A-rod will opt out says SI

[gwc2005]

DENVER -- Alex Rodriguez notified the Yankees Sunday that he's opting out of his record $252 million contract, SI.com has learned.

 

Rodriguez's decision means he will become a free agent and be able to negotiate with all clubs. Rodriguez's bombshell move will shake up the entire winter for the Yankees -- who had hoped to retain him with a big extension -- as well as other big-market clubs that will now pursue him.

 

Rodriguez's agent Scott Boras said he sent word of the opt-out in writing Sunday and left phone and text messages for Yankees general manager Brian Cashman. The Yankees have said that once A-Rod opts

out, they wil not pursue him, since they will lose the benefit of

the Texas Rangers' $30-million subsidy.

 

"Alex made the decision today,'' Boras said. "I thought we should notify the club.''

 

The Yankees were preparing an extension to his current contract for either five or six years, believed to be for close to $30 million annually. However, team officials said Boras has politely declined to meet with them in recent days, and they never presented the offer.

 

Rodriguez technically had until 10 days after the World Series ended to exercise his opt-out rights, which were provided in his $252 million Texas deal. However, Boras said Rodriguez felt there was no way he could make a decision to stay in that short a period of time since several situations remain unsettled, including those of Mariano Rivera, Jorge Posada and Andy Pettitte.

 

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2007/baseball/mlb/specials/playoffs/2007/10/28/rodriguez.contract/index.html

[E.J.]

That sound you hear is the Ranger front office cheering with joy.

 

I can't believe he opted out. He must really not want to stay with the Yankees anymore. I want to see which team will give him all this money he's going to make. I highly doubt it will be the Cubs.

[gwc2005]

Well I gave it 50/50 that he'd opt-out. IMO he probably grew weary of being the scapegoat for all that is/was wrong with the Yanks.

[Sammy Sofa]

I think he ends up out west...probably the Angels.

[Guest]

That sound you hear is the Ranger front office cheering with joy.

 

I can't believe he opted out. He must really not want to stay with the Yankees anymore. I want to see which team will give him all this money he's going to make. I highly doubt it will be the Cubs.

 

I'm not really surprised if this is true. It appears that ARod would prefer to be cheered and make $20M per year rather than get booed relentlessly and ripped in the press and make $30M per year.

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

The opt out means watch the Rangers become major players in the free agent market.

 

I can see them making a run at Andruw Jones.

[Slugger_16]

Rodriguez's agent Scott Boras said he sent word of the opt-out in writing Sunday and left phone and text messages for Yankees general manager Brian Cashman.

 

Text messages? I wonder if Scott Boras texts like a 14 year old. Something like, "yo bri...arod g2g"

[Outshined_One]

The Giants have to be the dark horse candidate.

[inari]

The Giants have to be the dark horse candidate.

 

Say what you want about the guy, but I think he wants a ring quite badly.

[Outshined_One]

The Giants have to be the dark horse candidate.

 

Say what you want about the guy, but I think he wants a ring quite badly.

 

If that were the case, he'd stay with the Yankees, imo. They spend more money than any other team and field a competitive team every year.

 

He wants to get the hell out of New York. Rest assured, he'll be the highest paid player in baseball, but he won't get nearly as much money as Boras thinks.

[CubinNY]

The offseason just got a little more interesting.

 

Sign A-Rod, see if he can play RF or SS. That's it.

 

CUBS WIN! CUBS WIN!

[GoCubsGo1679625768]

It's official per foxsports

 

http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/story/7381184

[shnsajax]

hahahahahaha

hahahahahahahahahahaha

hahahahahaha

yankeessuck

hahaha

hahahahahahahahaha

hahahahaha

[chuckywang]

The offseason just got a little more interesting.

 

Sign A-Rod, see if he can play RF or SS. That's it.

 

CUBS WIN! CUBS WIN!

 

LOL, sure, if we can increase our payroll by $30 mil per year.

[Burtonbell]

It's official per foxsports

 

http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/story/7381184

 

They just annoounced it right now during the game. Now even if the Red Sox win the Series, it will be overshadowed by Arod. LOL.

[Butterscup1679666578]

I had no faith that the Cubs would sign A-Rod this off season, mostly because I didn't think he'd leave NY. Now that he has (probably), I feel there is a glimmer of hope, no matter how small it may be, I feel like Hendry might be able to get the job done.

 

I'm not sure if it'll happen, but I'm fully ready to order my Alex Rodriguez jersey :D

Edited October 29, 2007 by Butterscup

[RyneSandberg]

There's no way, the payroll we have now is not going to get 25+ million bigger. With an ownership change, this isnt the year for us to land AROD.

[E.J.]

The offseason just got a little more interesting.

 

Sign A-Rod, see if he can play RF or SS. That's it.

 

CUBS WIN! CUBS WIN!

 

LOL, sure, if we can increase our payroll by $30 mil per year.

 

Yep. We've already got about $100 million on the books for next season, and it's only going to get worse in the next coming years. I don't see us adding Arod.

[Guest]

The Giants have to be the dark horse candidate.

 

Say what you want about the guy, but I think he wants a ring quite badly.

 

If that were the case, he'd stay with the Yankees, imo. They spend more money than any other team and field a competitive team every year.

 

He wants to get the hell out of New York. Rest assured, he'll be the highest paid player in baseball, but he won't get nearly as much money as Boras thinks.

 

I don't think ARod will want to come to SF nor do I think the Giants will want to invest $20+M when they've already got $18M per year locked up in Zito.

 

And your second point is what I think people are mistaking here. I think ARod opting out means he just wants to get out of NY. He knows he's going to get $20M from somebody and this isn't like he has to sacrifice at half of what he would get in NY to play elsewhere. ARod's going to get paid. I really think he just got tired of all the crap surrounding the Yankees and the media.

[LeftCoastCubFan]

Sign A-Rod, see if he can play RF or SS.

For 30 million a year, he better play both

[CubinNY]

There's no way, the payroll we have now is not going to get 25+ million bigger. With an ownership change, this isnt the year for us to land AROD.

Bad timing yes, but not out of the realm of possibility. A-Rod's contract would have to be seen as an asset. The question is how much of it can a club insure. If they can insure a good portion of his contract its more like buying a competitior than incurring debt. The problem is that the Cubs will likely sellout with or without A-Rod.

[BigbadB]

The value of the team goes up that much more having the best player on the planet inked to a long term deal.

 

As well as Wrigley sells out game after game, they could easily raise prices and get back every drop of the money being extended to A-Rod.

 

With that said, I think the Cubs would likely be A-Rod's #1 choice because of Lou, but he'll probably be offered more money by teams like Anaheim and Boston.

[CubinNY]

The value of the team goes up that much more having the best player on the planet inked to a long term deal.

 

As well as Wrigley sells out game after game, they could easily raise prices and get back every drop of the money being extended to A-Rod.

 

With that said, I think the Cubs would likely be A-Rod's #1 choice because of Lou, but he'll probably be offered more money by teams like Anaheim and Boston.

Boston is a real likelihood, IMO. They'd be like a video game team.

 

Who could pay for him?

 

Both LA teams

Boston

Cubs

Mets

Maybe the White Sox (K. Williams negotiating with Boras would be great)

 

Thats about it.

Edited October 29, 2007 by CubinNY

[Mizzou]

Rodriguez's agent Scott Boras said he sent word of the opt-out in writing Sunday and left phone and text messages for Yankees general manager Brian Cashman.

 

Text messages? I wonder if Scott Boras texts like a 14 year old. Something like, "yo bri...arod g2g"

AROD IS FREE AGENT, LOL, G2G KBYE

 

In all seriousness, this is huge. The best player in baseball is now a free agent. Hendry will have to comment on it at some point (hopefully soon), it will be interesting to see how he responds.

[CardsFanInChiTown]

I hope the Cubs break the bank for him.