A-Rod to play in pinstripes?

by seanp23 on Nov 14, 2007 11:35 AM EST Comment 52 comments

http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/baseball/yankees/2007/11/14/2007-11-14_yankees_set_to_bring_arod_b ack__on_their.html

For all we know the sources mentioned could very well be Boras, but you had to know the Yankees werent going to just let him walk away. Now all of a sudden the same people who said Hank et al were playing hardball and were not going to negotiate with A-rod are calling their alleged hardlined, principled stance, "posturing."

Looks like the talking heads seem to remember that the yankees and a-rod would be negotiating and maybe in negotiations its not best to let the other side know youre dying to get him back? But lets go with the "yankees tell a-rod its over" angle thatll get people talking.

Makes you wish there was some kind of accountability in sports journalism rather than rampant speculation and conjecture.

I for one am crossing my fingers that this will get done, lets just hope hes not in the Mitchell report.

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I need more than random unnamed sources

before I get too excited. At this stage, this is just trying to sell papers on a slow news day.

Fear the Evil Empire

by pfistyunc on Nov 14, 2007 11:50 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

i was at a charity event

with Suzyn Waldman last night... in talking with her, she said among other things- this is a very real possibility. she also said that the lil' steinbrenners have very little to do with the final decision making at this point.

I said- Really? Hasn't too much damage been done?

She said something to the effect of he stands up and sort of apologizes, says frimly that he wants to be here, then it could happen.

I told her I would want him to denounce Scott Boras, to which she replied he's known Scott since he was fourteen, and that's unlikely to happen. And never mind the financial side of it all.

i mean you take everything with a grain of salt at this point.. but truthfully, i'd take A-Rod back over any of the other guys we've been talking about.

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

by NumberSeven on Nov 14, 2007 12:15 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

My only question

How in the hell did you meet Mr. Waldman and not punch him in the face?

Fear the Evil Empire

by pfistyunc on Nov 14, 2007 12:39 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

she's faster than she looks

on tv.

i still think that she's bearable without sterling. but she's actually a pretty cool chick in person.

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

by NumberSeven on Nov 14, 2007 1:16 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

she knows more about baseball than Sterling

and I've heard that in person she is kinda cool.

"The secret of managing is to keep the guys who hate you away from the guys who are undecided." -Casey Stengel

by bxgrl1 on Nov 14, 2007 2:06 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

susan

I met her in Boston in a Hotel in the early 90's, I was 11years old and she invited me sit down with her in the lobby, before i knew I was sitting across from Susan and in between Mattingly and Tartabull. For that one experience I have nothing bad to say about her. She is ok in my book, although Sterling lives in my building in Edgewater and I can't stand him.

by miracle96 on Nov 14, 2007 5:09 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

My only question

How could you meet Tartabull and not punch him in the face?

Fear the Evil Empire

by pfistyunc on Nov 14, 2007 5:12 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Probably has to do with being 11 years old

by PsiFighter37 on Nov 14, 2007 5:14 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

that's funny

though pfisty seems like he would like you to punch SOMEONE in the face. 11 or not.

"The secret of managing is to keep the guys who hate you away from the guys who are undecided." -Casey Stengel

by bxgrl1 on Nov 16, 2007 9:10 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Not everyone

but I do have a long list of Yankee related punchings to accomplish before I die, starting with Waldman, Kay, Cashman, Cairomack, Senor Hustle, Farnsworthless, Levine, Igawa, Cashman again.......

Fear the Evil Empire

by pfistyunc on Nov 17, 2007 9:42 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I agree

Except the king of comments, your boy Hank, suddenly clammed up and said he had no comment about this, which leads me to believe something could be going on.

by matthaggs on Nov 14, 2007 1:15 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Hank is not my boy!

Unless Miguel Cairomack has broken up with me and didn't have the decency to call, Hank will always be second on my list at best.

For the record, I think that "no comment" might be my favorite quote thus far from Hankenstein (h/t to Rob Neyer).

Fear the Evil Empire

by pfistyunc on Nov 14, 2007 1:25 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

My bad

But it is rather suspicious that Hank didn't comment. He was given the chance to bury this story and didn't do it.

And now Kepner at the Times has a pretty convincing piece that Mr. Rodriguez would like a meeting with the Yankees - alone. Kepner is not one to stir up rumors for paper selling purposes.

So my question is, if the Yankees get ARod at a discount price without having to talk to Boras - would THAT cause you to send a little love Cashtard's way? If that won't nothing will.

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/11/15/sports/baseball/15yanks.html?ref=sports

by matthaggs on Nov 14, 2007 1:34 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I have to say

if Cashman succeeds in emasculating Boras it would be quite the coup.

