Mark Feinsand believes that ARod and the Yanks will get a deal done as soon as Mariano inks his three year contract and it could all happen within a week. We've all seen this article by now: NY Daily News:
Alex Rodriguez may be headed back to the Bronx after all -- but on the Yankees' terms.
Despite all of the back-and-forth posturing between the Yankees and A-Rod's camp, the Daily News learned today that the two sides have been discussing a deal for the past few days to keep the two-time MVP in pinstripes, according to a source with knowledge of the situation.
The biggest catch? The Yankees don't want agent Scott Boras involved in the negotiations.
A high-ranking Yankees source told the Daily News that the team is willing to bring Rodriguez back on a below-market contract, one that would make up for the $21 million subsidy from the Rangers that the Yanks lost when A-Rod opted out of the final three years of his contract.
In addition, the Yankees don't want to deal with Boras, who has been Rodriguez's agent since the slugger was 16 years old.
"We will not negotiate with Scott Boras," a Yankees source said. "He cannot be in the room."
I had written a different article about this story, but after hearing Mark on WFAN I have to agree with him that Alex will be back in NY. That is unless their meetings go horribly bad. With a non-existent free agent class out there...the Yanks really have only bad and horrible options available to them in putting this team back together again that would be able to challenge the Red Sox so this deal seems to make sense.
Do you believe the Yanks want to see Boston celebrating two more Championships before they field a team that will compete with them? If he takes less money (cough) and keeps Boras out of the mix then the Yanks probably feel they would have "saved face" enough to get the deal done. And they wouldn't have had to give up any part of the "trinity" to fix 3B. Not having Pettitte in the fold for next season also plays into the feeling that they can't afford to give up a young pitcher for a hitter. Now, I still don't buy that ARod will take less money because he feels so bad. It's still very early in the process, but ARod must have a feel that he's not getting 30 million from anybody. This team still needs a clutch #5 hitter in a bad way even if Alex comes back. Matsui is not the answer in my mind because he's been awful since game four of the '04 playoffs and I'd trade him in a minute if the Yanks could get another bat. Posada is a #6 or #7...
How do you feel about AROD returning at this point if that does happen? I'm burnt out on the whole story.
Update [2007-11-14 17:38:33 by John Amato]: ARod Speaks: