I think they reached that point when, or before they signed Dice-K, but everyone agreed not to talk about it.
Of course we could afford to lose ARod, we won before him and we'll win after him. he was an undeserving MVP 2 years ago, this year he's great but the team stinks. he's been an embarrassment in postseason costing us chances to move on being our worst player in october. If we make the postseason and he performs then give him what he wants but until he proves he can do it in october I wouldn't give him a cent more. I don't know who exactly but I know we can spread that money around and find guys to hit more than .100 in October.
But will they hit more then .200 in April-September? We have a whole lineup full of them now and we will never get to October with a few more of that type.
I am sure they can be as clutch as Arod '04-'06, In don't care about meaningless #s accumulated in blowouts or non important situations. We probably aren't getting to october in Alex's best year so why not spread that money around a bit, get some solid players(not superstars), improve the bench, etc...
Sorry junc, I have to disagree with you. ARod is the single-best ballplayer of his generation. I admit I turned my back on him near the end of last season, but I'm no longer letting some BS cloud my judgement. Has ARod struggled in October? Hell yes. Then again, so has every Yankee not named Derek, Jorge, or Bernie. While ARod is playing beyond the players around him this year, that's not the type of hitter he is on this team. In order for Alex to be successful in the postseason, he needs bats that are reliable surrounding him. If you have a dismal Sheffield in front, and an even more dismal Giambi behind him, it's a good bet that ARod is not going to see pitches to hit against the elite pitching that hits the mound when the leaves are changing. As for your argument that he didn't deserve the MVP, you're just wrong. While a VERY fair case can be made for Ortiz, both of their offensive numbers were similar for the year. ARod won because he can play the field far better than Ortiz on his best day. There's a big difference between saying Ortiz deserved the title as much as ARod, and Alex didn't deserve it. You're arguing the later, and that's just off-base. Now as far as people assuming this story is a load of crap, I'm reserving judgement. I tend to go by what people say, rather than all the hype generated by the media. In this case, Alex has said multiple times this year that he wants to remain a Yankee. In case no one has noticed, he's even yucking it up with Jeter these days. He obviously no longer gives a damn about his media image, which is key to being the bigshot in NY sports. He's also having a career year. There's no reason to believe he wouldn't take a small raise, just to prove that he deserves to be the highest paid player in the game, while at the same time sticking with a team with a legitimate shot at winning a ring. Another thing he's made perfectly clear is his desire to be a champion. The only two other teams that can offer him a combination of both the highest salary in the sport, and a legit shot at a title are the Red Sox and Mets. Why bother leaving the Yankees, who have a great future with the youth, and where he's grown into his role, to start over in Boston or with the Mets? It's far from unrealistic for ARod to stay here. Could we lose him? Of course we could. The thing is, the only two places he can go would actually hurt the teams he'd be going to. The Mets would move who? Wright? Reyes isn't going anywhere. The Sox could upgrade third, but at what cost? Sure, with Manny and Papi in the lineup with him, combined with that Green Monster for 81 games, you're talking a ridiculous number of RBI, but they need to worry about center field, and keeping their pitching at elite status. Also, I don't discount the outright animosity between Alex and Varitek. It won't be easy to keep him, but it's also not a forgone conclusion that he'll walk either.
Alio really said everything I wanted to say, but A-rod has been dismal in the playoffs but I still remember when he a great alds in 04 vs minny n a good first 3 games vs bosston in the 04 alcs. he still is hitting .300 for his career in the postseason all time. We have no righty bats to stack the middle of the lineup. Losing A-Rod is devastating to this lineup. I undeerstand he needs toprove it in october but how can you dog a-rod right now when this team would probably be 20 games under .500 w/o him this year? I know you wouldnt dare mention a-rod as a non clutch player in 07. 2 years ago A-Rod was a more the valuable mvp candidate. He played a gold glove caliber 3rd while putting up monster numbers offensively
Because all they do is take up roster spots and win nothing. Losing has never been what the Yankees are about.
hmm..Ortiz can't play the field at all, can he? He's a DH. Don't you include the Angels in that list? Vlad and Arod batting 3-4 with their pitching seems like a winner to me. They are probably the only team with any shot at getting him too.
Arod would be a fool to opt out and sign with another team. If he wants any kind of legacy at all he'll stay on the yankees.
He's on pace to become the greatest player in this era. He doesn't need to be a yankee. Shit, it would be better for him to go back to seattle, at least the fans and media love him there.
Looks like he might not even hit the open market http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=2933023 Sources: Yankees willing to talk extension with A-Rod during season The New York Yankees are willing to bend their own rules to keep Alex Rodriguez in pinstripes beyond this season. The Yankees have changed their traditional stance and are now willing to negotiate during the season with their star third baseman on a contract extension, MLB sources told ESPN The Magazine's Buster Olney. The key sticking point for the Yankees in the prospective negotiations is that Rodriguez agree not to opt out of his current contract after this season and agree to add any extension to the current contract, which expires after the 2010 season. Approximately $81 million of the current contract is being paid by the Texas Rangers, which was part of the trade that brought Rodriguez to New York. Though the Yankees are underperforming so far this season, it's not A-Rod's fault. Rodriguez leads the major leagues at the All-Star break with 30 home runs and 86 RBIs and has a .317 average.
Lowell is a free agent, and he's making $9 million this year. Schilling's $13 million will come off the books as well, and so will Clement's $9.5 million, and a few other players at about $1-$4 million each, though a few of those might be resigned. That's $31.5 million freed up. Arod for $27 million to replace Lowell, Lester for the minimum to replace Schilling, and Clement isn't on the roster anyway and doesn't need to be replaced. Ellsbury will be the starting centerfielder next season, making the minimum, and either Crisp or Pena will be traded. Then they can let Manny go after '08 if they want instead of picking up the options they have since they will have Arod's bat in the lineup. The Sox are actually in a GREAT position, financially and personnel wise to sign Arod if he opts out. Ellsbury Drew Ortiz Ramirez Rodriguez Varitek Youkilis Lugo Pedroia That looks really nice.
It would cost the Red Sox 30 million more to sign Atod then it would cost the Yankees to extend him.. The Yankees could sign him to a 3 year 120 million extension (although they won't) which would mean their total investment over 6 years would be 171 million. For Boston to even match it would cost them 201 million. The Yankees are in the driver seat unless Arod doesn't want to play in NY anymore. It's even more complicated then that. Nobody can negotiate with him at all unless he opts out. If he does opt out the Yankees are out of it. Without the Yankees in it he could very well find the offers nowhere near what they would be with the Yankees in it. So it's a real risk on his part to make that decision. My guess is he negotiates an extension with the Yankees knowing that will be the most he can get from anybody.
Ellsbury--??? Drew---14 mil Ortiz---13 mil Ramirez---17 mil Rodriguez---25 mil(at least) Varitek---11 mil Youkilis---425 k Lugo---8 mil Pedroia--380 k That is 90 Million tied up in the starting lineup.:breakdance:
