices that Boston has. At this time, Boston has a much savvier front office than the Yankees have, Boston will plug third with either Lowell or an excellent replacement and they will keep cranking talent up through their farm system.

posted by Cave_Man at 5:14 PM CDT on November 16

The deal likely cements NY not winning a World Series for the next decade

What's the logic behind this?

posted by jerseygirl at 5:20 PM CDT on November 16

I though the air quotes would convey how I feel about that term.

Just a joke holden. More about damon than anything else.

It's not like he's been on the market for several months. The fact he wanted to go back to the Yankees so quickly is what really strikes me.

He wanted 350 million dollars. He wanted 10 years. It doesn't take several months to see if that deal is anywhere out there. If someone is close, sure, you wait and negotiate. My guess is there was no one out there even close to giving him that amount or those years. So there's no reason to wait. In fact, if arod had waited a few months the yankees could very well already have signed a third baseman. So he needed to come back to where the money is now, not wait several months.

If anyone had even come close to his demands I promise arod and boras would make sure everyone knew. "We could have gotten a good deal elsewhere, but he wanted to be a yankee". But he didn't, because he can't.

I know we're in danger of going back and forth, so I'll just end with this. I don't believe there was anywhere for arod to go and get the kind of contract he wanted. Boston said from the beginning that they weren't going anywhere near that kind of contract. That means there's only one or two other teams for arod to turn to. I don't think they wanted any part of that kind of contract either. He came back so fast because NY was the only place he could get that kind of contract. And if he waited, he might lose that chance. You can dress it up all you want, he came back for the money. And again, that's the way most players operate.

Arod signing for what he signed for lowers the market value of all of the other third base free agents

No, it doesn't. If you really believe that and have the reasons to back it up I'd love to hear them.

posted by justgary at 5:36 PM CDT on November 16

ON WHATCHING THE OREGON GAME THURSDAY,IT HAD AN INTERVIEW WITH THE OWNER OF THE ANGELS AND HE SAID THEY DID NOT HAVE THE MONEY TO COMPETE WITH THE YANKEES.IN REALATIY NONE OF THE OTHER MLB's TEAMS EITHER.

posted by imperialvalley at 6:48 PM CDT on November 16

Holy Jebus. Hi Imperialvalley, please read our guidelines and don't do that ALL CAPS thing anymore.

posted by jerseygirl at 7:35 PM CDT on November 16

Hey jg, it's "imperialvalley". Easy with the caps.

posted by yerfatma at 7:49 PM CDT on November 16

Now Kenny Rogers has fired Boras, apparently for misrepresenting him. His reputation seems to be taking a critical hit this offseason, and it may cost him from here on out.

posted by dyams at 9:11 PM CDT on November 16

His reputation seems to be taking a critical hit this offseason, and it may cost him from here on out.

Well, the most visible client he represents used to hold the record for the largest pro-sports contract in the history of North American sports.

Until, of course, he signed ANOTHER contract for an even LARGER amount of money later in his career. And it was with a team that he had just cut ties with, and had announced they weren't going to negotiate with him client if he did that.

Arod signing for what he signed for lowers the market value of all of the other third base free agents

Again, I'll remind you that ARod has (supposedly) agreed to a deal that will pay him more (cumulative) than any player in the history of North American sports. How can that possibly "lower the market value"?

If anything, Lowell's value goes UP because he immediately becomes the #1 3B free agent out there, and I'm sure there are teams that would like to upgrade that position (Detroit, Chicago White Sox and Texas leap to mind).

posted by grum@work at 10:05 PM CDT on November 16

I'd be interested to see what the additional money above the $275MM Rodriguez can make. On a year to year comparison (year 1 of the old deal vs. year 1 of the new deal, year 2 to year 2, etc.) based on just the $275, the average annual salary on the new deal is actually lower, when adjusted for inflation, than the prior $25MM per year he was making under his existing deal. Of course, he traded in the last three years of the old deal for the new money and, as noted above, 10 years is a long time -- so it's not like this isn't still an outstanding contract.

Just a joke holden. More about damon than anything else.

Why am I always being singled out? Enough of this same bullsh*t coming from those in power on this site. I'm out of here and I'm taking my aura with me.

posted by holden at 10:46 PM CDT on November 16

My comments about Boras' reputation and future taking a hit didn't really have anything to do with A-Rod's contract. A-Rod was going to make huge money, regardless, and Boras will obviously benefit tremendously from a financial standpoint. Where I think he will take a hit is with the "Good/Very Good" players he represents. It's his representation of these players I think will alienate teams due to his (Boras') brash, reckless demeanor. It's almost as if Boras is angry and resentful towards a player's former team, which may not matter much when you're talking the best player in baseball, but may blow up in the face of a client like Kenny Rogers. Rogers, in this case, may want to "Test the waters," but he still doesn't want to burn his bridges with Detroit.

posted by dyams at 8:09 AM CDT on November 17

Report: A-Rod plan to go around Boras came from Buffett

Holy cheeseburger in paradise, Batman!!! That Buffett must hathaway with words.

posted by holden at 2:37 PM CDT on November 17

I wonder if Buffet advised A-Rod to take his salary in Euros.

posted by Newbie Walker at 3:16 AM CDT on November 18

That Warren Buffett advised Alex Rodriguez on his contract negotiations (and that the story was broken by the WSJ) is great, and also says a lot about sports these days.

posted by Boris at 6:09 AM CDT on November 18

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