A Way Out for A-Rod?

When all is said and done, Alex Rodriguez will be one of the best players to ever pick up a baseball. Barring any serious injury, A-rod will pass Hank Aaron on the all time home run list, have over 4500 hits, over 2000 RBI’s, and will probably be in the top five of every other offensive category. The big question is, will Alex be a Yankee when he breaks all these records, and if he stays a Yankee, will he even be able to break all these records, if the New York atmosphere affects the way he plays?

The reason these questions are brought up this year is because when the season is over, Rodriguez has the option to opt-out, voiding the final three years of his contract, and become a free agent. This past off season, J.D. Drew formally of the LA Dodgers opted-out of the final three years of his contract, where he was owned another $33 million, to become a free agent. Drew signed with the Red Sox, for five years, $70 million, extending his contract time as well as his pay. Rodriguez and Drew have more in common than there contract language; they also have the same agent representing them, Scott Boras.

Boras represents all that is evil to fans who love the game for the game, before it became a business. He represents his clients and he does his job better than most other agents, he gets his client more money than they usually deserve, plus a few million extra, not caring about the teams whatsoever. Money is what drives this man, and he gets his clients to think the same way, as seen with Drew. Boras has even talked about A-Rod’s contract, saying "Obviously when Alex's contract was done, the revenues of the game were around $3 billion," Said Boras. "Now they are around $6 billion. The elite position player has not been really graded in this new revenue stream we've seen." When Boras starts talking business, everyone starts to listen, because he is talking about his biggest client, and his possible departure for more money. Rodriguez is owed $72 million over the last three years of his contract, if he was to opt-out, it could prove beneficial not only to raise his pay, but he can leave New York, and try to pursue his historic numbers in another city.

A lot of Yankees fans wouldn’t seem to mind of A-Rod left New York. He still hasn’t been considered a "True Yankee", he is booed in his own home park, and it just seems the fans hate him, even though he is playing for their own team. What most fans don’t understand is that he hit 35 home runs, 121 RBI’s, and batted .290 over 572 at bats, which is considered by everyone an "off year", but compared to the rest of the league, that’s an amazing year. Yankees fans need to put aside the distaste they have for Rodriguez for whatever reason, and understand that the interlocking NY on the front is more important than the number n the back. A-Rod is a Yankee, he should be cheered as all Yankee greats are, especially if the fans know that booing him hurts his performance. We saw what he can do when he hit three home runs and 10 RBIs in one game against Bartolo Colon and the Angels in 2005, not to mention he won the MVP that season. So what more does this man need to do to prove how much he is willing to dedicate to this team?
Like any human being, Alex will only be able to take so much abuse, it is bad enough he gets it from the fans, but the media add even more unneeded pressure because of his relationship with Derek Jeter. After Rodriguez made a statement about Jeter in an Esquire interview in 2001, saying that Jeter was only a number two hitter, and couldn’t lead a team, their relationship went from being best of friends to respectable acquaintances. They don’t hang out everyday but they support each other, and interact with each other on the field, but the media has blown it to a place where both A-Rod and Jeter have said that the issue is settled, and they don’t want to discuss it anymore.

From the Yankees point of view, a trade now is unlikely. Alex has a no trade clause and an opt-out clause only one season away, it would be in his best interest to stick it out one more season rather than accept a trade. If the Yankees lose A-Rod after this season, Eric Duncan would be a possibility to succeed the hot corner. Duncan started out as a third baseman, but had moved to first because he was expected to be in the majors relatively soon, and A-Rod was thought to still be at third when he arrived. Poor playing and injuries have slowed Duncan’s progress to the majors, but this season he seems to be back on track to his eventual arrival to the big leagues. The way options are unfolding now, Duncan might have a shot at playing his natural position at Yankee Stadium, depending on what A-Rod does concerning his contract.
From every side of the story, every decision A-Rod can make will affect not only him or the Yankees, but the rest of baseball as well. Here is a list of what will happen in what situation, id Alex stays a Yankee or becomes a free agent.

Side One: Alex Rodriguez -

Alex has said that he wants to remain a Yankee for the rest of his career, but even if he plays out his contact until it expires, the Yankees aren’t likely to resign him, but that is looking at a situation four years from now, and a career can be made or destroyed in one season of baseball. Predicting what the Yankees will do that far into the future is impossible.
If Alex stays in New York: Alex has the ability to be great, he knows it, and everyone in baseball knows it. The Yankees fans need to understand that the "constructive criticism" they are giving him isn’t going to make him better, it is going to make him worse. This might be his last chance to prove to New York that he was worth trading for, but with the Yankees fans support, he can be the best in baseball once again.

If Alex leaves New York: Alex will make more money, be able to play his natural position, and play on a team where fans don’t boo every time he strikes out. Doesn’t sound too bad, but it’s not New York, and if he does leave, he will be viewed as the player who couldn’t make it in New York. He might still break all those records, but he will lose a lot of respect around baseball.

