Boras notifies Yankees of client's free-agent wishes
By Jon Heyman, SI.com
DENVER -- Alex Rodriguez notified the Yankees on Sunday that he's opting out of his record $252 million contract, SI.com has learned.
Rodriguez's decision means he will become a free agent and be able to negotiate with all clubs. Rodriguez's bombshell move will shake up the entire winter for the Yankees -- who had hoped to retain him with a big extension -- as well as other big-market clubs that will now pursue him.
Rodriguez's agent Scott Boras said he sent word of the opt-out in writing Sunday and left phone and text messages for Yankees general manager Brian Cashman. The Yankees have said that once A-Rod opts out, they wil not pursue him, since they will lose the benefit of the Texas Rangers' $30-million subsidy.
"Alex made the decision today,'' Boras said. "I thought we should notify the club.''
The Yankees were preparing an extension to his current contract for either five or six years, believed to be for close to $30 million annually. However, team officials said Boras has politely declined to meet with them in recent days, and they never presented the offer.
Rodriguez technically had until 10 days after the World Series ended to exercise his opt-out rights, which were provided in his $252 million Texas deal. However, Boras said Rodriguez felt there was no way he could make a decision to stay in that short a period of time since several situations remain unsettled, including those of Mariano Rivera, Jorge Posada and Andy Pettitte.
Posted by islesfan:
Bye
Probably ends up a Cub.
Who are the other FA out there?
Posted by TrueBlue:
Posted by islesfan:
Bye
Probably ends up a Cub.
Who are the other FA out there?
I doubt the Cubs because aren't they going through an ownership change? They almost didn't resign Zambrano. I'm thinking he goes to the Angels or Dodgers. Maybe even the Giants who need someone to replace Bonds. Actually my money is on the Giants.
The rest of the FA class sucks.
a-rods always been a coward. Never proved a thing and now he's running away again. I'm fuck'n glad! I'd can think of a number of players, particularily pichers (and man' do we need some) that would be more' than happy to play for the Yankees. The thing about this a-rod and giambi thing, which has been tremendously dissapointing is that Bernie Williams was disrespected and pushed right out of the everyday line-up to make room for those two losers. Bernie was cheated out of hitting his 300 homer as a Yankee. Another thing we didn't get. I hope a-rod gets what he deserves. As for becoming a scrub, that's possible, seeing that they are desperate to avoid not winning a w.s. for just about 100 years. No matter where he goes, watch now. When we meet him in regular play, he beats us to death! That would be just ironic. And I happen to think he's been juicing all this time. We just saved 30 million mind boggling dollars a year. Looks like boston is the team that 'money can buy' now. Yeah, so much for the Yankees buying w.s.
I hope he loses money and has to sign for 24 mil a year with some team that doesn't matter and Boras gets fired. That would be sweet.
Posted by 4949:
a-rods always been a coward. Never proved a thing and now he's running away again. I'm fuck'n glad! I'd can think of a number of players, particularily pichers (and man' do we need some) that would be more' than happy to play for the Yankees. The thing about this a-rod and giambi thing, which has been tremendously dissapointing is that Bernie Williams was disrespected and pushed right out of the everyday line-up to make room for those two losers. Bernie was cheated out of hitting his 300 homer as a Yankee. Another thing we didn't get. I hope a-rod gets what he deserves. As for becoming a scrub, that's possible, seeing that they are desperate to avoid not winning a w.s. for just about 100 years. No matter where he goes, watch now. When we meet him in regular play, he beats us to death! That would be just ironic. And I happen to think he's been juicing all this time. We just saved 30 million mind boggling dollars a year. Looks like boston is the team that 'money can buy' now. Yeah, so much for the Yankees buying w.s.
I can see Gay-Rod going to the Giants because those fruity Giants fans love players on roids. They worshipped Barroid so I can see Boras telling Jerk-Rod he'd be treated like royalty if he played there. Not saying Queer-Rod is on the juice, I'm saying Giants fans suck and don't boo their players because they don't want them to cry. You know, that whole liberal mentality out there where you can't hurt each other feelings. Perfect place for Prick-Rod.
i'm highly disappointed that he's opting out, but whatever, what's done is done... the Yankees have succeeded without him all this time, i don't see anything changing when he leaves.
personally i say he goes to the Angels or Giants... no way he goes to BOS where the pressure & scrutiny will be even worse than it is here... they won't be able to afford him anyways w/Manny still on their roster.
best FA 3B out there now is Mike Lowell... i wouldn't mind having him replace ARod & then going hard after Johan after next season when he becomes a FA, just in time for the new YS debut.
Posted by TMS:
i'm highly disappointed that he's opting out, but whatever, what's done is done... the Yankees have succeeded without him all this time, i don't see anything changing when he leaves.
personally i say he goes to the Angels or Giants... no way he goes to BOS where the pressure & scrutiny will be even worse than it is here... they won't be able to afford him anyways w/Manny still on their roster.
best FA 3B out there now is Mike Lowell... i wouldn't mind having him replace ARod & then going hard after Johan after next season when he becomes a FA, just in time for the new YS debut.
Exactly..
let alex go to the west coast, what a freaking loser/coward/weasel. i'm glad he's gone.
i'm not sure going after big name FA's is the thing to do here. go back to the roots, to the 96-00 dynasty and homegrow this thing right.
Posted by BigSm00th:
i'm glad he's gone.
Yea, the best player in the modern era and possibly the history of the game. I know you guys rip him for his playoff performances, but without him Yanks don't make the playoffs.
Yeah, well with him, we go nowhere in the playoffs. Not that that's 100% his fault, but the great players find any way to have great moments in big games, and he has yet to find them. He helps us get to the playoffs, and decides to sit down and take a break. It's a nice benefit to have him, but we certainly don't need him.
Posted by jaydh:
Posted by BigSm00th:
i'm glad he's gone.
Yea, the best player in the modern era and possibly the history of the game. I know you guys rip him for his playoff performances, but without him Yanks don't make the playoffs.
no doubt, but the guy proved himself to be a fraud w/this move... Just heard what Boras had to say about ARod opting out... all this time he'd said that he wanted to stay a Yankee, but he opts out anyway knowing the Yankees wouldn't sign him if he did.
Bad time to be a Yankee fan... Red Sux sweep the series & ARod opts out. What else can go wrong for us this offseason? I guess it could be worse. They could hire Grady Little to be our next manager.
Man, I'm sorta glad I'm not in NY right now to hear the sports radio talk shows. They must be blasting ARod like crazy. Fug him, I'm tossing his jersey. Bastard. I rooted hard for his butt ever since we traded for him, but the guy proved he's as fake as all the critics said he was. I hope he chokes on all the money the next team pays him. He can have his $30 mil a year contract & his $20 blonde ho's. We can win championships without him. (You damn right I'm bitter!)
TO HELL WITH YOU PAY-ROD!
The guy chooses to not hear the Yanks offer?
Announces it on a day the World series is played when he had 10 days to do so AFTER it?
Yanks wait until after the series to announce their manager.
Arod says he does not know the status of yank FA's yet one thing you know is they will compete year in and year out!
The guy is a selfish prick and I am really suprised he is this shallow. I figured he matured a bit.
We have learned we can't get to the Series WITH HIM so while he maybe the best regular season player (MVP) I think we continue on the youth movement and be patient.
Regarding Riveria and Posota I love those guys but maybe its time to move on. I do hope they come back and nothing they have done will ever be taken away from Yankee fans if they move on.
I agree. To hell with ARod. The guy came up so small in postseason. He knows damn well that opting out means that he costs the Yankees an extra $30 million to resign. Furthermore, if he wanted to stay a Yankee, it shouldn't be about the money anyway. He's rich either way.
So, A-Rod, go to hell. We can use the saved $30 million to replace him with a cheaper option at third and improve our pitching staff.
Posted by Nalod:
The guy chooses to not hear the Yanks offer?
Announces it on a day the World series is played when he had 10 days to do so AFTER it?
Yanks wait until after the series to announce their manager.
Arod says he does not know the status of yank FA's yet one thing you know is they will compete year in and year out!
The guy is a selfish prick and I am really suprised he is this shallow. I figured he matured a bit.
We have learned we can't get to the Series WITH HIM so while he maybe the best regular season player (MVP) I think we continue on the youth movement and be patient.
Regarding Riveria and Posota I love those guys but maybe its time to move on. I do hope they come back and nothing they have done will ever be taken away from Yankee fans if they move on.
not only that...but he was supposed to receive the hank aaron award last night before game 4 in front of the crowd but no-showed. prince fielder accepted the NL award there but arod was nowhere to be seen.
i really hope the yanks let him go.
i think this is good.
the yanks are in major transition both upstairs and on the field. with the new steinbrenner's in charge, this could be a bad thing but i'm excited to usher in the next era, regardless of the outcome.
Funny he has such an amazing season right before his option to get a new contract! Boy how lucky of him.
Someday he'll be playing golf with Danny Tartabull and Erick Dampier and having himself a laugh. Good riddance.
Ass-rod comes always comes through in the clutch.
Lets not forget we are new yorkers man. Who gives a damn about a-rod. Mister may. Nyc don't need him. Yanks were great without him and never needed one player to carry nothing.
Same goes for posada and mariano. Posada had the nerve to get mad at mid season then shoots blanks in the playoffs. Mariano wants roger money but wanted to say it in the media like a bitch so he can go too.
Gotta keep it gully around here......joba is a terrific reliever. Yanks can pick up paul la duca from the mets to replace posada.......nyc needs to clean house of all bitches.
the 96-00 teams never had a guy like a-rod on the team. i understand the hole in the lineup and all the #'s and what not but who cares, don't let the door hit you on the way out.
fact of the matter is you don't win world series rings w/ classless cowards like arod on the team. nobody likes him, he hurts chemistry, and he simply will not win a ring. if thats the goal, its good that hes gone.
