ARod opts out!

by garp on Oct 28, 2007 10:30 PM EDT

"DENVER -- Alex Rodriguez notified the Yankees on Sunday that he's opting out of his record $252 million contract, SI.com has learned."

However, Boras said in an interview with SI.com Sunday that Rodriguez couldn't even consider any pre-opt-out deadline offers from the Yankees until they settled several situations, specifically mentioning the impending free agency of Mariano Rivera and Jorge Posada and uncertainty surrounding Andy Pettitte. Boras specifically mentioned Yankees partner Hank Steinbrenner's comment the Yankees are in a "transitional'' phase as a concern. "There really was no way he could make a decision (to stay) until much later in the month of November,'' Boras said. "There are no deadlines. We clearly needed more time to understand what 'transitional'' meant, what the new owners intend, and what's going to happen to Mariano Rivera, Jorge Posada and Andy Pettitte.'' Don't let the door hit you on the ass.

[editor's note, by John Amato] If we assume that ARod is being honest about his feelings on the way upper management has handled Torre and the idiotic approach they took with Posada and Rivera are primary reasons for him leaving. Nice going Tampa! We all know that Mariano isn't happy with the way they treated him. I don't believe Jorge ever was quoted on that. Pettitte has always been cryptic on his future. If it's just a cover to go free agent then he won't be missed. Oh, and by the way...didn't AROD have 10 days after the World Series to make a decision? More Boras garbage. The Yanks would have named a manager and dealt with Mo and Jorge before that deadline.

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Comments

Get the Hell Out!

A-Rod cant stand that he was never a Real Yankee he was never loved by New York live we loved Jeter. He is all about money if he would have not had a season like this would A-Rod opt out? No he would have stayed in New York crying that nobody likes him. The Fans dont accept him. Get the hell out of here. I never been an A-Rod fan I always said we signed him to keep Boston from winning a championship well hell that didnt work so let the cry baby go. Let get our new manager get a better bullpen replace A-Rod with someone who can handle themselves in the post season (Mike Lowell) get another starting pitcher and go and win a championship and remind everyone why the Yankees are the best team in the History of Major League Baseball.

by Ali317 @ Pinstripe Alley on Oct 28, 2007 10:53 PM EDT reply actions

Not going to happen.

AROD leaving would be very very bad for the NYY.

Lowell will be resigned by the Sox, just like Varitek was after the 2004 series win. He is a hometown favorite who came up big in the playoffs and had a huge contact year regular season. Boston has plenty of cash. No way will the NYY get him.

That means your best option is a trade:
http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2007/10/the-yankees-nex.html

Add on the actual/possible losses of Clemens, Petite, Posada, Abreu (unlikely), Torre and Rivera and the NYY could be in full rebuild mode.

Though I don't think the Junior Steinbrenners have the smarts to realize that.

by KevinV on Oct 29, 2007 9:40 AM EDT up reply actions

Disagree

"Add on the actual/possible losses of Clemens, Petite, Posada, Abreu (unlikely), Torre and Rivera and the NYY could be in full rebuild mode.

Though I don't think the Junior Steinbrenners have the smarts to realize that. "

Not only do I think they realize it, I think they expected it. If you go back to Hank's media statement a few days ago it's very telling that they expect to begin tearing down and rebuilding this club.

by detroit yankee on Oct 29, 2007 12:06 PM EDT up reply actions

Dead to me

I'll boo his every at bat- no matter who he plays for.

"Have faith in the Yankees, my son. Think of the great DiMaggio."

by jscape2000 on Oct 28, 2007 11:03 PM EDT reply actions

Definitely is going to create

some heat for letting Torre go. Not a great turn of events, but Lowell would be a decent option. Expect to see an over-the-top offer for Lowell.

I always feel pressure. What I don't have is fear. -- El Duque

by LateInningRelief on Oct 28, 2007 11:05 PM EDT reply actions

can't believe it

no love for a-rod, but it really feeds my hatred for scott boras.we can all be as mad at a-rod as we can be, but this sucks.

Well, baseball was my whole life. Nothing's ever been as fun as baseball. -Mickey Mantle

by NumberSeven on Oct 28, 2007 11:06 PM EDT reply actions

I'm not mad at A-Rod

He's a phenomenal talent, but he just never entirely jibed here. Great year, but not even sitting down to talk with the baby Steins indicates he was ready to go. So, fine. Buh bye.

I always feel pressure. What I don't have is fear. -- El Duque

by LateInningRelief on Oct 28, 2007 11:17 PM EDT up reply actions

ESPN

is reporting that Boras didn't even speak to Cashman- just left a voicemail, then made the announcement in Denver. Who ends any relationship that way?

Boras is trying to call Cashman's bluff on not negotiating. He's seen the new ownership and he knows there was pressure to make a move after the Dice-K thing fell through. Hopefully there won't be any organizational weakness there.

He's out, so he's out.

"Have faith in the Yankees, my son. Think of the great DiMaggio."

by jscape2000 on Oct 28, 2007 11:27 PM EDT up reply actions

Absolutely agree with you,

he's gone. The way this was handled/announced, I wouldn't even return Boras' phone call.

