Do we want Alex Rodriguez?

[Centerfield]

="John Cougar Lunchbucket"]That would be great, with Boras playing the devil who's convinced us he doesn't exist. I mean, it sounds like it makes sense and all but then you think: A-Rod is going negotiate his own deal?!? To make the MFYs want you is a good way to get another club to up their offer.

It doesn't make sense does it? If A-Rod were unhappy with Boras, wouldn't he just fire him and hire another agent? I get the feeling this is just a way for both sides to re-open negotiations without egg on their face.

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

I also don';t iunderstand how the Yankees are hailed as geniuses here where A-rod "crawls back" to take 10 years at 275 M where he had a subsized 3 years/75M coming.

Yeah, really sounds like Arod is the one taking it from behind, not Hank and Hal.

[Guest Edgy DC]

The geniuses are the puppetmasters in Texas.

[Benjamin Grimm]

What's also worth mentioning is that this is a more expensive contract than the one Rodriguez got from Texas, the one that everyone thought was insane.

What's worse, giving a 25-year-old ten years and $252 million, or a 32-year-old ten years and $275 million?

They're paying him more money and the contract, instead of running through his prime years like the Texas contract did, runs through his declining years.

What if he pulls a Roberto Alomar and suddenly fizzles in his mid-thirties? (That, naturally, is what I'd hope for from him as a Yankee.)

[Guest Rockin' Doc]

I have truly grown tired of Pay-Rod, but I'm pulling for him to milk as much money and as many guaranteed years as possible out of the Steinbrenner's. Go, ARod go!

[stevejrogers]

What I love is the fact that not only were tons of Yankee fans overjoyed when he officially optioned out, basically relieved to be rid of all that came with ARod, but Derek Jeter must have felt the same way as well!

HEHEHEHE!

[DocTee]

First he shows up the WS by opting out, now he one ups NL Cy Young winner Jake Peavy. Sheesh.

[Centerfield]

Actual quote from Hank Steinbrenner:

"If he opts out, that's the end. Unless he says he's sorry and promises not to do it again. Then we'll offer him a bigger deal than we were offering in the first place and try to play it off like it's a discount."

[Valadius]

This is interesting:

]NEW YORK -- Warren Buffett advised Alex Rodriguez to approach the New York Yankees and go around agent Scott Boras, The Wall Street Journal reported Saturday. The newspaper cited a person familiar with the matter, whom it did not identify. "A-Rod really loves being a Yankee," Buffett was quoted as saying. He wouldn't comment on the substance of any discussions with the player. The two became friends several years ago. Rodriguez, on Boras' advise, opted out of the final three seasons of his record $252 million, 10-year contract on Oct. 28. The Yankees had said many times that if he opted out, they wouldn't negotiate because they would lose $21.3 million from Texas for the final three seasons that was agreed to at the time of the 2004 trade, money to offset the $72 million New York owed from 2008-10. Upset with developments after he opted out, Rodriguez contacted Buffett, and the investor told him to approach the Yankees without his agent, the Journal said. After speaking with the investor, Rodriguez contacted a managing director at Goldman Sachs that he knew, John Mallory, who then got in touch with Gerald Cardinale, a Goldman Sachs managing director who has worked with the Yankees and their YES Network. With the assistance of the two Goldman executives, Rodriguez and the Yankees negotiated a $275 million, 10-year contract that is in the process of being finalized.

I'll have to ask my dad if he knows the two guys at Goldman.

[Elster88]

Centerfield wrote: Actual quote from Hank Steinbrenner: "If he opts out, that's the end. Unless he says he's sorry and promises not to do it again. Then we'll offer him a bigger deal than we were offering in the first place and try to play it off like it's a discount."

I thought they offered him more the first time?

OE: Yes I realize this is not an actual quote.

[Frayed Knot]

]I thought they offered him more the first time?

The deal the Yanx were reportedly going to offer but never did (since ARod/Boras refused to talk to them before opting out) was a 5-year extension (so 8 years altogether) at something in the $220-240 range - but of course about $20-some mil of that was being footed by the Rangers.
That this new $275/10 deal (w/incentives that could take it over $300) is being spun as an ARod/Boras concession and one that "makes up for" the lost Texas money sounds like one big P.R. job to me.

[metirish]

Only the Yankees could spin this deal as a bargain, Michael Kay was on the "Sports Reporters " yesterday and wasn't buying the spin that Boras was nowhere near this deal.

[Guest Edgy DC]

I'm not sure I buy it either. But I do believe that back channels were involved to save some face, if only to be able to say back channels were involved.

[Centerfield]

Edgy DC wrote: I'm not sure I buy it either. But I do believe that back channels were involved to save some face, if only to be able to say back channels were involved.

Yup ©.

[Valadius]

I talked to my dad. He's met one of the Goldman guys before, and has heard of the other one. My dad works in a different department though.