Post by Josh on Nov 14, 2007 17:17:43 GMT -5
The New York Yankees began direct contract dialogue with third baseman Alex Rodriguez on Wednesday.
Your questions,
A-Rod's answers
ESPN.com's Gene Wojciechowski finds A-Rod's Web site, where he answers fan questions -- especially from Hank in the Bronx. Story
• Neyer: Pay-Rod saga continues
• Caple: Where is the love?
• Philbrick: Save your money
In a statement released by Rodriguez he said he and his wife Cynthia have spoken directly with Hank and Hal Steinbrenner.
It is absolutely clear, however, that the negotiations -- which never really got started last month -- are now on-going, and agent Scott Boras is not part of the dialogue.
"Alex reached out to the Yankees, and he made it clear he wants to be a Yankee," said one source. "He understands what has to be done."
Rodriguez released the following statement on his Web site.
"After spending time with Cynthia and my family over these last few weeks, it became clear to me that I needed to make an attempt to engage the Yankees regarding my future with the organization.
"Prior to entering into serious negotiations with other clubs, I wanted the opportunity to share my thoughts directly with Yankees' ownership. We know there are other opportunities for us, but Cynthia and I have a foundation with the club that has brought us comfort, stability and happiness.
"As a result, I reached out to the Yankees through mutual friends and conveyed that message. I also understand that I had to respond to certain Yankees concerns, and I was receptive and understanding of that situation.
"Cynthia and I have since spoken directly with the Steinbrenner family. During these healthy discussions, both sides were able to share honest feelings and hopes with one another, and we expect to continue this dialogue with the Yankees over the next few days," he said.
Yankees executives had tried to arrange a face-to-face meeting with Rodriguez last month, in which they intended to offer Rodriguez, initially, a five-year extension worth about $140 million to $150 million -- on top of the three years and $81 million he was still owed under his previous contract. It was the team's intention to increase its offer, perhaps to nine or 10 years, so that Rodriguez, in the end, would make something in the range of nine years and $260 million, or 10 years and $289 million.
But in response, Boras informed the Yankees that in order to arrange a meeting, the Yankees would have to be prepared to offer a deal of at least $350 million. And, about 72 hours later, Boras informed the Yankees of Rodriguez's decision on Oct. 28, during Game 4 of the World Series, to opt out of the $252 million deal he signed with Texas seven years ago.
Hank Steinbrenner, the eldest son of the Yankees' owner, reacted angrily, saying that he didn't want any player who didn't want to be a Yankee. But all along, Yankees executives indicated that they would be willing to talk with Rodriguez -- and cut a deal with him directly -- if Boras was not involved. The Yankees have been leery of Boras taking their offer and using it to gain leverage with another team.
Rodriguez, 32, has been heavily criticized after word of his decision to opt out of the contract leaked out in the midst of the last game of the World Series. Boras subsquently took responsibility for what happened.
Some Yankees' officials initially believe that Rodriguez and Boras had a deal lined up with another team. But since then, many agents and executives have come to believe that Boras may have -- for one of the first times in his career -- misread the market. "You look at it, and there simply is not in a position to pay as much as the Yankees can pay," one high-powered agent said Wednesday morning.
Many possible suitors, from the Tigers to the Marlins to the Giants, have either stated flatly that they were not in the A-Rod Sweepstakes, or that it is highly unlikely that they would be. Red Sox General Manager Theo Epstein went to great lengths to make sure that nobody read too deeply into a face-to-face meeting he had with Boras at the GM meetings in Orlando last week.
Meanwhile, friends of Rodriguez say he has been embarrassed by what has taken place. Last week, one high-ranking official with an AL team made this prediction: "I think A-Rod will go back to the Yankees himself and make a deal without Scott involved," said the executive. "This way, he can get back into the good graces of the fans, and still get the biggest contract he can get."
The Yankees probably made it clear to Rodriguez today that they expect him take less money than they would have offered, because once he opted out of his previous contract, the team lost a $21.3 million subsidy from the Texas Rangers. It could be that Rodriguez's new deal, if completed, will be something in the range of $270 million. "But right now, it's just talk," said one source. "There is no deal."
The Yankees have begun poking around for alternatives at other positions, including free agent third baseman Mike Lowell, but all along, retaining Rodriguez has been their preference.
Even if Rodriguez re-signs with the Yankees while retaining Boras as his agent, a negotiation that does not include the high-profile agent will be viewed within the industry as the first enormous defeat for the agent, because of how the talks have played out; because of the possible damage to Rodriguez's image in recent weeks; and because Rodriguez will be asked by the Yankees to take some $20 million less than they were willing to pay before the slugger opted out of his previous deal.
Buster Olney is a senior writer for ESPN The Magazine.
