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Alex Rodriguez

A-Rod Options

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A couple of high-profile options for Alex Rodriguez were discussed in the papers today.  A-Rod’s hitting like a madman, which brings his opt-out clause to the forefront even though it’s April 20th.

Gerry Callahan of the Boston Herald has "no doubt" that the Red Sox will make a run at Rodriguez after this season.  It does make plenty of sense – the Sox proved they’d pay a ridiculous amount for star power with the Daisuke Matsuzaka bidding.  They’ve got the open slot at third base with Mike Lowell leaving.  And they almost acquired Rodriguez in 2003.  Basically, all the talking points you’re going to hear between now and when he signs somewhere. 

Some salary should come off the books for Boston after this season: Curt Schilling at $13MM, Matt Clement at $9.5MM, Mike Lowell at $9MM, Eric Hinske at $2.8MM, Joel Pineiro at $4MM, Julian Tavarez at $3.1MM.  Of course, the Sox need to replace some of these guys, but they could be subtracting $40MM.  There is room for a marquee addition, and it could be on offense.  I could see a big push to sign A-Rod and John Smoltz, if he’ll leave Atlanta.

Another possibility is the Phillies.  Would Phils fans really show the love to A-Rod, as Nick Fierro suggests?  I feel like they could turn on him pretty quickly.  Then again, there’s no reason Rodriguez wouldn’t tear up the National League and give them nothing to boo about.  The Phils could lose Freddy Garcia at $10MM, Jon Lieber at $7.5MM, and Aaron Rowand at $4.35MM.  They are also paying $7MM towards Jim Thome’s salary this year.  I just don’t see the Phillies winning the bidding for a free agent superstar, however.  They wouldn’t pony up for Alfonso Soriano or Carlos Lee this winter.   

The Red Sox and Phillies are just two of many teams thought to be interested in Rodriguez.  Despite the money, the list is huge and may also include the Angels, Dodgers, White Sox, Cubs, Giants, Diamondbacks, and Indians.

MLB Trade Rumors: Yankees Notes

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Hey, as you all know I am the new Yankees correspondent.   I just got back from the game a few minutes ago, and thanks to some eavesdropping, I was able to extract some information from a "high up" of the Richmond Braves. The most important thing he spoke about was that the organization is very nervous about overworking Wickman, Gonzalez and Soriano, and may be looking to either call up a reliever or investigate a signing/trade situation.   Peter Moylan seems to be the logical choice, but that’s enough about the Braves.

Raul Chavez caught the game tonight.  I remember many baseball forums bashing the signing, but there may be more behind it than his .212 career batting average.  Chavez was the primary backup catcher for the Houston Astros from 2004-2005, and caught a combined 97 games during that time. He also worked with both Andy Pettitte and Roger Clemens.  Perhaps Brian Cashman signed Chavez with this in mind.  Perhaps it may make Clemens even more enticed to sign with the Yankees.  I think that if Clemens has the chance to play along side friends like Jeter, Rivera and Pettitte, along with two catchers he is comfortable with could work to our advantage in the upcoming sweepstakes.  Just an idea, I’m sure we’ll see in a month or so where Roger decides to pitch.  Chavez had some nice AB’s tonight, and was really working the count.  That could work in his favor if Nieves falters. 

Chris Basak looked really good tonight at 3B.   He made several difficult plays at the hot corner and displayed a somewhat strong arm.  After seeing his hustle, and defensive ability, I really think the Yankees should have chosen him instead of Cairo for the utility spot.  I’m sure if Cairo gets hurt he will be the first called up.  Alberto Gonzalez looked decent as well, but his bat needs to catch up with his glove before he becomes a major leaguer.   

Shelley Duncan, brother of Cardinal’s outfielder Chris Duncan, hit a tremendous home run to the opposite field tonight.  The guy did not look that great in the outfield, but he has some major power.   If the Mientkiewicz/Phelps platoon falls apart, Duncan could be a player in that.   He’s not much of a fielder, but he does have some upside offensively.  Eric Duncan looked very good as well.  He put together some nice at bats and played the field well.  The organization seems to really like him, as do the other journalists in the press box.

