Apparently there's a clause in A-Rod's contract that enables him to leave New York at the end of the 2007 season, and join another club. So the first question is, will he do it? And the second question is, if so, where's he going to go?Personally, I loved the beginning, italicized part of Jerry Crasnick's article, mainly because I think it's a fairy accurate representation of what is going to happen in the not-too-distant future. Okay, he's a good-looking dude, makes a sinful amount of money, and hasn't exactly been Mr. Clutch in the post-season. But New York isn't for everybody, A-Rod's still on a short list of the best players in the game (and may end up on a short list of the best ever), and he still has a whole lot of career ahead of him. So my thinking is, why not cut your losses, start fresh, and help a team "on the verge" (the Chicago Cubs, or Los Angeles Angels seem like perfect fits) really become a serious contender in 2008.
Let's face the facts, A-Rod could hit 75 steroid-free home runs next season and it would still be Derek Jeter's team. He's the guy with all the rings, not A-Rod. Even if A-Rod hits .500 this post-season, Jeter would make some highlight-reel defensive play and get a big hit or two, and it's all everyone would be talking about in the Bronx.
Imagine what A-Rod could do in a less media-intense market (there are 28 of them, by the way). He could sit back, rake, win a bunch of MVP's, get the championship monkey off his back the way Peyton Manning did a few days ago, and not have to worry about winning over fickle New York fans (35 home runs and 121 RBI!?! That's it!?!??! This guy SUCKS!).
I can see it now...Game 6 of the 2008 World Series in New York...A-Rod, now Chicago's shortstop, goes deep twice of Chien-Ming Wang (because he's not a number one, but the closest thing the Yanks have to one). In doing so, he helps Lou Pineilla forget about his days in Tampa, helps Steve Bartman emerge from the witness protection program, and helps every Cubbie fan forget about the last 100 years and party like it's 1908 all over again. What a story that would be.
4 comments:
I don't see that happening. I wasn't ever one, and didn't play one on TV, but I've been told pro atheletes are a prideful bunch. And if ARod opts out of NY, he's admitting he can't get it done there. I don't see him doing that.
No, I think it's more likely he opts out if he believes he could get $27 Mil or more elsewhere. That only happens if he has a spectacular year. He wins, or comes close to, an MVP award. He plays well in the playoffs. At which point he decides that there's no better time to cash in on another big payday. The outrageous free agent market this past offseason makes it entirely possible that someone hands him a 7 year, $200 mil deal so that the can break Aaron's record in their park. There won't be any of the Bonds circus. Just workmanlike ARod, breaking the most hallowed record in sports. That's worth $200 million to some big market owner.
But he can't get a contract like that if he wilts like he did in 2006. So I only think he leaves if he tears it up in 2007. At which point, there's a whole other motivation for leaving.
Spite.
I tend to agree with Matthew, but who knows, maybe he turned a mental corner when he realized that his monster contract handcuffed the Rangers and was the reason they would never compete as long as he was there. If he really wants to start fresh and go for a championship then he a) can't stay in NY and b) can't sign another contract like that unless the club can really handle it (few can). If the NY fans don't treat him any better this year he has to consider leaving. Pride or no pride, getting booed at home games is no fun and he has an out he can use to stop it. AKA, I think he leaves.
What I think is he gets off to a hot start. People stop being him, Jeter stops being an a hole to him, and he starts enjoying playing in New York. And if that happens I would expect him to stay and I would expect the championships to start rolling in again. Wait, thats what I hope happens, he'll be gone next year.
Matt, I agree with your assessment about the "prideful" thing. But that's actually why I think A-Rod bolts.
In Seattle, he was good, but he wanted money. So he signed for a quarter billion with the Rangers. He got his money, he got his "face of the team" status, but he didn't win. So he went to New York. Now, he has the money, he's wining (albeit not in the playoffs), but he's not the face of the team. The Yankees are, and will always be Derek Jeter's team (and even arguably Mariano Rivera's team) before they are ever A-Rod's team. Those guys were around and produced when the Yanks were winning championships. A-Rod wasn't.
So basically A-Rod wants all 3 things. He wants the money (which he'll get anywhere, except for Oakland, Minnesota or Tampa), he wants to win a championship (which he still has plenty of time to do), and he wants to be the team poster-boy. And he can have all 3 with just about any other MLB franchise.
I agree a solid 2007 season will put him in a much better position in the winter than another "poor" year like he had in 2006. But based on what mediocre guys got this off-season (see Meche, Gil), it doesn't matter what A-Rod does this year, he's still going to get offered at least $25M per year (although the deal may not be as long) if he goes the free agency route, because he's too special a player to ignore. The Red Sox paid $100 million for a guy who's thrown fewer pitches in American pro ball than I have.
A-Rod and Lou Piniella hit it off when they were in Seattle together, and A-Rod even had a pretty good post-season in 2000 (against the Yankees interestingly enough). He hit .408 with 2 homers and 5 RBI in 6 games...then left for Texas, and losing.
My point is, the smart move would be to reunite with Lou, help Mark Prior ice down his arm between starts, help the Cubs win their first series in 100 years and achieve INSTANT God-like status.
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