Your questions,
A-Rod's answers
ESPN.com's Gene Wojciechowski finds A-Rod's Web site, where he answers fan questions -- especially from Hank in the Bronx. Story
• Neyer: Pay-Rod saga continues
• Caple: Where is the love?
• Philbrick: Save your money
In a statement released by Rodriguez he said he and his wife Cynthia have spoken directly with Hank and Hal Steinbrenner.
It is absolutely clear, however, that the negotiations -- which never really got started last month -- are now on-going, and agent Scott Boras is not part of the dialogue.
"Alex reached out to the Yankees, and he made it clear he wants to be a Yankee," said one source. "He understands what has to be done."
Rodriguez released the following statement on his Web site.
"After spending time with Cynthia and my family over these last few weeks, it became clear to me that I needed to make an attempt to engage the Yankees regarding my future with the organization.
"Prior to entering into serious negotiations with other clubs, I wanted the opportunity to share my thoughts directly with Yankees' ownership. We know there are other opportunities for us, but Cynthia and I have a foundation with the club that has brought us comfort, stability and happiness.
"As a result, I reached out to the Yankees through mutual friends and conveyed that message. I also understand that I had to respond to certain Yankees concerns, and I was receptive and understanding of that situation.
"Cynthia and I have since spoken directly with the Steinbrenner family. During these healthy discussions, both sides were able to share honest feelings and hopes with one another, and we expect to continue this dialogue with the Yankees over the next few days," he said.
Yankees executives had tried to arrange a face-to-face meeting with Rodriguez last month, in which they intended to offer Rodriguez, initially, a five-year extension worth about $140 million to $150 million -- on top of the three years and $81 million he was still owed under his previous contract. It was the team's intention to increase its offer, perhaps to nine or 10 years, so that Rodriguez, in the end, would make something in the range of nine years and $260 million, or 10 years and $289 million.
But in response, Boras informed the Yankees that in order to arrange a meeting, the Yankees would have to be prepared to offer a deal of at least $350 million. And, about 72 hours later, Boras informed the Yankees of Rodriguez's decision on Oct. 28, during Game 4 of the World Series, to opt out of the $252 million deal he signed with Texas seven years ago.
Hank Steinbrenner, the eldest son of the Yankees' owner, reacted angrily, saying that he didn't want any player who didn't want to be a Yankee. But all along, Yankees executives indicated that they would be willing to talk with Rodriguez -- and cut a deal with him directly -- if Boras was not involved. The Yankees have been leery of Boras taking their offer and using it to gain leverage with another team.
Rodriguez, 32, has been heavily criticized after word of his decision to opt out of the contract leaked out in the midst of the last game of the World Series. Boras subsquently took responsibility for what happened.
Some Yankees' officials initially believe that Rodriguez and Boras had a deal lined up with another team. But since then, many agents and executives have come to believe that Boras may have -- for one of the first times in his career -- misread the market. "You look at it, and there simply is not in a position to pay as much as the Yankees can pay," one high-powered agent said Wednesday morning.
Many possible suitors, from the Tigers to the Marlins to the Giants, have either stated flatly that they were not in the A-Rod Sweepstakes, or that it is highly unlikely that they would be. Red Sox General Manager Theo Epstein went to great lengths to make sure that nobody read too deeply into a face-to-face meeting he had with Boras at the GM meetings in Orlando last week.
Meanwhile, friends of Rodriguez say he has been embarrassed by what has taken place. Last week, one high-ranking official with an AL team made this prediction: "I think A-Rod will go back to the Yankees himself and make a deal without Scott involved," said the executive. "This way, he can get back into the good graces of the fans, and still get the biggest contract he can get."
The Yankees probably made it clear to Rodriguez today that they expect him take less money than they would have offered, because once he opted out of his previous contract, the team lost a $21.3 million subsidy from the Texas Rangers. It could be that Rodriguez's new deal, if completed, will be something in the range of $270 million. "But right now, it's just talk," said one source. "There is no deal."
The Yankees have begun poking around for alternatives at other positions, including free agent third baseman Mike Lowell, but all along, retaining Rodriguez has been their preference.
Even if Rodriguez re-signs with the Yankees while retaining Boras as his agent, a negotiation that does not include the high-profile agent will be viewed within the industry as the first enormous defeat for the agent, because of how the talks have played out; because of the possible damage to Rodriguez's image in recent weeks; and because Rodriguez will be asked by the Yankees to take some $20 million less than they were willing to pay before the slugger opted out of his previous deal.
Buster Olney is a senior writer for ESPN The Magazine.
sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=3109894
Looks like Boras misjudged A-Rod's value and only the Yankees can afford A-Rod. However, A-Rod is pissed at Boras for embraressing him and all of a sudden wants to be a yankee. Oh, and get this, the Yankees are only talking with A-Rod because Boras is not involved.
Smells like a load of BS from here.