I always feel pressure. What I don't have is fear. -- El Duque

by LateInningRelief on Oct 28, 2007 11:29 PM EDT up reply actions

Agreed...

I think it's hard so say, but he doesn't want to be here...Fly away my bird, fly away...

by AKJoe on Oct 28, 2007 11:43 PM EDT up reply actions

Agreed

but the only problem is that Boras has other clients. It is hard to burn that bridge and remain a player in free agent negotiations.

Fear the Evil Empire

by pfistyunc on Oct 29, 2007 6:59 AM EDT up reply actions

Like Pat Riley

when he faxed in his resignation to the Knicks.

What a weasel.

And that quote about Pettitte, Mo, and Posada??

Please.

Sell that jive somewhere else.

by matthaggs on Oct 28, 2007 11:50 PM EDT up reply actions

Oh he will

Boras already has a mystery client lined up willing to pay 7 million a year until Arod's 43 just for the jive.
They're still negotiating the shuck.

"Have faith in the Yankees, my son. Think of the great DiMaggio."

by jscape2000 on Oct 29, 2007 12:01 AM EDT up reply actions

well

were definately going to offer him another contract, but that just shows who this guy is, a greedy, selfish son of a bitch who cant live under his own skin.... but were better off with out him, and any of boras clients as a matter of fact. get them the fuck outa here

by Soriano NY 12 on Oct 28, 2007 11:18 PM EDT reply actions

Sure,

we can offer him another contract: the exact dollar figure we would have offered him, less the amount Texas would have picked up.

I always feel pressure. What I don't have is fear. -- El Duque

by LateInningRelief on Oct 28, 2007 11:20 PM EDT up reply actions

Championships...

Well....we never won a championship with him...Nobody has....

by AKJoe on Oct 28, 2007 11:19 PM EDT reply actions

we

should have just kept Soriano wat a bust that trade turned out to be

by Soriano NY 12 on Oct 28, 2007 11:21 PM EDT reply actions

how?

imo, A-Rod is a much better player. And I think thats everyones opinion.

Joe Torre. 1996-2007. He will be missed.

by goyankees on Oct 28, 2007 11:29 PM EDT up reply actions

yeah.. umm how many MVP's

has Soriano won?

Not to mention he was no gem the post season either.

Well, baseball was my whole life. Nothing's ever been as fun as baseball. -Mickey Mantle

by NumberSeven on Oct 28, 2007 11:32 PM EDT up reply actions

yeah

but what has arod done for us? and now where is he? if we had held onto soriano we would have never let him leave free agency once in his career, and if we could have seen his potential in the outfield, that woulda saved us from signing damon, i just think we woulda been in much better shape had we kept him

(ps he was and still is one of my fav players)

by Soriano NY 12 on Oct 28, 2007 11:33 PM EDT up reply actions

What has A-Rod done for us?

A-Rod single-handedly carried the Yankees to the postseason in 2005 and 2007. That's what A-Rod has done for us. Without him the fans of this team likely would not have had the privilege of bitching about him "choking in the playoffs."

by Willton on Oct 29, 2007 12:13 AM EDT up reply actions

He didn't

singlehandedly do anything.

When he was hot as hell in April the team was losing every day.

He is one guy on a team of 25. The other 24 guys had a hell of a lot to do with '05 and '07.

Fuck him.

by matthaggs on Oct 29, 2007 12:17 AM EDT up reply actions

Being bitter

does not excuse ignoring facts. If A-Rod had been replaced with a league-average 3B, the Yankees would not have beat out Boston and the Indians for a playoff spot in 2005 and would have lost the wild card to Detroit in 2007. If A-Rod had not been on the team, we Yankee fans would not have the privilege of complaining about the team losing in the first round all the time. A-Rod is a 12-win player, and if he leaves his production will be sorely missed.

by Willton on Oct 29, 2007 8:34 AM EDT up reply actions

Fine

I get it that his production will be missed.

But it's rather convenient that you left out 2006, when, especially by his standards, his power numbers were VERY mediocre and they STILL made the playoffs.

If you're looking for proof that it doesn't take a monster year from Arod for the Yanks to reach the playoffs, look no further than 2006.

by matthaggs on Oct 29, 2007 9:33 AM EDT up reply actions

I disagree

.290/35/121/.915 ia "VERY mediocre?" are you serious?

Good luck replacing his 97 VORP. You will need it considering the best FA 3B who is available (Lowell will be resigned by Boston) is about replacemetn level, (Mike Lamb).

The NYY will be a .500 level team if they lose AROD and replace him with something like that.

by KevinV on Oct 29, 2007 9:46 AM EDT up reply actions

Just

trying to show that it didn't take a Nintendo season from ARod for the Yanks to make the playoffs.

In '06, Giambi and Cano outslugged ARod.

In '06, Abreu, Jeter, Giambi and Matsui had higher OBP's than ARod did.

Giambi hit two more home runs than Arod did - in 15 less games.