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

by jscape2000 on Nov 14, 2007 1:46 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I suppose

although that mandate about no negotiating after the opt-out appears to be an ownership decision if you believe what Cashman has to say about it. Regardless it would be a huge coup for the front office, Cashman included. Still doesn't negate the fact that he is a terrible GM, but would be solid nonetheless.

Fear the Evil Empire

by pfistyunc on Nov 14, 2007 2:00 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Cashman

he is far from a terrible GM,come on already practically every move he has made at the time made sense. Leave the guy alone, most GM's would have traded the farm system to keep George happy. Cashman is not problem.

by miracle96 on Nov 14, 2007 5:11 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

When I envisioned a possible

"Arod back" scenario it absolutely involved a "no Boras" stance from the Yankees. For some reason I thought the Yankees would demand that. And if Arod was in enough of a jam (and he might be) he would acquiese.

So I don't think this is so far-fetched but Arod better be working on that "I love NY" PR all winter because he's going to be boo'd his first appearance in NY whether he's in pinstripes or not.

"The secret of managing is to keep the guys who hate you away from the guys who are undecided." -Casey Stengel

by bxgrl1 on Nov 14, 2007 12:07 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Very Interesting

I hate sports agents, after having had to deal with some of them. So my excitement stemmed partially from the idea of Scott Boras being cut out of the negotiations. I really think it would be great if we could keep A-Rod, forget about all the BS he's a great player.

by Greenfuzz on Nov 14, 2007 12:09 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

agree

I think Boras absolutely overplayed this hand and expected a response he did not get. I think he was drunk with power.

I agree that he's not going to ditch Boras because they have been together so long but if he puts a long-term deal together with the Yankees without Boras I really don't see why he would need him anymore. So he can quietly keep him and keep him at the negotiations at the same time. Meaning Boras has no imput but gets his percentage.

I still won't believe this until someone goes on record as saying it's going to happen. I hate unnamed sources and NY media is champing at the bit wondering what the hell is going on with Arod.

I ALSO think that this could be a Boras strategy to get other teams to the table. There could be no truth to it at all, but I'd like to hear the Yankees say that (which they will if that is the case).

"The secret of managing is to keep the guys who hate you away from the guys who are undecided." -Casey Stengel

by bxgrl1 on Nov 14, 2007 12:20 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Take a deep breath

Boras and Arod need the Yanks to get his deal with someone else. They shape a more attractive decision space for him.

Arod is not dumb. Boras is smart. Nothing has happened so far to surprise them, except perhaps the feigned lack of interest designed to limit his contract.

Arod is a very long shot to return. On the other hand, the chance has never been 'dead' and won't be til he signs.

A positive attitude may not solve all your problems, but it will annoy enough people to make it worth the effort. Herm Albright (1876 - 1944)

by Cbeck3 on Nov 14, 2007 12:51 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

heard on wfan

Bill Madden was on the FAN this morning. He said there was three conditions from the Yankees for A-Rod:

A-Rod meets in person with the Steinbrothers.
The final contract takes into account that the Yankees lost $30 million by A-Rod opting out.
The Yankees will have no contact with Boras. Boras can continue to advise A-Rod but the Yankees will not meet with him.

by stusviews on Nov 14, 2007 1:14 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Nice

but Boras represents a number of other Yankees.

They need to keep doing business with him, in at least a minimal way.

A positive attitude may not solve all your problems, but it will annoy enough people to make it worth the effort. Herm Albright (1876 - 1944)

by Cbeck3 on Nov 14, 2007 1:51 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

including Johnny Damon

he already suckered Cashman into that deal so Boras can't be too bitter.

Fear the Evil Empire

by pfistyunc on Nov 14, 2007 2:01 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I don't think

Boras suckered Cashman on Damon, if anything it was the other way around.

Boras was trying to tell Cashman about all the huge offers Damon was getting, and Cashman waited him out and signed him at the price he wanted.

In hindsight the deal doesn't look so good (although offensively Damon was very good in year one and came on late in year two), but at the time Cashman was credited for his patience if I remember correctly.

by matthaggs on Nov 14, 2007 2:06 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I respectfully disagree

Boras got Cashman to pay $52M for a declining player who can no longer play centerfield. As a corner outfielder with no arm, Damon is...well a backup centerfielder. Score one for Capt. Evil, although outsmarting Cashman is like shooting fish in a barrel.

Fear the Evil Empire

by pfistyunc on Nov 14, 2007 4:11 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I think

if you went back and read stories on the deal and how it went down, at the time most believed Cashman handled those negotiations very well.

He Bubba Crosby'd his way through most of the winter and then swooped in at the end and got Damon for much less than he would have had he not been so patient.

by matthaggs on Nov 14, 2007 4:15 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Who else

was offering 4/52 for a declining Damon? It certainly wasn't Theo.

