A-rod will opt out says SI

[BigbadB]

And won't Encarnacion's contract be covered by insurance? From what I've heard, his career may be over. Granted, I haven't really kept up on his rehabilitation, but his contract seems like a nonfactor.

[Guest]

I will make a bold prediction here:

 

 

 

 

 

 

This will be the longest thread of the offseason.

[frostwyrm]

 

I don't understand why the Giants would garner any attention at all in the A-Rod sweepstakes. That team needs to rebuild more than any team in baseball. Outside of Zito, Cain and Lincecum, they have very little to build around. They are fresh off a last place finish that most certainly was not a fluke. They are a very bad and old team right now.

 

You could have said the same about the Cubs last year. Some organizations are just very reluctant to have a rebuilding year. I can't say I've ever seen the Cubs have one.

[UMFan83]

My odds:

 

Giants - How is this not the most obvious destination? It has everything he wants/needs. West coast (will be less stressful than NY), big market, money available (with Bonds' departure), team in need of superstar to replace Bonds, and they even have the makings of a very good team with Lincecum, Cain, Zito, Lowry. Plus they are in the NL, which the Cubs and DBacks have proved you don't need much to compete. 30%

 

I don't think the Giants can be considered because they don't have a shot at winning the ring that he obviously wants.

 

Angels - Also with money to spend, also a big market, also in need of a big bat (they tried to throw a ton at ARam last year), also West Coast. LA loves its big names, and I bet the Angels throw a crapload at him to ensure a World Series. 25%

 

Cubs - On the surface this looks like a good match. Big market, huge baseball following, big payroll, and Lou Piniella and his great relationship with ARod. But when you look at the fact that the Cubs free spending frenzy was last year, and the fact that the team is being sold, it makes it really hard that the Cubs will win a fierce bidding war and commit $200 million to ARod. Also, after being the scapegoat for years in NY, is he going to want to come to Chicago to be the figurehead for a franchise that is even more starving for a winner? 15%

 

Red Sox - Gosh I hope he doesn't come here. I don't think he will. The Red Sox don't need to one-up the Yankees anymore. The Red Sox are now the alpha dog in the rivalry, and they know it. I think they will resign Lowell for 2-3 years and not even enter the ARod sweepstakes, unless they want to drive up the price if the Yankees balk on their stance to not go after ARod anymore. They have a balloning payroll already and have young players like Ellsbury and Bucholtz that they will look at to improve the team, not ARod. 10%

 

Yankees - Yes, I believe that their claim to not negotiate with ARod was just a ploy to keep him from opting out. The Yankees need ARod, and cannot afford to lose him. ARod knows that the Yankees have the most assets available to sign him, but will they? My guess is they will offer ARod something (probably not much more than the extension that he turned down) and if the market goes higher, they will look other places. 10%

 

The Yankees just threw away $21 million they could have used in the negotiations. Yankees are out of the running for ARod.

 

Field - Some other teams that would stand a chance of getting ARod: Orioles, Braves, Tigers, Reds, Dodgers, Phillies, Cardinals, Nationals. Some or all of these teams will be involved, but I doubt that any of them stand a reasonable chance. 10%

[/i][/b]

 

As I said, I think they do. They have a great young rotation that will dominate the league for years most likely. All they need is offense, something that ARod will help a lot with. It is much cheaper to build an offense through FA than pitching. They get ARod and a couple of complementary pieces and they are solid. I think the Giants would have absolutely no problem convincing ARod of that fact

[Outshined_One]

I will make a bold prediction here:

 

 

 

 

 

 

This will be the longest, most agonizing, and most ulcer-inducing thread of the offseason.

 

Fixed that for you.

[MPC]

i think the white sox are the dark horse team that could land arod.

[USSoccer]

I can very easily see Jim Hendy being quoted sometime in the next 2 weeks as saying something like "We're happy with Ryan Theriot at SS."

[UMFan83]

My odds:

 

Giants - How is this not the most obvious destination? It has everything he wants/needs. West coast (will be less stressful than NY), big market, money available (with Bonds' departure), team in need of superstar to replace Bonds, and they even have the makings of a very good team with Lincecum, Cain, Zito, Lowry. Plus they are in the NL, which the Cubs and DBacks have proved you don't need much to compete. 30%

 

Angels - Also with money to spend, also a big market, also in need of a big bat (they tried to throw a ton at ARam last year), also West Coast. LA loves its big names, and I bet the Angels throw a crapload at him to ensure a World Series. 25%

 

Cubs - On the surface this looks like a good match. Big market, huge baseball following, big payroll, and Lou Piniella and his great relationship with ARod. But when you look at the fact that the Cubs free spending frenzy was last year, and the fact that the team is being sold, it makes it really hard that the Cubs will win a fierce bidding war and commit $200 million to ARod. Also, after being the scapegoat for years in NY, is he going to want to come to Chicago to be the figurehead for a franchise that is even more starving for a winner? 15%

 

Red Sox - Gosh I hope he doesn't come here. I don't think he will. The Red Sox don't need to one-up the Yankees anymore. The Red Sox are now the alpha dog in the rivalry, and they know it. I think they will resign Lowell for 2-3 years and not even enter the ARod sweepstakes, unless they want to drive up the price if the Yankees balk on their stance to not go after ARod anymore. They have a balloning payroll already and have young players like Ellsbury and Bucholtz that they will look at to improve the team, not ARod. 10%

 

Yankees - Yes, I believe that their claim to not negotiate with ARod was just a ploy to keep him from opting out. The Yankees need ARod, and cannot afford to lose him. ARod knows that the Yankees have the most assets available to sign him, but will they? My guess is they will offer ARod something (probably not much more than the extension that he turned down) and if the market goes higher, they will look other places. 10%

 

Field - Some other teams that would stand a chance of getting ARod: Orioles, Braves, Tigers, Reds, Dodgers, Phillies, Cardinals, Nationals. Some or all of these teams will be involved, but I doubt that any of them stand a reasonable chance. 10%

 

I don't understand why the Giants would garner any attention at all in the A-Rod sweepstakes. That team needs to rebuild more than any team in baseball. Outside of Zito, Cain and Lincecum, they have very little to build around. They are fresh off a last place finish that most certainly was not a fluke. They are a very bad and old team right now.

 

Because they are replacing Bonds with a younger version of himself. They are getting $20m off their books this offseason and losing an icon that filled the ballpark night in and out for 15 years.

 

The Giants finished in last, and yes it was no fluke, but they allowed the third least runs in the league behind the Cubs and Padres. The problem was offense, and they in fact scored the second least in the NL behind the Nationals. They have the pitching needed to field a competitive team. Most people would tell you that's the hard part. I think hitting can be built via FA, especially if the game's best player is available.

 

Replacing Bonds with ARod would give you comparable power, much much better defense, much better durability, while taking a bit of a hit in OBP.

 

I am not saying that this is the ideal solution for the Giants, but I think it makes sense that the Giants to go hard after him.

[abuck1220]

I can very easily see Jim Hendy being quoted sometime in the next 2 weeks as saying something like "We're happy with Ryan Theriot at SS."

 

exactly. and he'll know it's a safe move because people love that little guy.

[BigbadB]

 

I don't understand why the Giants would garner any attention at all in the A-Rod sweepstakes. That team needs to rebuild more than any team in baseball. Outside of Zito, Cain and Lincecum, they have very little to build around. They are fresh off a last place finish that most certainly was not a fluke. They are a very bad and old team right now.

 

You could have said the same about the Cubs last year. Some organizations are just very reluctant to have a rebuilding year. I can't say I've ever seen the Cubs have one.

 

The Cubs at least had talented players who are not all in the back half of their 30's.

 

Omar Vizquel will be 41 and is coming off his worst season ever at the plate. Rich Aurilia will be 36 and Ryan Klesko will be 37 in April. Ray Durham is 36. Dave Roberts will be 36.

 

Excluding Barry Bonds since he won't be a Giant in 2008, Randy Winn is the only player who had an OPS+ above 100 last year (105).

[Banedon]

I can very easily see Jim Hendy being quoted sometime in the next 2 weeks as saying something like "We're happy with Ryan Theriot at SS."

 

You make me sad.

[David]

i think the white sox are the dark horse team that could land arod.

 

Isn't Kenny Williams the guy who completely refuses to negotiate with Boras?

[JWCUB]

I am hoping this is about his comfort level and not about money. IMO if it was about money, he would still be a Yankee. I know Boras is still his agent, but remember, the agent works for the client, not the other way around. Whatever Arod wants, he will get. I think Arod is tired of being the scapegoat, the bad guy who makes all the money, all the negativity that comes with the HUGE contract. Dont get me wrong, he will make a lot of money, but my hope is that he will want to reunite with Sweet Lou in Chi-Town and break the curse.

[BigbadB]

i think the white sox are the dark horse team that could land arod.

 

Isn't Kenny Williams the guy who completely refuses to negotiate with Boras?

 

Yep.