Cano, Jeter, Damon, Bernie, and Posada hit more doubles than he did, and Melky tied him with 26. 26!

by matthaggs on Oct 29, 2007 10:00 AM EDT up reply actions

Well...

If you count on that sort of production out of the rest of the team, sure he doesnt need a nintendo season.

Are you comfortable counting on Giambi and Damon?
I wouldn't be if I were you.

by KevinV on Oct 29, 2007 10:19 AM EDT up reply actions

On 2006

First, I did not "conveniently" ignore 2006. I was making the point that the Yanks would not have reached the playoffs in 2005 and 2007 if A-Rod were not on the team. I don't need to talk about 2006 in order to make that point.

Second, A-Rod was not mediocre in 2006. A hitting line of .290/.392/.523 is never mediocre for a third baseman, so you can stop pretending it is. For a guy who used to watch the atrocious Scott Brosius man the hot corner, you should not be complaining about A-Rod's production in 2006. A-Rod was not his usual excellent self in 2006, but he was still the best 3B in the AL in 2006, and it was not even close.

Third, the Yankees made the playoffs in 2006 without a monster year from A-Rod because 1) they received an MVP year from Jeter, excellent hitting from Giambi, and very good production from Abreu and Damon, and 2) they played in a weaker division, with their closest AL East competitors having 87 and 86 wins (Toronto and Boston). Had the Yankees played in the AL Central, it would have been a much tighter race.

I never said that the Yankees require a monster year from A-Rod in order to reach the playoffs, but it's certainly apparent that they needed a monster year from somebody in order to do so over the last 3 years. Yes, the Yankees can win without A-Rod just like they can win without Jeter, but it requires much better production from the rest of the squad, and I don't see that happening.

by Willton on Oct 29, 2007 10:12 AM EDT up reply actions

See above

and there was nothing atrocious about Scott Brosius.

A stat man like you will laugh at that statement, but Scott was the MVP of the World Series, had countless huge hits for the Yankees, and played flawless defense.

The fucking phony who just left town via a voicemail in the middle of the night has done none of the above.

Giambi looked healthier at the end of last year than he has in quite sometime, and he is playing for a new contract (not with the Yankees, but for someone). Returning to huge power numbers is certainly not inconceivable.

Cano's numbers continue to go up (I seem to recall you assuring all of us they would go down).

Arod is a great player. But the Yankees won without him more than they ever won with him. Losing him is not the end of Yankee civilization.

by matthaggs on Oct 29, 2007 10:31 AM EDT up reply actions

No,

but it is the end of their run of consecutive playoff appearances.

Oh, and Scott Brosius, despite all the "huge hits" that he had, was much like Aaron Boone: an awful hitter with little semblance of plate discipline. I'm not impressed with a fan-driven WS-MVP award. If David Eckstein can win one of those, anyone who plays in the WS can. Whatever success Brosius had in the postseason had to do with one four-letter word: LUCK.

by Willton on Oct 29, 2007 10:40 AM EDT up reply actions

My mistake

I didn't realize that bomb Brosius hit off Trevor Hoffman was fan driven.

What you call luck, I call relaxing under pressure, not over swinging, and swinging at your pitch and not the pitcher's pitch (note to Arod - you might want to consider this approach). Brosius came up big too many time to attribute all of his success under pressure to luck.

by matthaggs on Oct 29, 2007 11:20 AM EDT up reply actions

Agreed

Yankee fans can hardly bitch about him leaving after the way they irrationally booed him for years. You made your bed, now you have to lie in it.

Fear the Evil Empire

by pfistyunc on Oct 29, 2007 8:40 AM EDT up reply actions

OK

but what did Soriano do in the postseason, or in terms of winning championships? With Soriano, the Yanks didn't win one championship, if I recall, he was a Yank until at least 2001, and not a regular until 2002 (I think)

Joe Torre. 1996-2007. He will be missed.

by goyankees on Oct 29, 2007 5:08 PM EDT up reply actions

Well

Off the top of my head:

Walk off homerun against Seattle in the ALCS.

Walk off single in the WS against Arizona.

What would have been the game winning HR in the eighth inning of Game 7 against Arizona.

Arod does not have a hit approaching any of the three listed above.

Dumb argument, but there you have it.

by matthaggs on Oct 29, 2007 5:16 PM EDT up reply actions

Oh

Fuck this. A-Rod didn't seem like a selfish prick. His actions suggest otherwise. He looked like he was enjoying his stay in the BX this year. He performed all season, almost lifting the Yankees into the post season all by himself. He loved his teammates, especially the youg-ins. Now the Yanks need to move on. Either pay the fucking ass his cash or let him walk. I can't believe someone who hasn't done anything positive in multiple oppurtunities in the post-season could demand this money. Ramirez deserves more money than this joke. And I hate that asshole. A-Rod's true colors have been revealed and it's not pinstripes. ITS GREEN. It doesn't help to have Boras giving you advice. I like how Hanks "rebuilding" word scared that faggot. Fuck him. He should realize that this team and the situation it's in now is never in rebuliding (70-80 wins). Too much talent, and money. What 200$ million dollar team would rebuid. Get a clue. Oh well.

