ARod opts out of the $252 million contract

by Adam J. Morris on Oct 28, 2007 9:54 PM CDT in News Comment 59 comments

Alex Rodriguez has informed the Yankees that he is exercising the opt-out provision of his contract, and thus will be a free agent.

This, of course, means that the Rangers save almost $30 million in subsidies that they would have been required to provide the Yankees from 2008-2010.

So this is good news...

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As long as he doesn't go to Anaheim or Boston

this is great news on 2 fronts.

by cmkelly29 on Oct 28, 2007 9:46 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

meh

Who cares if he goes to Boston. I honestly don't. I'm just glad to have us out from under the 7 million a year.

I guess it could be bad if you see us facing Boston in the playoffs soon, but I think we're still 2-3 years away from that.

by JKolar on Oct 28, 2007 9:49 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I live in New England...

Red Sox fans, although not NEARLY as annoying as Yanks fans, are just as loud about thier team. Also, can you imagine the Sox w/ ARod? Yikes.

I want to see ARod in the NL. Chicago would be a great fit, I believe.

by cmkelly29 on Oct 28, 2007 9:51 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

agreed

I'd rather see him out of the AL in total, but just being off the hook for his money is enough for me at the moment.

by JKolar on Oct 28, 2007 10:00 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

yipee!

by ab03 on Oct 28, 2007 9:47 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

thats awesome news

Cant wait to see if Texas addresses the situation.

"I'd need a picture of Jamey with a shotgun saying "This is my Boomstick!" before I could see that one." DJCahill

by NYTXFAN on Oct 28, 2007 9:47 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

REJOICE!

HOORAY! MORE MONEY! YAY!

"People hated Jackie Robinson because he was black. People hate Barry Bonds because he's a cheating douchebag." -- Lewis Black

by ghtd36 on Oct 28, 2007 9:49 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Does anyone know what A-Rod actually cost Hicks for the short time he was here? It has to be an obscene amount like 50 million/year or something. The signing wasn't bad in my opinion it was the trade that was stupid, stupid, stupid.

by gp on Oct 28, 2007 9:49 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Does anyone see the Yanks sucking next season?

ARod Gone
Rivera Gone (?)
Possible sophmore slumps (Chamberlain, Hughes, etc)
Girardi being a TERRIBLE choice for manager w/ that many vets on the team?

It could happen.

by cmkelly29 on Oct 28, 2007 9:56 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Others who could be gone

Posada and Pettittie(sp)

Look out Aggie this is the game coach Fran gets fired afterwards. Boomer Sooner!

by boomer1 on Oct 28, 2007 9:58 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I'm assuming Posada stays

Especially now that ARod is gone. I'm guessing Pettite retires.

by cmkelly29 on Oct 28, 2007 10:00 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

If I were

a Yankees fan, I would be paniking...

The ownership change could be a bigger deal than it sounds...

How are his sons going to handel it?

The Yankees organization is drowning, and the Red Sox organization is getting alot better...

Screw the Red Sox and Patriots...

Engel Beltre is overrated.

by miles on Oct 28, 2007 10:00 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

panicking

Engel Beltre is overrated.

by miles on Oct 28, 2007 10:01 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

the Yanks are drowning?

How so?

They've got some nice young pitching in Joba, Hughes, Wang and Kennedy, plus a couple of nice young position players in Cano and Cabrera (who really surprised me this year), and a ton of money to spend with ARod and Clemens coming off the books.

Please explain how they're drowning.

Ben Franklin. Gandhi. Jackie Robinson. Winston Churchill. Martin Luther King. Jesus Christ. And now... Dwyade!!!

by thedirkatron on Oct 28, 2007 10:05 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Lets see...

They spent all the money this year including getting Clemmens and they fall out of the playoffs early...

They lose A-Rod, there best player this year...

If they couldn't win this year with the players they had, they won't win next year...

They basically are getting owned right now...

Engel Beltre is overrated.

by miles on Oct 28, 2007 10:14 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Spent all that money

last year***

Engel Beltre is overrated.

by miles on Oct 28, 2007 10:14 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Definitely.

Yanks could definitely struggle next year, and for a couple years to come.

"People hated Jackie Robinson because he was black. People hate Barry Bonds because he's a cheating douchebag." -- Lewis Black

by ghtd36 on Oct 28, 2007 10:21 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Or they could be like the Mariners and Rangers....

and win more games after A-Rod leaves.

by Redcaps on Oct 30, 2007 7:51 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I'd really enjoy

seeing ARod/Pettitte/Rivera/Posada leave and watching them try to reshape. Would be fascinating in a way.

by Brett Perryman on Oct 28, 2007 10:16 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I'd just love to see them

lose 100 games a year for an extended period of time. Not going to happen because they'll just reload on free agents as they always do.

by gp on Oct 28, 2007 10:21 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Free agent crop...

this year is awfully thin.

by benmor78 on Oct 28, 2007 10:41 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Wow

I didn't think the Yanks would let this happen.

Either they royally f'd up, or ARod absolutely wanted out of NY forever.

I dread the thought of him in an Angels uni.

Ben Franklin. Gandhi. Jackie Robinson. Winston Churchill. Martin Luther King. Jesus Christ. And now... Dwyade!!!

by thedirkatron on Oct 28, 2007 10:00 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

The Yankees

I don't think the Yankees could have done anything short of offering him something like $35 million a year to keep him from opting out. Boras is a master of getting teams to bid against themselves so even if the market is limited to two or three teams, he will get top dollar. When you have Boras as your agent, you do whatever you can to be a free agent.

by uthornfan on Oct 28, 2007 10:05 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Yeah

I'm with you. A-Rod as an Angel for a long time is scary. If I had the choice between A-Rod as an Angel and the Rangers paying a part of A-Rod as a Yankee, I'd choose the later every time.

To be fair, the fact that it isn't my money may have something to do with that decision.

by BAC on Oct 28, 2007 10:35 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

"Well let's see what the

Rangers do with all that cash."

--Mrs. SteveP, upon hearing this news.

Word.

Ethanol is a disaster in the making.

by SteveP on Oct 28, 2007 10:13 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

WooHoo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

this makes up for a crappy world series

by Randy Richardson on Oct 28, 2007 10:16 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Rangers

The only thing I hope doesn't happen is the Rangers don't get too excited and spend some of the money they think they've saved and blow it all on one guy

by meatbonelefty on Oct 28, 2007 10:29 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Cough

Tori Hunter Cough...

Engel Beltre is overrated.

by miles on Oct 28, 2007 10:32 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

You mean someone like

Ponson or Aurilia?

by Brett Perryman on Oct 28, 2007 10:43 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

my friend made a foolish bet

awhile back that A-Rod would never win a World Series with the Yankees (this was a $1000 bet).

Well, it looks like it is not so foolish after all. He's about to cash in on that!

Greatest Inventions Ever? 1. TiVO, 2. Boobs, 3. Baseball

by willamos2 on Oct 28, 2007 10:33 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Well.....

unless the bet stated "during the current contract" then your friend hasn't won anything until Arod dies or the Yankees cease to exist.

by bdavison94 on Oct 29, 2007 3:05 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

YES!!!!!!!!!!!

Do you think the Rangers have a shot on signing AROD?

by BillyBobisdrunk on Oct 28, 2007 10:59 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Lol

Engel Beltre is overrated.

by miles on Oct 28, 2007 11:00 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Good News

For Mr. Hicks. That's about it.

sportsdeals.blogspot.com

by BudLight on Oct 28, 2007 11:06 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Anybody Else Think

this is the greatest line of all time?

---------

Boras said he attempted to notify Yankees general manager Brian Cashman of the decision Sunday but couldn't reach him, so he left a voice mail.

"He was traveling and I was traveling," Boras said.

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=3084640

--------

I would love to hear that voice mail.

by piston1336 on Oct 28, 2007 11:19 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Score!

Although, no one has yet to mention the A-Rod curse/Ewing Theory (see Simmons, Bill) possibilities.

I honestly kinda hope that NYY resigns him for way too much money and that they live unhappily ever after...their groans are sweet music to my ears!

by GhettoBear04 on Oct 28, 2007 11:19 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

that's because

its a ridiculously stupid theory that has no basis in reality considering the ewing-less knicks never won a title.

by ab03 on Oct 29, 2007 9:16 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I really don't think

ARod opting out will impact the Rangers dramatically.

www.colbert08.org

by DJCahill on Oct 28, 2007 11:27 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

And...

<Cahill>The sun's going to go red giant in 6 billion more years anyway, not to mention the chances of a star passing through our stellar neighborhood and slingshotting earth out of orbit are only 1:2,000,000, and our outfield sucks and our pitching sucks and I've got an itchy rash on my ass.</Cahill>

by benmor78 on Oct 28, 2007 11:31 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

don't forget

<Cahill> and Michael Young still sucks </Cahill>

by JBImaknee on Oct 29, 2007 12:42 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Actually, the bigger problem

is that our Outfield creates a Black Hole of Suck, and sucks the entire univere into it.

"I promise, if elected, I will crush the state of Georgia" - Stephen Colbert www.colbert08.org

by DJCahill on Oct 29, 2007 11:01 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

unless he signs

with the Angels and bashed Ranger pitching 19 times a year.

Baseball Fever - catch it!

by t ball on Oct 28, 2007 11:59 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Yep,

that would be the biggest impact. Hopefully, he goes to an NL franchise.

www.colbert08.org

by DJCahill on Oct 29, 2007 9:38 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Personally...

I think this guarantees a FA centerfielder now. Not that it should it's just kind of makes it easier to swallow.

by slimshadty12 on Oct 29, 2007 12:05 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Oh, goody.

A huge commitment that will be referenced on later dates as 'the reason we don't want to spend money on players'.
Max Ramirez for Coco Crisp. Everyone's happy, including Hicks.

sportsdeals.blogspot.com

by BudLight on Oct 29, 2007 12:16 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Concur

"The only good is knowledge and the only evil is ignorance."-Socrates

by slc ranger on Oct 29, 2007 5:26 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Peter Gammons....

Just said he thinks the Rangers will be players in the ARod sweepstakes...

Uhh...

by cmkelly29 on Oct 29, 2007 12:15 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Haha

He needs to retire.

Engel Beltre is overrated.

by miles on Oct 29, 2007 12:27 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Ok I hate to say this but

Is it really that far fetched? The Rangers need a masher and let's say the Rangers are in on Bedard if he really is being shopped around the Rangers could put Blalock in any deal with maybe CJ and a prospect to get him. They could plug AROD in at third. Ok let the torching begin.

Look out Aggie this is the game coach Fran gets fired afterwards. Boomer Sooner!

by boomer1 on Oct 29, 2007 1:29 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Honestly

Yeah I think it's pretty far fetched, when you actually think about the reality of it. It would be funny though.

by Brett Perryman on Oct 29, 2007 8:05 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I don't think the O's

would have any interest in Blalock, if I had to guess. If they are looking to trade Bedard and Tejada, they are in fullblown rebuilding mode. The major piece they get back for Bedard has to be somebody who could be very good for them for 5 or 6 years, not a 1 year player like Blalock.

by hurley325 on Oct 29, 2007 8:31 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

If ARod came back, you'd have to play him at SS.

Young would either have to move to 3rd (assuming Blalock is traded or moves to 1st) or 1st. And I don't think Young would have a problem making either of those moves.

by Athos on Oct 29, 2007 10:07 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

so

i wonder if we would just flat out tell him this time: "we're not going to compete any time soon. we're not going to bore you with minor leaguers since you know how our last batch turned out. you've seen this franchise, we're really not good at winning, it's only about the money."

by ab03 on Oct 29, 2007 10:55 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I think the move that you are forgetting

is that if they signed an excellent shortstop Young has the ability to play, gasp, centerfield. The Blue Jays always thought his future was in center. He is fast. He has a cannon for an arm. He has great baseball instincts and his offense would be a plus at the position. Not to mention, he still would be playing a premium defensive position. Anybody can play 3rd or even 1st. Not many can play center.

by gp on Oct 29, 2007 11:06 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs