Arod Opts Out .....

[3afan]

http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/news?sl...p&type=lgns
Rodriguez opts out of contract with New York Yankees

By RONALD BLUM, AP Baseball Writer
October 28, 2007

AP - Oct 28, 10:45 pm EDT
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DENVER (AP) -- Alex Rodriguez opted out of his $252 million, 10-year contract with the Yankees on Sunday in what appears to be the end of his career with New York.

Rodriguez's decision, announced by agent Scott Boras during Game 4 of the World Series, makes him eligible to become a free agent.

Rodriguez loses the final $72 million in guaranteed salary in the contract, of which $21.3 million was to be covered by payments from the Texas Rangers to the Yankees, and becomes eligible for free agency. New York had said it would not attempt to re-sign A-Rod if he opted out.

Boras said during a telephone interview that Rodriguez made his choice because he was uncertain whether Mariano Rivera, Jorge Posada and Andy Pettitte would return to the Yankees.

"Alex's decision was one based on not knowing what his closer, his catcher and one of his statured pitchers was going to do," Boras said. "He really didn't want to make any decisions until he knew what they were doing."

Boras said he attempted to notify Yankees general manager Brian Cashman of the decision Sunday but couldn't reach him, so he left a voice mail.

"He was traveling and I was traveling," Boras said.

A-Rod, likely to win his third AL MVP award next month, made his decision before the Yankees announced a replacement for departed manager Joe Torre. Broadcaster Joe Girardi and bench coach Don Mattingly were the top contenders, and the team also interviewed first-base coach Tony Pena.

Texas turns out to be the biggest winner, saving the remaining money it would have had to pay New York as part of the 2004 trade. Boras said the Rangers remain responsible for $3 million in annual deferred money A-Rod is owed in the next three years under the contract.

"We're going to wait until we hear officially, but obviously it would be welcome news on our end," Rangers general manager Jon Daniels said in an e-mail to The Associated Press.

Rodriguez hit .314 this year and led the major leagues in home runs and RBIs. He was announced as a winner of a Hank Aaron award for offensive achievement before Game 4 but was not on hand to receive it. Boras said Rodriguez had a family commitment.

[crzyjournalist03]

Now let's use that $7 million a year for good use...how about going after Curt Schilling? I've read a few places today that says the Red Sox are ready to let him walk with all of their young pitching coming up...the Rangers would probably be willing to spend about $9-10 million on a decent starter, so they should now be able to offer $16-17 million for Schilling...I'd do that in a heartbeat on a two-year deal.

[JasperDog94]

Good for A-Rod!:D

[District303aPastPlayer]

ARod = 300 Mil.

[necks]

That was poor taste announcing it during the World Series.

[sahen]

Originally posted by necks
That was poor taste announcing it during the World Series.

while not being present to accept the Hank Aaron award nonetheless...

[crzyjournalist03]

Originally posted by sahen
while not being present to accept the Hank Aaron award nonetheless...

due to "prior obligations"...I guess he must have known all year that the Yankees wouldn't be playing in the series...

[big daddy russ]

Originally posted by necks
That was poor taste announcing it during the World Series.
Would it have been better taste to let it drag out and be a distraction the rest of the Series?

Players do this all the time. It's not A-Rod's fault that he went ahead and told the organization what he was doing and the media got a hold of it. He's in a lose-lose situation because the feeding frenzy this offseason is based around his contract, not what's going on in the World Series right now. He did the best thing possible in his situation and let the Yankees know his intentions so that they could move forward in a more timely manner.

And crzy, last I remember, the Rangers were paying $21 million of his contract. I always thought it was around $15 million, but I read an article on Real GM that set me straight on the whole situation. Let me see if I can't dig it up.

[crzyjournalist03]

Originally posted by big daddy russ
Would it have been better taste to let it drag out and be a distraction the rest of the Series?

Players do this all the time. It's not A-Rod's fault that he went ahead and told the organization what he was doing and the media got a hold of it. He's in a lose-lose situation because the feeding frenzy this offseason is based around his contract, not what's going on in the World Series right now. He did the best thing possible in his situation and let the Yankees know his intentions so that they could move forward in a more timely manner.

