Posted on 10/29/2007 12:28:59 AM PDT by STARWISE
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 tumultuous career with New York.
Rodriguez's decision, announced by agent Scott Boras as the rival Boston Red Sox completed their World Series sweep of Colorado, makes the third baseman eligible to become a free agent.
Boras said he attempted to notify Yankees general manager Brian Cashman of the decision but couldn't reach him, so he left a voice mail.
"He was traveling and I was traveling," Boras said.
Rodriguez loses the final $72 million in guaranteed salary in the record contract, which he signed with Texas before the 2001 season. The Yankees lose $21.3 million in remaining payments from the Rangers, a subsidy agreed to at the time of his 2004 trade. New York has 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. Boras said it became clear that the others wouldn't make a decision by Rodriguez's deadline to opt out -- 10 days after the World Series.
(Excerpt) Read more at sports.yahoo.com ...
Your right about pitching, but the Yankees will sure miss A Rod's bat during the course of the long season. Boy could the Detroit Tigers use A Rod at 3B. We have the pitching. Ortiz and Ramirez are 2 of the best 3-4 hitters I've seen in a while. Boston's entire lineup 1-9 seemed to have outstanding discipline at the plate. I can see why they won it all (not having followed baseball at all during the regular season).
Indeed. Which is exactly my point. The Yankees are designed to perform well during the regular season. They do not do so well in the post-season. Since success in the post season is the only definition of success in Yankeeland, they need to change their team to succeed in that environment.
WP-LTC
Let the Giants get through at least one season without a "it's all about me" player.
IT’S AN “A”-CALL, FROM “A”-ROD, THE “A”-HOLE!
PAY MIKE LOWELL!
Steingrabber should just buy the Tigers lock, stock and barrel, or trade one team for the other, straight up. They have done a great job building a team.
A-Rod is the last thing they need.
Yes the comparison between Manny and communist dictators is very obvious. To you at least.
Boras announced this before the WS was over-- before Game 4 was even decided. Selig isn't happy about this.
They sure have. Their somewhat weak spots are 3B, 1B and LF, but overall it is a very, very good Tiger team with a great skipper in Leyland.
(from a distance) I like A Rod, but then again from a distance I liked Spitzer. Sheesh, I could be wrong.
“Boras announced this before the WS was over— before Game 4 was even decided. “
What a great job this guy has. He makes 5-10% of A-Rod’s salary for doing what?
yeah...typical Yankee fashion...obnoxious
Hey, the Yankees did not make this announcement. This came from Scott Boras.
The purpose of Scott Boras in the Universe it to make the Yankees look like the good guys by comparison.
The Hillary Curse is still in place.
Tickets were scalped at Fenway... the horror!
I think he was bound to wait by contractual obligation.
Not anywhere as bad as your Sen. Teddy’s driving record !
If they spend his salary on some pitching they will.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.