The Yankees were out of the Alex Rodriguez negotiations before they even began. According to a report
on ESPN.com, confirmed by the Post tonight through industry sources, the Yankees were given an
ultimatum and were notified through Scott Boras they could not even meet with their MVP third baseman
unless they presented an offer of $350 million.
The Yankees made a substantial offer before Rodriguez opted out, but still came up short by more than
$100 million.
Essentially the Yankees were done with any negotiations once A-Rod opted out.
Hank Steinbrenner and Brian Cashman declined to comment if there was a $350 million ultimatum. The
Yankees repeatedly made it clear that an opt-out would end negotiations.
“We called Alex and never got a return call,” Steinbrenner said. “The (contract) number was really
insignificant.”
“We asked to have a personal sit-down” with Rodriguez and agent Boras, Cashman said.
That sit-down never happened.
“We’ve moved on,” Hank Steinbrenner said.
The Yankees’ feeling all along was once Rodriguez opted out it was not like a normal free-agent
situation. A-Rod 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 World Series, Rodriguez, through his agent Boras, opted out of the deal, setting
the wheels in motion for the Yankees to look for a third baseman other than the superstar who hit 54
home runs this season, scored 143 runs and drove in 156 runs.
The Yankees’ offer was an extension for five years and about $150 million, according to the report,
which, added to the final three years of the current contract, about $81 million, would have been
worth about $230 million. So the Yankees were well below the market value Boras and Rodriguez had set.
The Yankees picked 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, Steinbrenner said, “I’d say it looks good.”
Once Rodriguez opted out of his deal, the Yankees lost $21 million Texas still owed Rodriguez over the
last three years of the contract. Boras told the Post last night A-Rod is such a unique talent and
star that his worth is much more to a team than what he produces on the field. He said that Rodriguez
pays for himself with increased revenue, particularly in the area of team’s television networks.
The Mets are having internal conversations about Rodriguez’s worth and what kind of boost he would
mean to their SNY network. An infield of Rodriguez at third, Jose Reyes at short and David Wright
sliding over to second is intriguing, but the Mets also know they need pitching help and may spend
their money there.
The Angels are interested in Rodriguez, and there is a belief the Red Sox are also interested. One
fascinating scenario would have them re-signing Mike Lowell and bringing in A-Rod to play shortstop.
One thing is certain, wherever Rodriguez goes he will be a show unto himself, no matter what network
is airing his games as he puts up monster numbers and searches for his first World Series title.