The Yankees were out of the Alex Rodriguez negotiations before they even began.
According to a report on ESPN.com, confirmed by The Post last night through industry sources, before A-Rod opted out the Yankees were notified through agent Scott Boras they could not even meet with their MVP third baseman unless they presented an offer of $350 million as a starting point.
The Yankees made a substantial offer before Rodriguez opted out, but still came up short by more than $100 million to meet his price. The Yankees were done with any negotiations once Rodriguez opted out.
Hank Steinbrenner and Brian Cashman declined to comment if there was, in essence, a $350 million ultimatum – but sources said that’s exactly what the Boras demand amounted to.
The Yankees repeatedly made it clear an opt-out would end negotiations, and that is what happened.
“We called Alex and never got a return call,” Hank Steinbrenner said. “The [contract] number was really insignificant.”
The Yankees just wanted to talk.
Said Cashman, “We asked to have a personal sit-down” with Rodriguez and Boras. That sit-down never happened.
“We’ve moved on,” Hank Steinbrenner said.
The Yankees’ feeling all along was that once Rodriguez opted out it was not like a normal free-agent situation. Rodriguez was making the decision to leave the pinstripes and his Yankees contract, a deal the Yankees inherited from the Rangers after they made the trade for Rodriguez.
During Game 4 of the Red Sox-Rockies World Series, Rodriguez, through Boras, opted out of the deal, setting the wheels in motion for the Yankees to look elsewhere for a third baseman and not sign the superstar who hit 54 home runs, scored 143 runs and drove in 156 runs this season.
The Yankees’ offer was an extension for five years and about $150 million, according to the report, which, added to the 2008-10 contract (about $81 million) would have been worth $231 million. So the Yankees were well below the market value Boras and Rodriguez had established so early in the game.
The Yankees did pick up Bobby Abreu’s option for $16 million yesterday and continue to negotiate with their two key free agents, Mariano Rivera and Jorge Posada. As for the prospects of signing their All-Star closer and All-Star catcher, Hank Steinbrenner said, “I’d say it looks good.”
Once Rodriguez opted out of his deal the Yankees lost $21 million Texas was to pay Rodriguez over the last three years of the contract. Boras told The Post last night Rodriguez is such a unique talent and star that his worth is much more to a team than just what he produces on the field. He said that Rodriguez will pay for himself adding revenue in many areas, particularly in the team’s television network.
The Mets are having internal conversations about Rodriguez’s worth and what kind of boost he would mean to SNY. An infield of Rodriguez at third, Jose Reyes at short and David Wright sliding over to second is intriguing and could dominate the weak NL for years, but the Mets also know they need pitching and may put their money into improvement on the mound.
Several other clubs, including the Angels and Dodgers, are interested in Rodriguez, and there is a belief that the Red Sox could get involved, if the price drops a bit. One fascinating scenario would have the World Series champs re-signing Mike Lowell and bringing Rodriguez in to play shortstop to boost their already powerful lineup and Red Sox brand through NESN.
Wherever Rodriguez goes, he will be a show unto himself as he puts up monster numbers and searches for that elusive first World Series title.