ESPN News reporting A-rod has told the Yanks he's opting out.

Then Steve Phillips on ESPN says that the reason he signed for 252 million a few years ago was that he wanted to double KG's 126, so he could be the highest paid in sports.

Ya think Texas is happy with his decision? They save $21 million over the next 3 years with him opting out of this deal. That should help them sign Toriiiiii Hunter or get a new bullpen.

This morning, Buster Olney, speculated that one of the LA teams (Dodgers/Angels), Boston, SF will be the likely teams involved here, and his darkhorse was Florida (that sounds like a massive stretch).

I heard this too. The logic was that their payroll was soooo low and his salary can be added and still have a relatively low payroll...and the fact that A-Rod's from Florida. First of all, the payroll theory can be applied to several teams and second, I don't think A-Rod cares about playing in his hometown. That's usually some saved for the end of most players careers.

id rather Chicago spend the $30-32 million it would cost to have Arod here on bullpen help. Both teams could use some.

id rather Chicago spend the $30-32 million it would cost to have Arod here on bullpen help. Both teams could use some.

You know what would help the bullpens?
Johan Santana.

This could be a watershed moment in the history of the free agency era. If MLB teams are as sane as I hope they are they would know $30M a year for one guy is downright ludicrous. Yes, he produced 50HR again this year but no way should he be paid MJ-like money for his playoff-choking schtick.

My only hope is that MLB front offices stonewall Boras and A-Rod. Something tells me that since the biggest of big spenders (NYY) is out of the sweepstakes, the ceiling for his contract has come down considerably. I cant imagine someone paying him $30M when the next highest bidder is only offering something like 25.
I'm hoping the teams can show some kind of solidarity here to prove that one man is not above a team. Face it, for most teams in order to get A-Rod you will be mortgaging your future considerably. That's not counting the teams like KC, Pittsburgh, and Tampa Bay that are out of the running before it even begins. A move like that would show future players that no matter how many home runs you hit, a third of a team's annual payroll should not be tied up into one player.

Now, if A-Rod had a couple WS titles and a WS MVP mixed in somewhere, he would have more bargaining chips. But since his reputation in the playoffs is one of failure and misery, he has no leg to stand on.

You mean you can't imagine a scenario like Texas bidding $250Mil for him when the next highest bidder was Seattle at $180Mil? He wouldn't have opted out if Boras didn't KNOW that he can get it.

The last time MLB teams showed "solidarity" the union won a collussion settlement. Not gonna happen.

Union worried Selig, teams might collude to keep A-Rod's price down

That didn't take very long.


Is there anything more predictable than the Owners vs. the Union BS in baseball?


http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=3101262

I'm praying that A-Pud is one of the 11 free agents busted for steroids.

Will Aaron Rowand be on this list ?

He might end up #1 on the "most career injuries requiring stitches" list.

He did have a career year, but I'm guessing that most of these guys on the list "only took" during the 2003-2005 type period.

Will Aaron Rowand be on this list ?