Yankees Won't Renegotiate With A-Rod

In case you missed Jon Heyman's scoop yesterday: Brian Cashman won't renegotiate Alex Rodriguez's contract after this season.  I imagine he went public with it in attempt to put the onus back on A-Rod when he leaves after the season.  For once, Rodriguez is not biting and won't discuss it further with the media.  Heyman reiterates that Rodriguez will not consent to a trade if the Yankees are in contention.  Other notes from the column:

• Out of all the relievers on the market, Jorge Julio seems the most likely to be dealt.
• Heyman thinks John Smoltz is done with team-friendly contracts and will leave the Braves after 2007.  Could the Red Sox replace Curt Schilling with him?
• Devil Rays "second baseman" Jorge Cantu is on the block.  I think he has been for some time.  I believe there is a federal law mandating mention of his 117 RBI season in any Cantu trade rumor.  Ooh boy, look at all those ribbies!  Perhaps the Rays would shift Akinori Iwamura or B.J. Upton to second base.  In any case, I don't think Cantu is part of the long-term plan.

Comments

[bobo]

What else is he going to say?

At the end of the season, they'll determine how much (if any) more than $16M ARod is worth to them. Then they'll make an offer, whether it's an extension, an increase over the next 3 years (though technically that might void the Rangers payments, so this might not work), or whatever.

IF (and that's a big if) the Yankees want him to remain in pinstripes, they will negotiate. They are too business-savvy to let a $16M/year ARod get away.

[mraver]

It would suck to see Smoltzy go. I think he'll be back if the Braves win the division (or even go deep in the playoffs as the wild card), but I wouldn't be surprised to see him leave if they don't make the playoffs. Still, I hope the Braves can retain him, even if it means losing Andruw Jones. I'd rather see a short-term commitment to Smoltz than an albatross whose success hinges on Andruw's aging knees.

[Guitar Hero]

Good. I hope Arod leaves after the season and they lose him for NOTHING>

[bravesbeast]

I had accepted hte fact that this could be smoltzy's final year for a while now, and it makes sense if we he wants to make as much money as he can get at the end of his career. If the braves do resign him, that is fine, and I think the main determining factor on that would be f we look like we would contend in 08. Im about 80% confident andruw is gone elsewhere after this season, and if smoltz leaves as well, that is 20 to 22 million a year we can use in 08 and beyond. But, by all means if we keep both of them under reasonable contracts, ill leap for joy, but i just dont see it happening.

Another thing i would not mind is the braves inquiring about jorge cantu. I know I know, we should just go with our projects and we have a limited budget and cantu is coming off a ver disappointing year. But if we could manage his contract in somehow, he is still 26, i believe, and he could bad at the bottom of the order for a while, or even second. His defense is manageable, and heck, i know renteria is a very good 2 hole hitter, but I think he would make a nice transition to a leadoff guy. I know we tried the exact same thing with giles last year and that only lead to disappointment, but I think it would be a smart move, and a move that overall would strengthen the team.

[bravesbeast]

by a smart move, i mean if we traded for jorge cantu

[RotoAuthority]

It's not a matter of what else is Cashman going to say. It's that he chose to say anything at all. If a renegotiation was a viable option he would just no comment it.

[WestCoastBias]

"Good. I hope Arod leaves after the season and they lose him for NOTHING."

As talented of a player as he is, this would absolutely be addition by subtraction. The Yankees don't need his bloated ego bringing down the clubhouse anymore.

It's also not crazy to consider the Yankees making a trade for Miguel Cabrera if Arod walks. There are not many players the Yankees should give up Philip Hughes for but Cabrera is one of them and if the Marlins are still in need of a CF, they could sweeten the deal with Melky Cabrera.

Any thoughts? A third piece would have to be added but I'm not sure what it would be.

Another possibility is to keep Hughes and build a deal around Cano. It'd be a possibility to sign Carlos Guillen to play second if that's the case.

The Marlins could then move Uggla back over to 2nd.

To be honest, Loria should ask for the whole package of Hughes, Cano & Melky to make this trade.

[nrmax88]

I dont understand why now, of all times John Smoltz would demand a big contract. Hes been with Atlanta basically his whole career, and been a big part of their notorious reign in the 90's. Its not like he needs the money. I wouldnt mind see him leave atlanta and go to boston, but I just dont see it happening. I think hell sign a deal with Atlanta for about 9 or 10 mil, and if he does leave, I can see him maybe going to detroit, but I doubt at this point in his career Smoltzy would just sell him self to the highest bidded a la clemens. For a guy who sacrificed so much for that team switching back and forth between the pen and the rotation, never really complained, and dominated every step along the way, that just seems out of character.

[nrmax88]

Where is uggla playing now that they would be able to move him back to 2nd?

[WestCoastBias]

Oops. I meant to say back to 3rd with cano at 2nd.

[Ripwa]

A Hughes, Tabata, and Melky for Cabrera seems like a likely trade. The Marlins and Yanks are both stacked with you arms so i see it hard for them to come to some sort of an agreement on what prospects go where. I really don't know how it would work but i would assume it would start with Hughes and Tabata.

[bobo]

"To be honest, Loria should ask for the whole package of Hughes, Cano & Melky to make this trade."

Why stop there? How about Wang, Tabata, and a few more pitchers too?

By the end of this season we will see what Hughes does. By then, Hughes for Cabrera could be more than fair. It's tough to talk about these things for future trades when it's very likely the key participants' values will change greatly before the time of the trade.

[bobo]

And in general, trading 3-5 years of 3 established (presuamably, with Hughes) players for 2 years of a superstar is not something the Yankees are going to look to do.

[beauhoopman]

Bobo is half-right. The Yankees probably arent interested in trading 3-5 players for 2 years of Cabrera, which is why the Yankees would sign Cabrera to a long term deal if they make this trade. If Cabrera is around for 8 years, then it is worth it.

[WestCoastBias]

If Hughes lives up to his hype this year, it's definitely a possibility that he could be enough with Melky as cushinioning to make it happen. I suppose Cano on top is a little much...

From the Marlins point of view, this could trigger them to flip Dontrelle for a bat...Carl Crawford perhaps?

[ZachAttack]

"By the end of this season we will see what Hughes does. By then, Hughes for Cabrera could be more than fair."

How in the world is that fair? That doesn't address the Marlins needs at all. Philip Hughes is a great prospect, but trading him straight up for the second best hitter in the game just isn't going to happen. Period. In case you haven't noticed, the Marlins have plenty of young arms.

Willis
Johnson
Sanchez
Olsen
Petit
Nolasco
West
Volstad
Sinkbeil

The list goes on and on. What the Marlins need is a viable center fielder. I think if they traded Cabrera to the Yankees, the deal would start with either Melky Cabrera (so they can still have MCab)or Jose Tabata. The problem with Tabata is he is very far away from the majors. I highly doubt that the Yankees trade away Cano. I just don't see a match between them.

How about Arizona? They have a surplus of great OF. There are only 3 outfield positions, and I feel as Carlos Gonzalez is going to be the odd-man out. How about a Yusmiero Petit/Carlos Gonzalez swap? If the Marlins could get that deal, it would be sweet.

[GoBoSox420]

Maybe it is just me but I do not understand why the Fins would trade their best player for a pitching prospect. It honestly just doesnt make sense to me. I mean they already have a nice group of prospects. Their pitching seems to be pretty fricken good. Can someone please explain to me why the Fins would agree to that deal?

[greenbaydude1232]

They wouldn't. It's as simple as that. A trade for cabrera would start at Hughes and Tabata and go upward from there.

[tmar]

To me it would make more sense to appease ARod and keep Hughes. With Texas footing part of the bill it would cost around the same as Cabrera and they don't have to replace Hughes.

[mretzloff]

WestCoastBias, are you JOKING?

Why would the Yankees let AROD walk and then turn aroumd to trade Hughes, the top pitching prospect in MLB, AND Melky, who did so much last year, for Cabrera? If that happened I would willing march up and down NY's streets and ed with Mets and BoSox s.