It is HIGH! It is FAR! It is! GOOONNEEE!!!

by yankeesRfirst on Oct 28, 2007 11:34 PM EDT reply actions

$175 million team

now.

"Have faith in the Yankees, my son. Think of the great DiMaggio."

by jscape2000 on Oct 28, 2007 11:42 PM EDT up reply actions

true

haters can't bitch about our salary anymore. Washed up Giambi, will be our only power threat lol. ARod had about 25% of our homers. Were gunna be like the fucking Angels. Ughh.

It is HIGH! It is FAR! It is! GOOONNEEE!!!

by yankeesRfirst on Oct 29, 2007 12:45 AM EDT up reply actions

Salaries Going down...

I could see salary going even lower next year.

There is even an outside shot they could drop below the Red Sox. That would be quite a reversal.

That would make the Red Sox the Boston Yankees with their league leading payroll and league bullying championships. The funny thing to me is that that last statement would make both NYY and Red Sox fans sick.

by KevinV on Oct 29, 2007 10:02 AM EDT up reply actions

Boras is behind the whole thing

What you have to remember is that Boras is behind the whole thing here. He could care less about A Rod winning a ring or being on a team that has a chance to win. His main Objective is to get the most money out of a team and cripple it. He is going to try to go out and 35-40 million out of a team, and cripple the rest of the team like he did in Texas. There is no way that he has a serious contender that is winning to put up the money that he is asking for A Rod.

Boston-- Has said no
Anaheim--Has said no
Dodgers--Are not in
Mets--Dont have a need

Where is the guy going to go other than the Yankees maybe he will go to the Marlins and they will name the Staidum after him and let him be the owner.

Good Luck

A Rod

And dont come back because we dont want you

by imyrick on Oct 29, 2007 8:28 AM EDT up reply actions

What about...

You forgot the Cubs and Giants.

He has a great relationship with Pinella. The Cubs are playing with monopoly money now any way with the impending sale.

SF could be a good fit too. They have plenty of cash available with Bonds leaving.

Boras is no fool. He knows what the market will bear. AROD is going to get the boggest contract ever from some one, and it looks like it won tbe the NYY.

by KevinV on Oct 29, 2007 9:49 AM EDT up reply actions

this situation

tells me were gonna push hard for miggy, i can see them trading away some talent

by Soriano NY 12 on Oct 28, 2007 11:34 PM EDT reply actions

How much are you willing to give up?

You will have to go deep in to that young pitching core to land Miggy.

How deep are you willing to cut to win now?

by KevinV on Oct 29, 2007 9:50 AM EDT up reply actions

Talking about this

with Edwantsacracker...

Remember the Beltran situation? Beltran was happy in Houston but had a narrow negotiating window- Boras let it run out so that he could squeeze an extra penny from the Mets.

Boras gets a lot of credit for getting his players great deals, but really how much more does he bring them? Clemens and Giambi aren't Boras clients.

Bud Selig must be pissed.

"Have faith in the Yankees, my son. Think of the great DiMaggio."

by jscape2000 on Oct 28, 2007 11:41 PM EDT reply actions

I am afraid of craziness. These guys are clowns.

The yanks chased Torre away!

They need to sign Jorge and Mariano, dispite their ages. Who knows if they'll be able?

I think Pettitte coming back is a long shot.

Arod has called their bluff about not negotiating if he opts out. It is Cashman who said it.

It is not hard for me to believe they'd rather have Arod than Cashman. But.... maybe not, maybe they want to cut payroll.

The Yanks reacted to being out bid for Dice K by signing Igawa.

Imagine what craziness will follow this. These bozo's couldn't resolve the manager fast enough to resign Arod. They just took too long in stupid meetings.

I'm feeling shell shocked. Frankly this stuff makes no sense from the point of view of the old Yank "World Championship! Everything else is a failure!"

Does it look like they want to get the payroll back down?

What can these guys be thinking? They had the whole LCS and World Series and they didn't select a manager. They didn't make Arod an offer. They did float a public low ball. They didn't make offers to resign Jorge or Mariano.

I think it means they haven't a clue what to do or how to do it.

This is only the beginning of a crazy time.

I wonder if I should rebuy my ticket plan?

Let's hit the gym and get ready for spring.

by Cbeck3 on Oct 29, 2007 12:21 AM EDT up reply actions

tickets

never let your Yankees tickets go, they are like gold as long as they are decent to great seats, you will always make money selling them on stubhub or to brokers. If your not going to go then screw the Yanks and make money off them. They hate when fans resell tickets so stick to them. Believe me never let your Yanks tks. go, they will break the attendence record over and over for the next 3 years easily with the last year in the stadium and the first 2 years at the new one, tourism and wall street will be crazy, I sell tickets for a living and the next 3 years should be wild. Hell, it might even be possible to make money with the Mets.

by miracle96 on Oct 29, 2007 12:28 AM EDT up reply actions

I agree

The NYY will be a bad team next year, but those tickets are very valuable. Don't let them go.

by KevinV on Oct 29, 2007 9:52 AM EDT up reply actions

NYY Bad team???

Are you nuts?

Let's go Yankees!!

by matt21oc on Oct 29, 2007 12:48 PM EDT up reply actions

Wait

"They just took too long in stupid meetings"
They had 10 full days left to negotiate. Arod made his decision independant of negotiations.

"They didn't make Arod an offer."
ESPN is saying that Boras and Arod didn't give the Yanks a chance for a sit down meeting. The offer was ready, but Arod didn't want to hear it.

"Have faith in the Yankees, my son. Think of the great DiMaggio."

by jscape2000 on Oct 29, 2007 12:31 AM EDT up reply actions

No

That's emotional reaction. To make an offer you write it down and send it to the agent.

Let's hit the gym and get ready for spring.

by Cbeck3 on Oct 29, 2007 12:40 AM EDT up reply actions

No

It's analysis. What else should the Yanks have done? They thought they had ten more days. They made no secret that they had a deal ready.

"Have faith in the Yankees, my son. Think of the great DiMaggio."

by jscape2000 on Oct 29, 2007 1:00 AM EDT up reply actions

It is my feeling that they've made

a number of bad decisions:

We're not going to renegotiate with Arod, Jorge, Mariano, or Torre before the season.
Low ball to Torre.

3> Low ball leaked to Arod. Did you see the report in the press? (chump change) (and too short)

4. Then not quick to solve any problems at the end of the season.

This opt out is the result of negotiating brinksmanship. The best deals are not made at the deadline.

Let's hit the gym and get ready for spring.

by Cbeck3 on Oct 29, 2007 1:15 AM EDT up reply actions

The deals I saw reported

would have averaged 30 per year until he turned 40. Last I checked that's more than he was making, and he was already the highest paid player in the league.

And I think that number would have risen in negotiation, but there's no reason to pay him 35 million when no one else earns 25 million, even with the Texas money. With Arod, it's not a lowball, it's a negotiating stance.
Arod didn't need to fly to Tampa to beg to have a future with the team.

"Have faith in the Yankees, my son. Think of the great DiMaggio."

by jscape2000 on Oct 29, 2007 1:18 AM EDT up reply actions

We'll know if it was a low ball

when we see what he signs for.

But to me it was a low ball.

As the night passes I wonder if this report can be wrong?

It does seem like by not negotiating with the Yanks Arod may be leaving money on the table. It seems if the report is right, Arod knows there is a better offer out there.

Could someone have been tampering?

To me the hope that he not even get what the Yanks were rumourd to offer is too much to hope for.

The dust may well not clear on this for a while.

Let's hit the gym and get ready for spring.

by Cbeck3 on Oct 29, 2007 2:04 AM EDT up reply actions

Low ball to Torre?

He was ready to sign for 4.5 for next year back in spring training. A five million base with the potential for eight plus an automatic eight base for 2009 if they made the series in '08 is a low ball? For a manager? I bought into the media's St. Joe b.s. at first but then I realized that it was a crock. Then I read about how much harder other managers worked and I really felt like an idiot for thinking this guy was virtually indispensable. Live and learn.

by flipster on Oct 29, 2007 9:01 PM EDT up reply actions

Welp

Got two little kids here - going to be devastated. They loved Alex.

Oh well - I have to say I'm shocked that they didn't even wait one minute before announcing it -

And I think he's nuts - no other team gives the prestige of the "history of baseball" yada yada yada than the Yankees.

Jeter must be thrilled.

And won't this take off some heat of the next manager? He'll have a built in excuse - A Rod is gone.

by JARNJ3 on Oct 29, 2007 12:14 AM EDT reply actions

asshole

Out of all nites this asshole opts out on the same nite the Red Sox win it again. I'm am so sick to my _ _ _ _in stomach. This is just a bad nite. This is rock bottom, over the past couple years Yankees fans have been to hell and back it can't get worse. (blow 2001 WS in the 9th, crappy first round knockouts, lose 4 in a row to RedSox in 2004, lose the WS to the shitty Marlins, watch 2 redsox championships, what the hell happened to this organization. All that mystic and prestige is gone, this organization as fallen apart with stupid front office decision, bad coaching, crappy egos, old guys, no HEART. I am putting all my faith in our young pitching and the hope that Cashman and the Steinbros figure out what happened and return that aura that is the YANKEES!!! I love this team 2 much and I ready to start making our comeback as the team that everyone once feared. Are ya with me. I'm sorry for ranting and acting crazy just having a rough nite. Be good all!

by miracle96 on Oct 29, 2007 12:20 AM EDT reply actions

Look on the bright side, whenever

ARod leaves a team, the team gets better. In the case of the Yankees that can only mean WS 2008.

Everything looks nicer when you win. The girls are prettier. The cigars taste better. The trees are greener. --Billy Martin

by garp on Oct 29, 2007 12:40 AM EDT up reply actions

true that

I hope so. Either way lets be excited for Hughes, JOBA, Kennedy. Now lets try and get rid of Giambi and Mussina, two other guys that just hold us back.

by miracle96 on Oct 29, 2007 12:44 AM EDT up reply actions

Fuck him

Don't even bother talking to Boras unless he comes back, begging on his knees, to offer the Yankees a cent above what A-Rod was making.