Fear the Evil Empire

by pfistyunc on Nov 14, 2007 4:46 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Right

The point is that Boras, as he always does, would have you believe that his offers for Damon were greater than what they actually were.

By waiting, Cashman eliminated Boston as a suitor and got Damon for less. Look it up if you don't believe me.

by matthaggs on Nov 14, 2007 4:50 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Boston never offered

anything close to 4/52 for Damon. Boras tricked Cashman into bidding against himself for a declining player.

Fear the Evil Empire

by pfistyunc on Nov 14, 2007 4:54 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

You're wroing

Here's Buster Olney's take, and this was just on a one second google search. I could probably find a dozen stories just like this one:

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/columns/story?columnist=olney_buster&id=2267080

by matthaggs on Nov 14, 2007 5:18 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I can spell

by matthaggs on Nov 14, 2007 5:24 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

4/40 was as high as Boston went

Fear the Evil Empire

by pfistyunc on Nov 14, 2007 5:40 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Link

Sorry, here is that link. So yeah, suckering an additional 12M out of Cashman for a declining Damon was pretty solid on Boras' part. Worked out well for Theo too.

http://www.boston.com/sports/baseball/redsox/articles/2005/12/21/damon_jumps_to_yankees/

Fear the Evil Empire

by pfistyunc on Nov 14, 2007 5:42 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Selective reading

The below is from your link. It illustrates my original point that the Yanks got Damon for much less than Boras' original price tag. Cashman 1, Boras 0.

Also, Theo was not with the Red Sox at the time this went down, and knocking this deal now is hindsight. If you knocked it then, fine, but almost everyone considered this a coup. Not only did the Yanks acquire a premier leadoff hitter, they acquired Boston's premier leadoff hitter, and they did it at a fraction of Boras' original price tag. Finally last I checked Damon's replacement in CF, while cheaper and better defensively, sucks ass. And don't bring up Ellsbury because he was probably just out of high school when this decision was made.

From your link:

"The Yankees' offer, while far short of the seven-year, $84 million deal Boras had set as the target price for Damon.

The Yankees, who publicly took the posture they were prepared to begin the 2006 season with extra outfielder Bubba Crosby as their everyday center fielder, swooped in while the Sox, according to Damon, did not respond to his appeals to become more aggressive in their attempts to sign him."

by matthaggs on Nov 14, 2007 5:52 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Scott $350M Boras

C'mon man, you should know by now that the "market" that Boras proclaims is based in anything but reality. If this A-Rod mess blows over in the next few days, we will soon hear Boras explain to us why Andruw deserves a 35 year, $500 billion contract. I trust you are aware that any team who signs him for less is hardly outsmarting Boras. You can selectively read anything you want, but the bottom line is that the Sox never came over $40M, yet Boras was able to swindle an additional $12M out of Cashtard for an aging player whose value is based on speed. I know you will bend over backwards to defend Cashman (even moreso now that your hero Torre is gone) but there is simply no rational way to suggest that the Yankees got over on Boras by giving Damon 4/52

Fear the Evil Empire

by pfistyunc on Nov 14, 2007 10:15 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Boras

gets what he wants, almost always.

He got it (and more) with Arod the first time around, he gets it with the bulk of his MLB clients, and he gets it with all the young kids he scoops up in the draft by shipping them off to independent leagues until the team bucks up. He is who he is because he tells his clients how much money he can make them and then he goes out and does it.

He very rarely publicly states a number and then gets his client something much less, but it happened with Damon, and it's about to happen with ARod. And both times it was Cashman on the other end of the deal. (the one other Boras mess- up that I know of is Andruw Jones with the Braves a few years back - it's in today's Times article).

The foundation of your argument seems to be that Cashman knew Boston's offer was 4 years / 40 million before he made his offer. Who told him that? Boras? Lucchino? Gammons? Shaky foundation = weak argument.

And to say at the time of the signing that Damon's value is/was based on speed is another wild exaggeration. Look at '04 through '06. Damon can stuff a stat sheet.

by matthaggs on Nov 14, 2007 10:50 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

If Madden ...

is correct, I think these three things are great. I've thought all along Arod would likely come back. I mean, who can really take him on?

Dodgers
Angels
Mets
Yankees

I think having to meet these three conditions is paramount. But I wonder... Do the players want him back? Do the majority of fans want him back?

"Baseball is the background music of my life." -George Will

by Ronster22 on Nov 14, 2007 2:08 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

bottom line is

he is NOT a bad guy.. insecure? misguided? sure. greedy? yeah, but a lot of guys are. he's not bad for a clubhouse, and he's amazing on the field- so yeah- i'd be willing to take him back. i can't speak for the guys in the clubhouse though.

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

by NumberSeven on Nov 14, 2007 2:12 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I'm sure

they might welcome a chastened Arod back. I think that Jeter was breathing a sigh of relief that he was gone but if Arod went through this huge media asskicking and promises to shut the hell up and play ball, then maybe everyone can get back to working on that 27th title.

My money is on Arod coming back. Then we can put this whole Cabrera thing away.

"The secret of managing is to keep the guys who hate you away from the guys who are undecided." -Casey Stengel

by bxgrl1 on Nov 14, 2007 2:31 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

He's coming back ...

But wouldn't it be funny if after we signed the slugging SOB we shipped his as to Tampa for Kazmir, Crawford, Young and Shields?

"Baseball is the background music of my life." -George Will

by Ronster22 on Nov 14, 2007 5:13 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Hell no

Too many outfielders. He's worth more than that, and we could fill our needs better than that. Plus, it'd have to be to a team that could afford to pay most of his salary. We could send him to the Angels next season for Escobar or Shields plus Guerrero. Or to the Dodgers for Billingsley, Loney, LaRoche, and either or both Karshaw or Kemp. Or to the Cubs for...never mind. This is all fantasy since it's unlikely A-Rod would agree to no no-trade clause.

by SenorSwanky on Nov 15, 2007 1:20 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I'm just bitter

I'm a Jersey guy trapped in redneck land. I'm bitter. Doing that to Arod would have made me laugh--if even for a moment.

"Baseball is the background music of my life." -George Will

by Ronster22 on Nov 15, 2007 10:32 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

cant happen

yankees cant refuse to meet with a players agent. Its against the collective bargaining agreement. Only way this happens is if A-rod fires scott boras. Which would be awesome...but i doubt it.

by nilvaz on Nov 14, 2007 6:53 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

He's back

According to John Sterling anyway

John Sterling was just on WFAN with Mike and the Mad Dog, and he claims Arod is back.

On a scale of 1 to 100, "it's a 101" that he will be back. That is his quote.

ARod met with Yankee brass today.

by matthaggs on Nov 14, 2007 4:20 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

hopefully it's not like his usual call...

"IT IS HIGH.. IT IS FAR... IT IIISSS...

...CAUGHT IN SHALLOW LEFT."

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

by NumberSeven on Nov 14, 2007 4:32 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

classic

by Soriano NY 12 on Nov 14, 2007 4:55 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Classis classic

just dead on, can't count the times I've wanted to find him in my apartment building and throw him out the 4th floor window. He lives in my apartment building in Edgewater, I think he still does anyway. Saw him last year in the building.

by miracle96 on Nov 14, 2007 5:19 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Gotta say

This is pretty nuts. I'm shocked that A-Rod had the guts to cut Boras out of this.

by PsiFighter37 on Nov 14, 2007 4:54 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Peter Abraham says...

A-Rods back?

"A-Rod slips leash and returns to Yanks

November 14

In what was a bad day for the Scott Boras Corporation, Alex Rodriguez went to the Yankees directly and apparently has all but finalized a 10-year, $275 million deal.

It took 32 years and nationwide scorn but it seems A-Rod is finally his own man. Good for him and good for the Yankees. His playoff performances aside, keeping A-Rod at third beats Mike Lowell or shipping out young prospects for Miguel Cabrera.

By leaving money on the table, Rodriguez erases the stain of opting out the way he did. The Yankees also don't lose face as Alex came back to them. The only loser is Boras, who had dreams of Rodriguez landing a $350 million deal. Boras wasn't fired but clearly he was circumvented.

Now two steps remain: Wrap up Mariano Rivera and convince Andy Pettitte to return. Having Posada, Rivera and Rodriguez back should make that easier. It certainly doesn't hurt."

http://yankees.lhblogs.com/2007/11/14/a-rod-slips-leash-and-returns-to-yanks/

by cliparttattoo on Nov 14, 2007 9:06 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Lose him

Some players are winners and some are losers,
Yankees will never win as long as Loser A Rod is on the team. We have won without him and can do it again. The Boras firing is only to point fingers away from himself(ish).

Love the Yankees, Hate loser A Rod.

by Sabatino on Nov 15, 2007 11:25 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

the Yanks

did not lose this year because of A-Rod-- FYI

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

by NumberSeven on Nov 15, 2007 5:05 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

One of the

Lamest arguments ever and everyone loves it for some reason. I guess Don Mattingly is to blame for the debacle of the 80's and early 90's. He was just a loser. Did you know the Yankees have won without Babe Ruth and can probably do it again? I cant believe he gets all this credit when the yankees have won without him so many times, 24 times to be exact. What a loser.

by seanp23 on Nov 16, 2007 10:55 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs