Add dancing to Alex Rodriguez‘s impressive collection of skills.
On a conference call yesterday to announce Rodriguez winning the AL MVP award the past and future Yankees third baseman waltzed around questions pertaining to his opting out of a contract, meeting the Steinbrenners and what role Warren Buffett played in Rodriguez returning to The Bronx.
The Yankees, agent Scott Boras and MLB are putting the finishing touches on a 10-year deal worth $275 million that could swell to over $300 million due to a revenue-sharing package designed to give Rodriguez some of the financial bonanza that the Yankees will receive as he approaches Barry Bonds’ all-time home run mark.
“The finish line is in sight,” Rodriguez said of the contract being finalized.
Rodriguez won his third AL MVP and second in three seasons on the overwhelming strength of a year in which he batted .314 and led the majors with 54 homers and 156 RBIs. Of course, just like his MVP season of 2005, the Yankees were ousted in the first round of the playoffs. It was the third consecutive season they didn’t make the ALCS.
Rodriguez collected 26 of the 28 first-place ballots. Two writers from Detroit had Magglio Ordonez first, keeping Rodriguez from being a unanimous choice.
Rodriguez called 2007 a “magical season on and off the field.” In addition to the mind-numbing numbers, Rodriguez believed his teammates for the first time fully accepted him. And after three years of “banging my head against the wall,” Rodriguez found peace in New York.
As for the role Buffett played in getting Rodriguez to meet with the Steinbrenners, Rodriguez said, “Warren and I have a wonderful relationship.”
Rodriguez said he shared messages with the departed Joe Torre and was going to return a call from Joe Girardi following the conference call.
As for the only void on his Hall of Fame resume – no World Series championship – Rodriguez said he would trade the three MVPs for a ring.
“This is my third MVP and I would trade all three for one world championship,” Rodriguez said. “I wouldn’t think twice about it. The only reason why we play this game, the only reason why I came to New York and the reason why I have unfinished business in New York is because we haven’t won a world championship with me being there.
“I don’t think anything that has happened to me in New York is empty. It’s something that I have grown from and something that I can build from.
“From the downs of ’06 to the ups of ’07, both are important to the process. Anything that will happen in New York will make me a better person.”