I spoke to Ron Villone, Andy Phillips, and manager Dave Miley after the game.  Villone is apparently really happy where he is right now, and chose to return to the Yankees because he loves the organization (he is a NJ native) and feels that he can work his way up again and be on a contending club.  He is much bigger in person, and very intimidating.  Either way, it’s a good way to show that he can still pitch.  Miley felt the same way about Villone, and also mentioned that he liked having his veteran presence on the team.

Andy Phillips is a really nice guy in person.  We talked about his time with the fellowship of Christian Athletes, and his current hobbies of golf and singing.  I was not aware that he sings in a Christian music group during the off-season.  His mother is doing very well, and I asked him about any other teams he would like to play for, and he replied that he grew up a Braves fan and would love to play for them.

On the Major League Yankees side of things:

After five lousy starts for the Yankees rotation and one critical Joel Sherman  article, Carl Pavano and Andy Pettitte strung together two quality starts in a row.  The big story is Alex Rodriguez’s home run, the 6th.  As Chad Jennings, Scranton Times-Tribune sportswriter said to me, A-Rod now has as many home runs in one week than Jason Tyner has over his entire career.

Let’s hope Rodriguez does not get greedy after his monster 2007 season and opt out of his contract with the intention of making even more money.  I don’t think he will, especially since the fans are going to adore him if he keeps up his torrid pace. 

Project A13

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Normally I wouldn’t link to something like this, but it doesn’t appear that this site is designed to make money.

There’s a movement to commit to unconditional support of Alex Rodriguez this year, with the interest of the Yankees in mind.  It’s called Project A13.  It makes sense to me – booing certainly has not been shown to motivate A-Rod.  Cheering him no matter what can only help.

Of course, you can’t really convince all Yankees fans to adhere to it.

A-Rod And The Giants

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Tim Kawakami of the San Jose Mercury News combines some inside information with informed speculation to conclude that the Giants will be major players for Alex Rodriguez should he opt out of his contract following this season.

The reasoning, summed up:

  • With Bonds, Feliz, and Benitez off the books, the Giants will have money to burn.
  • A-Rod would be every bit as big of a draw as Bonds, without the negative connotations.  And the next two career home run kings could both be Giants.
  • The Giants don’t have a problem dealing with Scott Boras; in fact, they just dealt with him for Barry Zito.  And that Zito contract was nearly as crazy as Rodriguez’s will be.
  • The Giants inquired as to A-Rod’s availability last winter.

That would be a ton of money tied up with two players, but it would help change the face of San Francisco baseball.  I think the Angels will make a huge offer to A-Rod as well.

Yankees Won’t Renegotiate With A-Rod

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In case you missed Jon Heyman’s scoop yesterday: Brian Cashman won’t renegotiate Alex Rodriguez’s contract after this season.  I imagine he went public with it in attempt to put the onus back on A-Rod when he leaves after the season.  For once, Rodriguez is not biting and won’t discuss it further with the media.  Heyman reiterates that Rodriguez will not consent to a trade if the Yankees are in contention.  Other notes from the column:

  • Out of all the relievers on the market, Jorge Julio seems the most likely to be dealt.
  • Heyman thinks John Smoltz is done with team-friendly contracts and will leave the Braves after 2007.  Could the Red Sox replace Curt Schilling with him?
  • Devil Rays "second baseman" Jorge Cantu is on the block.  I think he has been for some time.  I believe there is a federal law mandating mention of his 117 RBI season in any Cantu trade rumor.  Ooh boy, look at all those ribbies!  Perhaps the Rays would shift Akinori Iwamura or B.J. Upton to second base.  In any case, I don’t think Cantu is part of the long-term plan.

A-Rod To Angels Trade Possible?

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The Los Angeles Times speculated yesterday that the Angels could be a frontrunner for Alex Rodriguez, obstensibly in the upcoming offseason.  Bill Shaikin speculated that such an acquisition would make Orlando Cabrera the odd man out.

On the heels of that story comes an intriguing trade rumor from Halos Heaven.  Yes, it is a blog, but I have known the author for some time and can vouch for the authenticity of his sources.  He says Bill Stoneman and Brian Cashman have a tentative plan in place where the Angels could trade Dustin Moseley, Jose Molina, and Jered Weaver for Alex Rodriguez. 

Instead of typical sixth starter Hector Carrasco, the Angels plan to use 25 year-old starter Moseley to fill in for Weaver as he misses one start in April.  It could be Moseley’s audition for a future trade.  He and Molina would be the complimentary pieces, with Boras client Weaver the centerpiece. 

I think Yankee fans would be satisfied with such a deal, should Weaver pass his physical.  So far this appears to be just the framework of a trade; big-time success by A-Rod or serious health issues for Weaver could get in the way.  And, of course, Rodriguez has veto power.  I imagine the Halos would try to hammer out a long-term deal with Rodriguez to make him the next great Angel for a long time. 

A-Rod Mania

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Alex Rodriguez, New York’s favorite villain, has again inspired a slew of articles.  As always, MLBTradeRumors reads them all so you don’t have to.

Joel Sherman of the New York Post plays the greed angle, as if most baseball players, and people in general, shouldn’t want to maximize their earnings.  Sherman thinks Rodriguez is destined to play for the Angels or White Sox, wanting to stay in the AL.  Never say never, but the day Kenny Williams negotiates an eight-year deal with Scott Boras…well, let’s just say it’s a long shot.  But Sherman lays out a scenario I also expect: Boras asks the Yankees to extend his contract, they refuse, and that is the justification for the third baseman’s departure.

Sherman contributed to a separate article that suggests Rodriguez tampered by learning about the five or six interested teams from a channel other than the Yankees.

Bill Madden plays the greed angle too, complete with a cheesy picture of Rodriguez and Boras smiling.  Said Madden:

"A-Rod’s problem, from the moment he signed with Seattle as the first pick in the 1993 draft, is that he has never allowed his talent to do his talking for him – as, say, Derek Jeter has."

Is that so?  Jeter didn’t sign a massive ten-year, $189MM contract in 2001?  Did he take a discount to stay in New York, as Madden suggests?  Madden also criticizes A-Rod for craving attention. 

He did an interview.  He did not ask for 16 newspaper articles about it for the following two days. 

Johnette Howard of Newsday is more forgiving – she says A-Rod comes off much better if you simply listen to the interview.

Sick Of A-Rod Yet?

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MLBTradeRumors reads the six daily Alex Rodriguez articles so you don’t have to.  He gave the standard lines in his WFAN interview yesterday: he wants to finish his career a Yankee, he wants to win another MVP and the World Series with them. 

Rodriguez still said enough to fan the flames.  He explained how five or six teams expressed interest in him this offseason, and attempted to put the onus on the fans and Yankee management.  If they don’t make him feel wanted, then it seems he will exercise his out clause.  I’d be shocked if the booing stops, so this is probably his last year with the Yankees. 

According to Jon Heyman earlier this month, interested parties included the Angels, Dodgers, Cubs, Giants, Phillies, Diamondbacks, and Indians, with the White Sox and Dodgers the most persistent. 

Bonds May Shoot For 3,000 Hits

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Yesterday, Barry Bonds distanced himself from his agent’s outlandish claims, seemingly crowning Alex Rodriguez as the one to watch for the career HR record.  Even he realizes that 1,000 home runs is absurd.

Back on February 6th, Tom Verducci’s story had Bonds telling the Giants this winter, through his agent, that he wanted to play in 2008 and probably 2009 as well.  Yesterday Bonds sounded more focused on playing this season and emerging healthy.  A lot can happen between now and 2009.

The New York Times speculates that Bonds may stick around long enough to reach 3,000 hits.  That would require him to play in 2008. 

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