[moorecg]

St. Louis is intriguing. After the 2008 season, they can clear ~$28M in payroll by saying goodbye to Edmonds, Looper, Encarnacion, Mulder and Isringhausen (and factoring in the salary bumps to Carpenter, Piniero and Kennedy). They could afford ARod starting in 2009.

 

But can they afford him in 2008? Only if they move 2 or 3 those 2008 free agents this offseason, or traded Scott Rolen.

 

 

Hoops

 

This is a move they could pull off and they do need a SS.

 

My 3 teams for ARod are St. Louis, Mets and Angels.

 

A-Rod here in St.Louis would make me sick.

 

Just he and Pujols in the same line up would be enough to win this division for several years to come.

[CuseCubFan69]

St. Louis is intriguing. After the 2008 season, they can clear ~$28M in payroll by saying goodbye to Edmonds, Looper, Encarnacion, Mulder and Isringhausen (and factoring in the salary bumps to Carpenter, Piniero and Kennedy). They could afford ARod starting in 2009.

 

But can they afford him in 2008? Only if they move 2 or 3 those 2008 free agents this offseason, or traded Scott Rolen.

 

 

Hoops

 

This is a move they could pull off and they do need a SS.

 

My 3 teams for ARod are St. Louis, Mets and Angels.

 

A-Rod here in St.Louis would make me sick.

 

Just he and Pujols in the same line up would be enough to win this division for several years to come.

 

I'm sure he's be close to public enemy #1 if he did go to the Cards. Imagine if the Reds wanted to make a big splash and signed him?

[moorecg]

St. Louis is intriguing. After the 2008 season, they can clear ~$28M in payroll by saying goodbye to Edmonds, Looper, Encarnacion, Mulder and Isringhausen (and factoring in the salary bumps to Carpenter, Piniero and Kennedy). They could afford ARod starting in 2009.

 

But can they afford him in 2008? Only if they move 2 or 3 those 2008 free agents this offseason, or traded Scott Rolen.

 

 

Hoops

 

This is a move they could pull off and they do need a SS.

 

My 3 teams for ARod are St. Louis, Mets and Angels.

 

A-Rod here in St.Louis would make me sick.

 

Just he and Pujols in the same line up would be enough to win this division for several years to come.

 

I'm sure he's be close to public enemy #1 if he did go to the Cards. Imagine if the Reds wanted to make a big splash and signed him?

 

In that park, with that line up, he could average 60hrs for the first 5 years of the contract.

[Derwood]

and....Colin Cowherd and Peter Gammons were just on ESPN Radio saying how A-Rod is not a winner like Dustin Pedroia. shoot me now

[anabiono]

and....Colin Cowherd and Peter Gammons were just on ESPN Radio saying how A-Rod is not a winner like Dustin Pedroia. shoot me now

 

lol?

 

seriously?

 

gammons said that?

 

idiot

[CuseCubFan69]

and....Colin Cowherd and Peter Gammons were just on ESPN Radio saying how A-Rod is not a winner like Dustin Pedroia. shoot me now

 

Cowherd made me change the dial and now I listen to Dan Patrick on Fox. Thanks Colin.

[Mephistopheles]

Peters gotten dumber since his brain aneurysm.

[treebird]

Peters gotten dumber since his brain aneurysm.

 

hahahahahha

[Mephistopheles]

its not a joke. he has. its sad, he used to be a decent read. now he's unreadable.

[Derwood]

its not a joke. he has. its sad, he used to be a decent read. now he's unreadable.

 

it took everything he had not to call Boras and A-Rod douchebags on the air this morning. he was livid. unbelievable amount of homerism from the guy who is supposed to be the main baseball guy at a national sports outlet

[Mephistopheles]

honestly the only espn writer whose opinion i value is tim kurjikan. neyer is basically ops ops ops ops ops ops ops ops ops ops ops ops ops ops ops ops ops ops ops ops ops ops ops ops ops ops ops ops ops ops ops ops ops ops ops ops ops ops ops ops ops ops ops ops ops ops ops ops ops ops ops ops ops ops ops ops ops ops ops ops ops ops ops ops ops ops ops ops ops ops ops ops ops ops ops ops ops ops ops ops ops ops ops ops ops ops ops ops ops ops ops ops ops ops ops ops ops ops ops ops ops ops ops ops ops ops ops ops ops ops ops ops ops ops ops ops ops ops ops ops ops ops ops ops ops ops ops ops ops ops ops ops ops ops ops ops ops ops ops ops ops ops ops ops ops ops ops ops ops ops ops ops ops ops ops ops ops ops ops ops ops ops ops ops ops ops ops ops ops ops ops ops ops ops ops ops ops ops.