Sizing Up A-Rod Options

i think Ted Rogers and the jays MIGHT go after A-rod since John McDonald is good but not on the offense part of the game but maybe if Jp Riccardi can unload Glaus maybe might happen

"Manny Acta makes half a million bucks, he's just as good."

Better.

Why doesn't anyone ever speculate about the Nationals? They're in an identical situation to the Giants back in 1992 when they signed Bonds to a then exorbitant deal - new ownership group, brand new stadium that they need to fill up, the city not really being behind the team, playing to half-empty stadiums. Sure, you have to move Zimmerman (or somehow fit ARod back at short), but this would seem like the perfect way for the new ownership group to make a splash.

i was thinking the Blue Jays.
as mentioned John McDonald is the Jays current SS. i cant see the Jays going into a season with John McDonald as their starter, they have to be smarter than that.
the Jays have the pitching with Halladay/Burnett/McGowan/ect but could use another explosive bat.
with ARod the attendance would improve, and the Jays would get more covereage.. especially when it comes time for ARod to break the HR record.
from what i hear the dollar exchange is higher than its been in recent years.. plus the Jays owner Ted Rogers is a billionaire, so its not like they dont have the money.
even if ARod doesnt stay at SS Glaus wont be there much longer at 3B, and maybe even ARod signs with the Jays they could move Glaus this offseason to one of the LA teams.
has there been any type of rumours/speculation about the Jays?

I've seen some Nats speculation here and there...they are in the longshot Marlins category I guess.

The only teams that seem likely to throw that kind of money around are the Dodgers and the Giants.

But why would ARod want to play for the Giants where he'll likely miss the postseason ?

The Dodgers seem like the best bet to me.

"But why would ARod want to play for the Giants where he'll likely miss the postseason ?"

so he cant choke it up in the playoffs like he always does. He'll just sit back and collect his stats that will get him his money and HOF votes.

As a Mets fan, signing Arod would be the smartest move the Mets could make in the off-season. Granted, we do need starting pitching, but have you looked at the free agent market? Curt Schilling is the best pitcher available. That might have been good 3 seasons ago, but he's now a control pitcher. What do you want Omar to do? Spend $40 mil on Carlos Silva? Do you think that's a smart move? Our best bet is to trade for a starting pitcher. So in the meantime, sign the best player in the majors. I calculated that the Mets payroll would be under $140 mil if we signed Arod (I'm guessing $35 mil per), traded for A.J. Burnett ($12 mil per), traded Delgado and $5 mil to the Twins for a reliever, signed a guy like Mike Timlin (around $3 mil), signed Mike Lamb (around $2 mil), re-signed Ramon Castro (around $2 mil), sign a backup catcher like Javier Valentin (around $1 mil), picked up Alou's option ($7.5 mil), and re-signed Luis Castillo (around $5 mil per). Our payroll would still be less than the Yankees and the Red Sox. Plus Delgado, Pedro, El Duque, and Alou's contracts would all be up, freeing up $30 mil. It makes sense folks...

Realistically, the Mets will sign Livan Hernandez, and do nothing else...

"It's clear he didn't want to be a Yankee," Hank Steinbrenner told the Daily News last night. "He doesn't understand the privilege of being a Yankee on a team where the owners are willing to pay $200 million to put a winning product on the field.

"I don't want anybody on my team that doesn't want to be a Yankee."

These are quotes from Hank Steinbrenner. I think it's pretty clear that he won't be back with the Yankees. The Yankees cannot back down at this point or it will show that AROD is bigger than the Yankees.

Echo the two above. Anaheim is logical but Baltimore makes total sense as a darkhorse. Their attendance sucked this year, they now have competition a half hour south and they desperately need a spark to avoid falling to the bottom of a crowded divsion. Rodriguez chasing the all-time HR record in a small park seems to make a ton of sense. They've shown in the past (Belle, Tejada) that they aren't afraid of the big signing; here's the biggest.

A-Rod and the Nats--as a Nats fan, I'd like to see it happen. I agree that it would make the fan-base and even more the football-obsessed local sports media, stand up and take notice. And it would guarantee that the new stadium would be sold out all season, and likely beyond.

Why won't it happen? Two words: Stan Kasten. First, he does not like signing bigtime free agents, especially at this stage of development, and second, he and Boras are like oil and water. A move to sign A-Rod for the Nats would have to be driven by the Lerners--possible but not likely in the team's current situation.

I don't think ARod will go to San Diego because it will decrease his chances of getting the HR record. Believe me, that is in his mind and has been for awhile now.

Other than shorter distances down the lines, Yankee Stadium and Petco aren't all that different. Besides, Rodriguez isn't a wall-scraper.

what do you guys think of Cab for a Cab.....Miguel Cabrera for Melky Cabrera???

Better chance of Jones for jones and jones. Jacques for Chipper and Brandon

"I miss the Yankees of 1990s..."

Seriously. Where have you gone, Melido Perez?

Oh, you meant the late 90s...

What about the Cleveland Indians? They have a stadium that holds 42,000+ which only sold about 28,000 per game last season, meaning ticket sales alone would pay for a substantial portion of his contract. They were one game away from the world series and are loaded with young talent, fulfilling ARod's desire to play for a contender for a long time. Their payroll has averaged under 50 million for the last 5 years and was only 60 million this year, so they must have some money saved up. Back in 2001 (when their stadium was selling out) their payroll was above 90 million, showing they may be willing to spend that much again. Casey Blake is a free agent (I think) and Andy Marte struggled last year mostly at AAA, so there is an opening at third base. Seems like a pretty good fit to me.

I think if the Reds were to get involved they would be far better served getting rid of Gonzalez and Griffey to free up a little more cash for A-Rod then they would be declining the option of the team leader Dunn.

The problem with them cutting Dunn loose is that they would open with a all question OF. You have the two injury guys in Griffey and Hamilton, the rookie in Bruce and a 4th OF that is a poor man's Juan Pierre (Hopper)

I would extend Dunn, sign A-Rod, deal Griffey and Gonzalez for whatever prospects I could get...if Griffey used his 5/10 rights I would play him but would definately let him walk at the end of the year.

The Reds would take a hit this season (they do have money coming off the books, I think its around 15 million) and the owner has stated that he's going to boost the payroll as well.

Clear Griffey and Gonzalez, that is another 15 million and you have your money for A-Rod.

The big question then would be is A-Rod still a SS.

SpecialFNK, I highly doubt the Jays would be interested in A-Rod after the cheating incident in Toronto. It probably left a bad taste in the mouth of Jays management. They don't need a person him on the team

"what do you guys think of Cab for a Cab.....Miguel Cabrera for Melky Cabrera???

Better chance of Jones for jones and jones. Jacques for Chipper and Brandon"

LOL. Or jose Reyes for Jo-Jo- Reyes.

i was thinking ARod to the Jays was a long shot, but i still think the Jays could have explored it. if the Jays want to make a move next season would have been the best time. NY isnt going to be as good next year and that would leave Boston in the AL East. having ARod could push the Jays right into championship contention.
i knew the bush league play ARod did in Toronto could work against him, but i think the Jays and the fans could be forgiving to have have someone like ARod in the lineup.
that play ARod did in Toronto looks bad, but noone seems to mention the slap ARod did to Red Sox Bronson Arroyo back in 2004 and still mention Boston as a possible team.

"i knew the bush league play ARod did in Toronto could work against him, but i think the Jays and the fans could be forgiving to have have someone like ARod in the lineup."

Youre completely right. It shouldnt pplay any sort of factor into the Jays inquiring on Alex. The Cowboy fans hated T.O., when he ran to the star at mid field two times after two TD's in one game, but do they hate him now? If A-Rod goes to Toronto, you will watch him hit home runs and like it. His bush league play from last year will be forgotten.

I see your point and I would be happy if A-Rod produced but if I were a Jays player I would find it hard to forgive A-Rod for what he did and IF A-Rod does join up with the Jays theres gonna be heat in the clubhouse. Also did you read what I said about the Jays' salary?

"But why would ARod want to play for the Giants where he'll likely miss the postseason?"

The answer lies in your question.

What's this NL as a longshot to win the world series stuff. The NL has won 3 of the last 7 World Series.

I wouldn't call 1 WS win over .500 dominance.

two things: 1) teams are saying this and that to drive the negotatiations down. But make no mistake, this free agent market is bad and enough teams will really want Arod that someone will pay up.

2) He's not a fit for teh Blue Jays. Yes, maybe this year and the next we can afford 30 million...but 9 years and 30 million or whatever it is is too much, they're not in it. Too bad we can't have him for 2 years and 60 million...we need the O at shorstop bad.

What do you guys think of a Cubs-Angels trade of Ramirez for Figgins + E. Santana + Prospect, freeing third base for ARod. LA has already stated they don't want ARod for whatever reasons (never had many players who see an "I" in team, to use a cliche) and Ramirez would provide good protection for Guerrero. LA doesn't need much pitching and doesn't seem to want Figgins for the last years of his contract.

A lot of this depends n Mark Cuban buying the Cubs, but if he does I think this is more likely than ARod going to the Angels. For ARod, Wrigley is the ultimate launching pad, and bringing the Cubs to the World Series would get anyone into the Hall of Fame (except Jason Kendall...)