Will ARod Become Available?

[Omar]

Interesting Article (Sorry if it has been posted)

 

Lincoln Courior

 

ACTION: A-Rod is A-vailable.

 

REACTION: Yankees GM Brian Cashman "fully expects" Alex Rodriguez back in 2007, and A-Rod says he wants to return.

 

That's swell, but believe this: The Yankees will entertain all offers, and Rodriguez will consider waiving the no-trade clause in his contract if he feels leaving the New York pressure cooker would best suit him.

 

Both Chicago teams should pursue vigorously the best all-around player of this generation.

 

Don't be fooled by A-Rod's "struggles." Just as Jose Contreras escaped New York and helped the White Sox win the World Series, a change would benefit Rodriguez greatly. Besides, every club should have a player who struggles as he did in 2006: 35 homers, 121 RBIs, .290 average, .392 on-base percentage.

 

The man is a stud. He doesn't turn 32 until next July. He's in his prime. Put him back at shortstop, where he has been a Gold Glover, and he'll be happier than a pig in slop.

 

A very, very rich pig in very, very elegant slop.

 

Sure, he's a bit of a prima donna, but he's no Sammy Sosa or Barry Bonds. He has caused very few waves - very few ripples, even - during his brilliant career.

 

And at about $15 million per year (thanks to Texas paying much of his salary), he's a bargain.

 

The Cubs could put together a package of Aramis Ramirez (if they re-sign the hustle-resistant third baseman), Mark Prior and Ryan Dempster. Prior has outlived his usefulness in Chicago; the Yankees, desperate for power pitching, might gamble they could resurrect his career. New York also might value Dempster as Mariano Rivera's set-up man or a fourth starter.

 

Rodriguez would be a perfect fit for the White Sox, who could offer third baseman Joe Crede and any starting pitcher other than Jon Garland. As good as he has become, Crede is due to make a lot of money and has chronic back pain. Dealing Freddy Garcia or another veteran starter would open a rotation spot for Brandon McCarthy and free enough salary for the White Sox to pay their new star.

 

The scenario is not as far-fetched - on either side of town - as one might think. Or at least it shouldn't be.

[jmajew]

Interesting Article (Sorry if it has been posted)

 

Lincoln Courior

 

ACTION: A-Rod is A-vailable.

 

REACTION: Yankees GM Brian Cashman "fully expects" Alex Rodriguez back in 2007, and A-Rod says he wants to return.

 

That's swell, but believe this: The Yankees will entertain all offers, and Rodriguez will consider waiving the no-trade clause in his contract if he feels leaving the New York pressure cooker would best suit him.

 

Both Chicago teams should pursue vigorously the best all-around player of this generation.

 

Don't be fooled by A-Rod's "struggles." Just as Jose Contreras escaped New York and helped the White Sox win the World Series, a change would benefit Rodriguez greatly. Besides, every club should have a player who struggles as he did in 2006: 35 homers, 121 RBIs, .290 average, .392 on-base percentage.

 

The man is a stud. He doesn't turn 32 until next July. He's in his prime. Put him back at shortstop, where he has been a Gold Glover, and he'll be happier than a pig in slop.

 

A very, very rich pig in very, very elegant slop.

 

Sure, he's a bit of a prima donna, but he's no Sammy Sosa or Barry Bonds. He has caused very few waves - very few ripples, even - during his brilliant career.

 

And at about $15 million per year (thanks to Texas paying much of his salary), he's a bargain.

 

The Cubs could put together a package of Aramis Ramirez (if they re-sign the hustle-resistant third baseman), Mark Prior and Ryan Dempster. Prior has outlived his usefulness in Chicago; the Yankees, desperate for power pitching, might gamble they could resurrect his career. New York also might value Dempster as Mariano Rivera's set-up man or a fourth starter.

 

Rodriguez would be a perfect fit for the White Sox, who could offer third baseman Joe Crede and any starting pitcher other than Jon Garland. As good as he has become, Crede is due to make a lot of money and has chronic back pain. Dealing Freddy Garcia or another veteran starter would open a rotation spot for Brandon McCarthy and free enough salary for the White Sox to pay their new star.

 

The scenario is not as far-fetched - on either side of town - as one might think. Or at least it shouldn't be.

 

It seems like the Cubs would actually be giving up too much in that deal. I also do not see the Yankees trading A-Rod for prospects. They Yankees are a win now team. They want players who have proven themselves. The White Sox have the best shot of trading for A-Rod. They have an abundance of quality pitchers and a young 3b who could replace A-Rod admirably.

[rocket]

I know that this means nothing, but Wilbon on PTI predicted ARod will be a Cub.

[don_kessinger_was_good]

Can Mark Prior even be traded, given that he was on the DL at the end of the season?

 

I have to think Prior is a heckuva lot more attractive than Garcia, and Pie is our best prospect who, if he pans out, solves the Yankees post-Bernie Williams CF quandary (with Sheffield gone, they could make Gorilla the DH and slide Damon to LF). Eyre is a quality setup man for Rivera, they'd surely like that.

 

So really, the only issue (as always!) is Prior's health.

 

As for 3B, with the money the Yankees would save by cutting A-Rod, they could easily take Beltre off Seattle's hands as one example.

[NorthsideAvenger]

The only teams that make sense to be involved would be Anaheim, LA Dodgers, Cubs, Houston, Philly, and the White Sox. Of thosee teams, I'd probably put them in this order of probablility:

 

White Sox (Crede and Garcia)

Anaheim (prospects)

Cubs (Prior, Eyre and Pie)

Dodgers

Houston

Philly

 

I severely doubt Florida trade Willis and Cabrera in the same trade. It makes more sense to break them up and deal them seperately. In fact, I doubt either are traded at all this offseason.

 

That is a good list, and the rankings I definately agree with, BUT.....I just don't see the Yankees trading ARod to ANOTHER AL team. I fully believe Steinbrenner will tell Cashman to trade ARod, but to an NL team. He doesn't want to face a potentially pissed-off ARod till the World Series. So I doubt the Angels/White Sox will be major players for ARod. And if they are, I suspect Cashman will be asking for the moon....ala either Santana and/or Weaver, Shields, Wood, and perhaps even Kendrick.

 

But I fully believe ARod will be on one of three teams in 2007; The Cubs, the Dodgers, or the Yankees.

[CuseCubFan69]

I know that this means nothing, but Wilbon on PTI predicted ARod will be a Cub.

 

It means something to me because maybe, just maybe, Hendry may hear this and think it may be possible. For some reason I think Hendry has no interest in talking to the Yanks about ARod.

 

I wonder if the Cubs could deal Hill and others to the Yanks for ARod and overbid for Matsuaka? I'd look for a Kenny Lofton type to play CF or a Wilson type guy to play right and move Jones to CF and sign/trade for the best bargin 3 or 4 starter I could find.