So long, A-Rod. You fucking phony.

by PsiFighter37 on Oct 29, 2007 12:45 AM EDT reply actions

The other bright side is that it

is now OK to boo ARod to our heart's content.

Everything looks nicer when you win. The girls are prettier. The cigars taste better. The trees are greener. --Billy Martin

by garp on Oct 29, 2007 12:45 AM EDT reply actions

So long Arod

Arod's excuses for opting out are lame!! Its a no brainer to resign Jorge and Mo, Andy will be back, he love's the Bronx. I love Joe Torre,but I think the time was right to move on. The ownership should have handled it better, but a change was needed. For Arod It's all about the money. Some lame team like the Rangers in 01 will cough up the 400 mil to sign him and the result will be the same as it was in Texas. I hope its the Red Sox. It will be a new curse for them. They have built such a good team, It will be great for Yankee fan's to watch Arod dissapear in the post season wearing a Bosox uni!! Good luck Arod. Go Yankees

by NWYankeefan on Oct 29, 2007 12:52 AM EDT reply actions

To the future

Peter Abraham is totally right. Your first reaction is anger and despair but now it's hope that we can build a good team for the future as our aging stars leave and the new kids rise. I look forward to a new 3B and to other talent we can stockpile with the leftover money.

Now we have to bid hard against the Bo Sux for Lowell or trade some top pitching talent for Miguels Cabrera or Tejada, Garret Atkins, or Adrian Beltre. We could also move Cano to 3rd (where he played in the minors) and acquire a 2B, but there aren't any good ones on the free agent market or on teams who want to move their 2B, to my knowledge.

by SenorSwanky on Oct 29, 2007 12:59 AM EDT reply actions

The O's

should be willing to move Brian Roberts. After that 2B is a position with a lot of mediocrity.

We could always get Miguel Cairo.

"Have faith in the Yankees, my son. Think of the great DiMaggio."

by jscape2000 on Oct 29, 2007 1:03 AM EDT up reply actions

I love Cairo...

...as a base coach.

Brian Roberts wouldn't be that bad. He played for Carolina, my alum, for a few seasons. But I'd rather keep Cano there and get a great 3B like Lowell for 2 or 3 seasons and then see what the market is like for 2B after that.

by SenorSwanky on Oct 29, 2007 1:16 AM EDT up reply actions

Fellow UNC alum

Solid. Fuck all this A-Rod crap, when does basketball start?

Fear the Evil Empire

by pfistyunc on Oct 30, 2007 4:37 PM EDT up reply actions

First exhibition game this weekend

I'll probably be there. I met my girlfriend at the Pfiffer exhibition game last Nov. 11, so I owe a lot to our team, in a sense. Met Marcus Ginyard randomly yesterday. I actually went to his house when I was looking for an office at which I was supposed to be interviewing for a job. He very kindly redirected me to the correct place. My girlfriend is friends with him, but I'd never had a chance to meet him.

by SenorSwanky on Oct 30, 2007 5:07 PM EDT up reply actions

The future cont'd

So the Yanks will have quite a new team next season, not even considering the possibility Posada, Rivera, and Pettitte may not be back. We'll have a rotation (hopefully) of Wang, Pettitte, Hughes, Chamberlain, and Kennedy/Mussina, with a new reliever or two (and probably Britton, Humberto Sanchez, Veras, and Ohlendorf in the pen to start the season). A new 3B and 1B (unless they choose to re-sign Minky, which is unlikely, as good as he was defensively). I also think we should go after Torii Hunter and Aaron Rowand so they can move Melky to LF, and try to trade Damon and Matsui for some bullpen help or a 1B. But we should be wary of longterm deals with either Hunter or Rowand, seeing how we regret having people like Giambi and Moose for so long and not being able to even give them away when their bodies break down and/or their production wanes. A CF is not a desperate need for next season, so they shouldn't come begging and pleading. I think we could live with Phillips at 1B, so they shouldn't give away too much for a 1B either.

by SenorSwanky on Oct 29, 2007 1:18 AM EDT up reply actions

There's no need to move Cano

to 3B when he's already a good defensive 2B.

by Willton on Oct 29, 2007 8:44 AM EDT up reply actions

Suggestion

It was one of Pete Abraham's suggested options. It looks like it'll be easier to get a good 3B than 2B, but if push comes to shove and we can't get any of those 3B I listed, we could move Cano and get a decent 2B.

by SenorSwanky on Oct 29, 2007 8:55 AM EDT up reply actions

There's no point in doing that

when Cano is one of the best defensive players at 2nd base. If you want to get a 2B to make up for your lack of a third baseman, you put that new 2B at 3rd. You don't put Cano there.

by Willton on Oct 29, 2007 10:18 AM EDT up reply actions

Cano

I don't think SenirSwanky actually wants Cano at 3rd, but if the choices are either have Cano at 3rd and B. Roberts at 2nd, or Cano at 2nd and Betemit at 3rd, maybe moving Cano to 3rd wouldn't be a terrible move.

"It's great to be young and a Yankee"

by stillmonster on Oct 29, 2007 11:45 AM EDT up reply actions

I'd rather see Roberts at 3rd

as Cano is the better defender.

by Willton on Oct 29, 2007 2:32 PM EDT up reply actions

Horrible night

What a terrible night for Yankee Universe: 'that team' won the Series and A-rod opts out. I have felt physically ill ever since Ken Rosenthal made that announcement during the game. I have a feeling the Yankees will continue to negotiate with him though, just a feeling though. A-rod is fucking cursed...you know if Old School George were still in the power chair we'd be making some big-splash move real soon, but I guess that's why we're watching from home now while the stupid fucking rhgbhre win another Series. I am so upset tonight that I don't know what to do with myself. Ugggghhhhhhh

by strelitm on Oct 29, 2007 1:02 AM EDT reply actions

drink heavily and watch the bronx is burning

by NWYankeefan on Oct 29, 2007 1:10 AM EDT up reply actions

Lowell??????? WTF?

For those of you calling for the Yankees to sign Mike Lowell, are you out of your freaking minds? Everything else being equal, dude is old. We're trying to shed that fat, remember?

More importantly though is the fact that he just won a ring with the Red Sox, morons. Hell no, I don't want that guy on my team. I mean, I know Manky did, too, but there was at least a buffer year in between. Lowell would come here and suck on purpose.

by narcpress on Oct 29, 2007 3:49 AM EDT reply actions

AROD

is asshole. Lowell is a fenway product just like Mo Vaughn was a fenway product.

by BillyBobisdrunk on Oct 29, 2007 6:29 AM EDT up reply actions

Don't sign Lowell

Let' Wilson Betmit play third, just rebuild or just play baseball without the AROD curse.

by BillyBobisdrunk on Oct 29, 2007 6:34 AM EDT up reply actions

Umm...

Lowell is 33. His hair and beard are graying but he's not as old as you think. He started out in our system and made his major-league debut with us in '98, played for the Marlins for 7 seasons, and has only been with the Red Sux for 2 seasons. He's a great player in his prime and is a solid team player and respectable person. Why would we not want him?

by SenorSwanky on Oct 29, 2007 7:17 AM EDT up reply actions

Remember what happened...

...in '96 when we got a beloved third baseman from the Red Sux who was at the end of his career?

by SenorSwanky on Oct 29, 2007 7:12 AM EDT up reply actions

He's only

a year older than A-Rod. And I doubt he would actually suck intentionally if he came here.

by flipster on Oct 29, 2007 9:07 PM EDT up reply actions

Worst day in Yankeeland since...???

This has to the be the worst day to be a Yankee since Thurman Munson's crash: within 24 hours, the Sox win the WS, the best player in baseball bolts town and the likelihood of making a horrendous managerial choice has greatly increased. I am stunned.

Fear the Evil Empire

by pfistyunc on Oct 29, 2007 7:03 AM EDT reply actions

Silver lining?

Since he has opted out before the MVP award was announced, does that mean we don't have to pay him the million dollar bonus?

"Have faith in the Yankees, my son. Think of the great DiMaggio."

by jscape2000 on Oct 29, 2007 9:52 AM EDT reply actions

And my wife....

just suprised me with an authentic Yankees road jersey before the season ended.

Guess what number hails on the back... 13!

God bless her heart - I love her to death!

What do I do with this 150+ dollar A-Rod jersey!?

by cliparttattoo on Oct 29, 2007 10:22 AM EDT reply actions

Tell everyone....

It's a Pagliarulo Jersey?

by bfriley76 on Oct 29, 2007 10:24 AM EDT up reply actions

Um, wear it?

by Willton on Oct 29, 2007 10:25 AM EDT up reply actions

My girlfriend...

...bought herself a light blue A-Rod T-shirt just last week.

by SenorSwanky on Oct 29, 2007 10:59 AM EDT up reply actions

BURN THE FUCKIN' THING!!!!!!!!!!!!

by flipster on Oct 29, 2007 9:09 PM EDT up reply actions

Hah!

Nice try.

by KevinV on Oct 29, 2007 10:22 AM EDT reply actions

How exactly can we take A-Rod at his word?

When he said this after the Yanks clinched the Wild Card?

"This feels like home. It's hard to believe that I played for another two organizations. So much has happened to me here - adversity, some success - that I feel like anything but New York feels weird for me now."

What a phony. God, I can't believe I was dumb enough to fall for it.

by bfriley76 on Oct 29, 2007 10:23 AM EDT reply actions

Don't worry about it

I didn't fall for A-Rod's schtick, but I did fall for the St. Joe shit the media was spewing after Torre walked away. Nobody's perfect.

by flipster on Oct 29, 2007 9:12 PM EDT up reply actions

Great winter so far

Man, if you asked me a few weeks ago what is the worst case scenario for this winter, I think: bomb in the first round while Boston wins a ring, lose A-Rod, fire Torre in a backhanded way and replace him with an awful manager would be pretty high up on my list. What is the cherry on this sundae? $150M for Andruw Jones? Trading Joba and Hughes for Miggy? I feel like puking.

Fear the Evil Empire

by pfistyunc on Oct 29, 2007 10:33 AM EDT reply actions

Ugh

Andruw Jones is a bum. He's not worth a dime. And Miggy's not worth it if we have to get rid of that much of our future. This is the time to be conservative and rebuild, not hit the panic button.

by SenorSwanky on Oct 29, 2007 11:01 AM EDT up reply actions

Rebuilding

Exactly. Its time to write off 2008 as a championship year. It may not be a 100 loss disaster of a year, but it won't be a championship.

The NYY need to unload anyone who will not be around for 2009+.

That means they have a decision to make on AROD. (I say sign him) You're not allowed hold the fact that he wants more money against him. You're the NYY.

If you don't sign AROD I say either burn it all down and start over.

by KevinV on Oct 29, 2007 11:14 AM EDT up reply actions

Are you on crack?

A-Rod is finished. Signing him is stupid financially and for the team. He rejected New York without even listening to our offer.

And no year is ever not a potential championship for us. We plan to win every year, and 2008 is no exception. There's no reason we can't do it. People didn't expect '96 with a rookie shortstop, a manager who hadn't had much success of any sort, etc. Let's wait and see.

by SenorSwanky on Oct 29, 2007 11:20 AM EDT up reply actions

Decision

was made for them. He didn't want to be here. Period.

by flipster on Oct 29, 2007 9:14 PM EDT up reply actions

With all this shit we talk about him,

I'm not sure I'd want to be here either.

by Willton on Oct 30, 2007 1:14 AM EDT up reply actions

Puh-lease. ARod is like

Paris Hilton. He gets antsy if the papers are not talking about him. If you hadn't figured that out yet then his Game 4 announcement should have clinched it.

Everything looks nicer when you win. The girls are prettier. The cigars taste better. The trees are greener. --Billy Martin

by garp on Oct 30, 2007 1:19 AM EDT up reply actions

I'm sure he prefers good press

as opposed to bad press, which is all he got as a Yankee. It can't be fun when you get blamed for every Yankee wrong.

by Willton on Oct 30, 2007 1:55 AM EDT up reply actions

Especially when Cap'n Jetes

can do no wrong

Fear the Evil Empire

by pfistyunc on Oct 30, 2007 7:58 AM EDT up reply actions

If he prefers good press

Why the fuck did his agent make that announcement during Game 4?

MLB never yells at anybody, but even they yelled at Boras and Arod for that. Check their statement on LoHud. But I suppose this was the Yankees fans fault too.

I guess all the MVP chants and the curtain calls made it impossible for him to stay here.

Last I checked Mr. Wang and bugs got the lions share of the blame this time around. The fans were great to Arod this year, and they were great to him during the regular season of '05.

This is about collecting the biggest pile of money. PERIOD.

by matthaggs on Oct 30, 2007 9:53 AM EDT up reply actions

If that were the case he

wouldn't say so much stupid shit all the time. He loves the tabloid culture where all press is good press.

Everything looks nicer when you win. The girls are prettier. The cigars taste better. The trees are greener. --Billy Martin

by garp on Oct 30, 2007 11:01 AM EDT up reply actions

I think this

piece from Olney says it all. He writes in ESPN:

The way this played out could not have been more apropos, because A-Rod needs to be bigger than the game; he needs to be more important than the Red Sox or the Rockies or any other team, or any other player. He is one of the greatest players in history at compiling statistics, the greatest ever at compiling wealth, and his next employer will have to buy into that. The World Series can't matter as much as A-Rod.

I always feel pressure. What I don't have is fear. -- El Duque

by LateInningRelief on Oct 29, 2007 11:52 AM EDT reply actions

Time to Move On

Although A-Rod is a great player, he is not the greatest player Boras has portraied him to be. The problem with A-Rod is that he does not hit premium pitchers like Beckett, Santana, and others. He only hits other teams' SP in 3rd ~ 5th rotation. That is why he has been so bad in the playoffs. NYY will need to move on and spend its money very wisely. There is more than money being the yankees and A-Rod just does not understand the tradition.

by yankeesintexas on Oct 29, 2007 12:02 PM EDT reply actions

There is a bright side!

Check it out- forget about this guy! He's gone. We have a sick, young starting pitching staff coming in (Wang, Hughes, Chamberlain, Kennedy). Cano- set for 100+ RBI as he'll be moving up in the line-up (we already know he'd be batting higher on any other team in baseball). Melky- one of the best defensive outfielders in the game, will gun you down and save runs. Jeter- a proven leader. Damon- likewise (and can only go up from '07). We pick up 1B, 3B guys who gel with this young team- not guys who make sense in some silly numerical wins equation.

No worries: they will sign Mo and Georgie- especially with Girardi managing.

Bright side people- nothing lasts forever. It's time for a new formula.

by Heinz on Oct 29, 2007 2:11 PM EDT reply actions