I'd rather keep AROD, Hughes, and Melky than get Miguel Cabrera. A combined 200+ RBIs and 15+ wins, is better than 115+ RBIs.

[Superstah]

Ok, to clear things up....

The Yankees are not losing A-Rod for nothing. A-rod can opt out, but the Yankees can prevent him from doing so, by adding a million dollars to his payroll. He can't opt out, if he is making 1 million more than the highest paid player in the game, and since he is the one who is the highest paid player in the game, all the Yankees have to do is add a million to his contract to keep him, atleast for a trade.

If the whole Sheffield was an insight into how Brian Cashman is going to do business, he will add the money, (which makes the Yankee portion and who ever gets A-Rod in a trade have only 17 mil per year paying A-Rod thanks to Tom Hicks) and then trade him.

The two possibilities are Los Angeles Angels and Dodgers.

The Angels could give up Brandon Wood and Erving Santana (Maybe if they want to throw in Adenhart and Morales or something). The Angels owner wants another marquee name, and A-rod would be the perfect fit.

The Dodger owner kinda feels that the Angels are stealing the attention, and thus a part of his fanbase, so he wants a marquee name too. Players that would interest the Yankees: James Looney (1st base), Andy LaRoche (Who would replace A-Rod at 3rd), and Clayton Kershaw (Or Scott Elbert) because of all the pitching the Yankees have, none of them are lefties.

The Yankees are operationg too wisely now for them to let A-Rod get away for nothing more than draft picks.

and on the Marlins thing: That trade makes sense for the Marlins, because Hughes (Or Tabata), Cabrera would be cheap and under control, while Cabrera's salary will rise thanks to arbitration. But for the Yankees, it wouldn't make sense, because in essense they are just trading for 2 years of Cabrera, when with deep pockets, they can nab him 2 years later. The Marlins and the Yankees don't really matchup, because their strenghts and weakness are the same in the minors, both have pitching prospects in abundance, but lack of positional prospects.

[Superstah]

Darn, I meant to say, he CAN'T opt out, if he is making one million more than the highest player in the game, and Cashman has confirmed this.

[bsox21]

Even with a bloated market, I don't see Arod getting more money than he's already being paid. (and I happen to think he's worth every penny...)

The Yankees are ecstatic to have Arod for 16 mil, Arod is happy cuz he's a jillion-aire...

The only unhappy people with this situation is Texas, and they have zero say in what happens.

Nothing is changing.

All this fluff is the media's attempt at alienating Arod and keeping baseball in the headlines.

Obviously if the Angels come out and offer him another jillion dollars for more years, he leaves for the greener pastures, but Arod is sitting pretty and so are the Yankees.

At 16 per, Arod is one of the best deals in the league.

[DentalPlan]

"I believe there is a federal law mandating mention of his 117 RBI season in any Cantu trade rumor. Ooh boy, look at all those ribbies!"

Ha ha ha! It's true! Jorge Cantu is an ugly 2b and I don't think he has magic RISP powers.

[touchmymonkey]

I have a stupid question... I know that by adding $1 million to Arods salary they can void his opt out clause - but since that is altering his contract - would that mean Texas is off the hook for what they owe him? If so then adding the $1 mil is actually adding $8 mil per year ( or more). Any idea where I can find that out?

[SoxJox]

If I was Arod I would pay them to let me out. Those people have been terrible to him, he just needs to play his final year and bolt. Screw those idiots in the stands and media, let them find something else to boo about and write about. I heard that Giambi bashing is back in style after those two plays yesterday, why can't they start bashing him again, I actually enjoyed that.

[Superstah]

Well no, they wouldn't be altering the original contract, they would just be adding money to it, just like a performance clause. Its already in the contract. Like, how players would get certain amount of money for making the All-Star team, it would be the same deal, since the contract is still the one the Rangers worked out. So the Rangers would be the one on the hook for 9 million, but the Yankees would go from 16 mil to about 17 mil, which in this market makes him a very tradeable player. The only way the Rangers can get out of it, is if Cashman declines to add the million, and A-Rod opts out of the contract.