Side Two: The Yankees -

Giving up on a two-time MVP who will be the youngest to hit 500 homes runs in 2007 is something that would never be a thought in the old Yankees way of thinking, but the new way GM Brian Cashman is dealing with the roster, parting ways with A-Rod isn’t so far fetched. With young prospects in the minors and money being saved, the Yankees could find a suitable replacement, and let Alex go about his business if he decides to opt-out.
If Alex stays in New York: The Yankees will have the best hitting third baseman in the league, a man who has the potential to hit 50 home runs, steal 30 bases and drive in 140 runs a year. In A-Rod’s "off" season, he hit more home runs since Greg Nettles, who hit 37 homes runs in 1977, he couldn’t beat his 2005 RBI total, which set a record for Yankees third basemen. His average could have been better however, .300 should be mandatory. It would be difficult to replace an infielder who produces that much offence, but maybe the Yankees won’t have to, and Alex can become the New York hero he wants to be.

If Alex leaves New York: The Yankees can go the prospect route, or give in to the temptation to trade for a big name, but either way, with the offence the Yankees carry, they can live without Alex and still be a force in the American League. It is unlikely A-Rod would sign with an eastern division rival, only Boston could afford him. Too much history may have happened for him to sign with the Red Sox, and he might try to stay as far away from Yankee Stadium as possible, but never say never. Best case scenario if Alex leaves, he joins the National League.

Side Three: Major League Baseball –

If Alex stays in New York: It would be one of those rare occasions when a superstar says he wants to play somewhere, and actually comes through with it even if he has other options. More money, more productivity, more respect, he would be given all these things by going to another team, because it seems any team would be grateful to have an infielder who hits atleast 35 home runs. If Alex produces and plays for the Yankees for the rest of his contract, he will gain the respect of the entire major league, and hopefully, they won’t look down on him over his huge contract anymore.

If Alex leaves New York: Alex ending his career in pinstripes will be a sad end to a terrible career as a Yankee. Not so much in a statistic sense, but the fact that he struggled so much, found his place with the team or the fans; it would be a sad site to see. Alex will have the choice to play anywhere he wants again, he could stay in the American League, go to another team and when he comes to Yankee Stadium, he will be booed harder than ever, every four at bats. Or, he can join the National League, and join Ryan Howard and Albert Pujols as the huge bats in the NL.

Alex Rodriguez is a special player, and any team would give almost anything to have him. Alex wants to play in New York, but no one in New York seems to want him to play there. Yankee fans need to embrace A-Rod if they want him to produce, it is that simple. Remember that he is part of the Yankees, and no one wearing the pinstripes should have to be put through this kind of thing. Baseball is hard enough on a 162 game schedule; half of the games are away from the home stadium, where the away team is normally booed to death, but the way the fans treat Alex in New York, he might as well be playing 162 road games.

What's new with the Yankees

The Yankees haven't been the most busy team in the league, but they sure got what they needed so far this off-season. So far, the Yankees signed Andy Pettitte (and yes, I am more than willing to eat my own words), signed Japanese LHP Kei Igawa to a 5 year deal, signed Raul Chavez to a minor league contract to compete for the back-up catcher roll with Wil Neives in spring training. The first base situation as been solved, as the Yankees signed Doug Mientkiewicz, and acquired Josh Phelps during the Rule 5 draft. Mientkiewicz will be the left handed batting first baseman, while Phelps and Andy Phillips are going to compete for the job of right handed first baseman in spring training. Mientkiewicz and either Phillips or Phelps will split time at first, batting in the lower third of the order, making Jason Giambi become a full time DH. The final concerns the Yankees need to address before spring training is signing a utility infielder, and deciding whether or not to sign Bernie Williams. The reason Williams has not been signed yet is because the way the roster is, there probably will not be any room for Williams. If the Yankees carry 12 pitchers (5 starters, 1 long man, 2 lefties, 2 rights, a set up man and a closer), the starting nine guys in the batting order, Melky as the 4th outfielder, the utility infielder (Who could be Miguel Cairo), a back up catcher, and the extra first baseman, either Phillips or Phelps, that leave no room for Williams. The only way Williams can fit on the team is if Melky is traded, which actually might not be such a bad thing. Now don't turn on me yet, I am one of the bigger Melky fans out there, I was appalled when the news came out that Melky was almost traded for a closer from the Pirates. If the Yankees set up a package that included Melky, and got a HUGE name, either bigger than Phillip Hughes in the minors, or someone pretty big in the majors, like Dontrell Willis. The reason it might be a better idea to trade away Melky is because if we look to after this season, Andreu Jones is going to become a free agent. After dumping a ton of payroll already, the Yankees could make a strong push for Jones to play center field. The reason center becomes an automatic is because when Johnny Damon was signed, he said he would play anywhere, as long as it helped the Yankees. I think Damon would move to right or left if the Yankees considered going after Jones. But of course, these are all huge "if's", and I don't think the Yankees should trade Melky unless they could 100% guarantee they could get Jones in 2008, but there are no guarantees.

Other big news in the Yankees organization, because of a huge increase of arms in the organization, the Yankees decided to trade Randy Johnson back to the Diamondbacks for a strong reliever, Luis Vizcaino, pitching prospects Ross Ohlendorf and Steven Jackson, and shortstop Alberto Gonzalez. Last season Vizcaino put up impressive numbers, going 4-6 with a 3.58 ERA, striking out 72 while walking only 29 in 65.1 innings. Ohlendorf was also a great pick up for the Yankees, he isn't a Hughes or Humberto Sanchez, but he is a right handed pitcher the Diamondbacks had put a lot of time and effort into, and he is suppose to be one of a great arms in the minors. The trade give the Yankees a ton of more options for pitching, as the Yankees only have three automatic starters in the rotation at this point, with Chien-Ming Wang, Mike Mussina, and Andy Pettitte. This leaves 1 spot open for Igawa and Carl Pavano to fight for, and another spot open for many prospects. The loser of the 4th spot, either Pavano or Igawa, will compete against Darrell Rasner, Jeff Karstens, Hughes, Sanchez, Ohlendorf, as well as Scott Proctor, who has been training for a starting pitchers roll since the end of the 2006 season. Also on the free agent market, Roger Clemens is still getting many looks by not only the Yankees, but the Red Sox too. Since the Yankees dropped Johnson, it could be a sign that they might make a very strong push for Clemens, maybe even before the season starts. Just imagine what it would be like to get Clemens playing on the same team as Hughes, the information Clemens could teach Hughes could make him even more powerful than he is already, which could be very scary for the American League.

The Yankees are almost complete for the 2007 season. All the spots on the roster may not be filled just yet, but not because the Yankees don't have the players, it is because the Yankees have so many players competing for the same job. Either right handed bat first baseman, back up catcher, 4th and 5th spot in the rotation, and even in the bullpen, the Yankees are busting at the seams with players, making this years spring training maybe the most competitive one in a while. Only one month and eight days until Pitchers and Catchers, and Spring Training starts March 1st against the Twins. Stay calm Yankee fans, spring will arrive soon enough, and another season of Yankees baseball will be off and running before you know it.

The Sheffield Trade

Give your last compliments to the Sheff, because his time in New York is over. Gary Sheffield was traded to the Tigers on Friday for three pitching prospects, after a one sided battle of words between Sheffield and the Yankees. After some harsh remarks about the Yankees and his replacement Bobby Abreu, Sheff seemed to sing a very different tune after his trade became final. "I had a wonderful time there. I generated some excitement. I had a fan base other than anything I'd experienced," also stating that the only thing he was disappointed in was that he couldn't help get a ring for the Yankees. Because of the trade, the Yankees picked up three very promising pitchers, including Humberto Sanchez, who was considered the Tigers' second-best pitching prospect. Sanchez went 10-6 with a 2.63 ERA in 20 starts in both AAA and AA last season. He also struck out 129 in 123 innings, and gave up only 97 hits and 47 walks.

Everyone seems to be very happy with the trade, but Cashman isn't depending on any of these players to contribute much for this upcoming season. Despite this fact, Cashman said that he was proud, mentioning how the Yankees minor league system used to be a joke, but now not only have they traded for some big prospects, they also have kept big names such as Phillip Hughes and Eric Duncan. If a starting pitcher gets injured during the season, it gives the Yankees an option they haven't used with much confidence the past few seasons, which is bringing up a minor leaguer. Of the three pitchers Sanchez is the only starter, but Hughes has a very good chance to be called up in case of injury. Hughes is only 21 and Sanchez is 23, both are still extremely young, but both of them seem to be ready for a start in Major League action. Now don't get too excited, the decision to bring either of them up would be a last-case scenario, only if someone gets injured for a prolonged period of time, and if the Yankees can't make a suitable trade to fill in temporarily. They are young, and bringing them up too soon can be an extremely bad idea, so the Yankees will want to take their time and get these two plenty of experience in AAA before bringing them up. The other two pitchers from the trade are two right handed relievers, Kevin Whelan and Anthony Claggett, who are both 22 years old.

The Yankees made out pretty good on this trade, looking to the future instead of concentrating only on next year, and it seems Cashman has focused on nothing but pitching. As early as Monday or as late as Tuesday, the winner of the Matsuzaka bidding will be announced, and we will see who wins the best pitcher on the market, and whoever wins, we will see how it affects the Yankees.