A late night at work saw me driving for home at around eleven with 660 AM WFAN and the callers bringing out the Long knives for the Yankees. Who was to blame? Torre? A-Rod? Wang? Even Posada was a target. Apparently one person is not likely waiting around to find out:
A clubhouse attendant packed the belongings from Alex Rodriguez’s locker into cardboard boxes yesterday, in what may have been a sign that Rodriguez did not plan to visit Yankee Stadium anytime soon. He may never return as a member of the Yankees because he seems sure to exercise the opt-out clause in his contract. While the agent Scott Boras did not specifically say that Rodriguez would opt out with three years left on his 10-year, $252 million contract, he suggested that becoming a free agent again would be his client’s savviest choice.
“When the arbitrator gave free agency to baseball, is there anyone in baseball who the free-agent right meant more to than Alex Rodriguez?” Boras said yesterday. “Not with his last contract, but right now, now more than any point in history.”
You would think free agency value would coincide with actual on the game day value. Is that A-Rod? Sure he is great and has tthe stats but…umm…I’d prefer someone who plays well in the playoffs? I can think of four Red Sox right now who are more valuable than A-Rob and I don’t think I even need to mention them. Who else puts up lower numbers but is of more actual value? Byrd, Cleveland’s fourth pitcher the other night, the man who beat the Yanks, comes to mind with his literally throw-back style of pitching.
Anyway, A-Rod, good luck in your likely destination of Chicargo, as we called it as kids, making kissy-eyes with Lou. Likely you will disappoint there as well.