And crzy, last I remember, the Rangers were paying $21 million of his contract. I always thought it was around $15 million, but I read an article on Real GM that set me straight on the whole situation. Let me see if I can't dig it up.

yeah, it's $21 million, but $7 million a year over the next three

[g$$]

Great player, bigger jerk. And welcome to the world of Scott Boras. A-Rod is a ME guy. What has his team ever won?

Sad thing is some sucker will overpay him, again. He wanted more attention so did it during the WS final game. Can't stand the guy.

[lostaussie]

Boras and Arod deserve each other. They go together like peanut butter and jelly.................both=selfish................ ....but its great for Texas so I'm all for some selfish...............i just hope the market won't bear his demand...............that will be hilarious.

[Old Tiger]

baseball needs salary cap because if they don't players could be making half a billion or maybe even 3/4 of a billion in 5-10 years

[SpeedOption]

Originally posted by necks
That was poor taste announcing it during the World Series.

This is true.

[sahen]

Originally posted by big daddy russ
Would it have been better taste to let it drag out and be a distraction the rest of the Series?

Players do this all the time. It's not A-Rod's fault that he went ahead and told the organization what he was doing and the media got a hold of it. He's in a lose-lose situation because the feeding frenzy this offseason is based around his contract, not what's going on in the World Series right now. He did the best thing possible in his situation and let the Yankees know his intentions so that they could move forward in a more timely manner.

And crzy, last I remember, the Rangers were paying $21 million of his contract. I always thought it was around $15 million, but I read an article on Real GM that set me straight on the whole situation. Let me see if I can't dig it up.

russ, i think most people's prob with it is he did it during the world series game...not just on teh same day, if he did it before the game then so be it, no big deal, but while the game was actually being played is pretty poor, its like he is saying he is more important then the world series...

[DUKE22]

He should go back to the Rangers he would help some of those young pitchers with his ability to call pitches. I dont care for him, I hope the Sox dont get him. Can you imagine if Boston were to get him at the price that I am hearing. He would be making about 15 million more a year than Ortiz and Manny. Im sorry he is the best player in the game but that is just silly.

[District303aPastPlayer]

Originally posted by DUKE22
He should go back to the Rangers he would help some of those young pitchers with his ability to call pitches. I dont care for him, I hope the Sox dont get him. Can you imagine if Boston were to get him at the price that I am hearing. He would be making about 15 million more a year than Ortiz and Manny. Im sorry he is the best player in the game but that is just silly.

Can you imagine him in that everyday line up batting with Ortiz, Youklis and Manny... hahaha.... DYNASTY!

[DUKE22]

Originally posted by District303aPastPlayer
Can you imagine him in that everyday line up batting with Ortiz, Youklis and Manny... hahaha.... DYNASTY! Yeah it would be something else, but if they do sign AROD then Manny will be gone. Next is his last year under contract, and he has been rumored to be leaving the last four years. I think if they sign AROD then Manny would probably be traded.

[slpybear the bullfan]

This is one SOX fan that does not want him.


And yes, FOX, AROD, and BORAS, are all dungpiles for announcing this during the actual WS game. No reason to do so... other than $$$$ and attention.

Arod is just lying when he says he went ahead and opted out because he was worried about the future manger, Posada, riviera, etc. He had 10 days after the series to opt out. What possible benefit does it do him to leave now? He could have waited until the 10 days were up to see where the Yanks were heading. It was a snow job, pure and simple to give him a good excuse to jump ship for a new high bidder.

I am very happy the Rangers get more money... however their idiotic ownership I am sure will screw it up. Or more likely, just pocket it and keep payroll the same... GRRr...:mad: :mad: :mad:

Most of all..

SCOTT BORAS = :devil:

[Bull19]

id take a-rod over manny any day of the week

[Old Tiger]

Originally posted by Bull19
id take a-rod over manny any day of the week You're crazy....Manny = World Series MVP, 2 world titles.


He's not to far behind Arod in numbers either

[slpybear the bullfan]

Make no mistake, I firmly believe that AROD is the greatest regular season player ever. He just has some mental thing going on in his head about the postseason.

I predict he wears an Angels uniform next.