In a startling turn of events, Alex Rodriguez spoke with the Steinbrenner family and New York Yankees officials Wednesday and told them he wants to stay in pinstripes.WTF?
The two sides are currently working toward a 10-year, $275 million contract, a source with knowledge of the talks told FOXSports.com's Ken Rosenthal. The deal also would include incentives that could push the total value higher. ...
Recently, however, the Yankees have been talking to [Mike] Lowell not just about replacing Rodriguez at third base, but also about playing first, major-league sources tell Rosenthal.
In case you are wondering, Lowell has played more than 10,000 innings in 1,262 games and has spent not even one minute at first base.
I have no idea what this is about. Isn't a lot of Lowell's value tied up in his glove at third? Can he learn a new position at age 34? And are the Chokers serious about playing him $14 per for three or four years to do so? Does Lowell even want to play first?
Bizarre. One thing is for sure: the "Hank and Hal" era is off to an entertaining start.
Other reports have the Yankees and Angels interested in Lowell, but neither team really wants to offer Lowell a four-year deal (this early in negotiations).
18 comments:
WTF ?...
I think it is a ploy to try and stick it to the Sox by not only taking away a good third baseman but to gain whatever advantage they can get from having him in their lineup.
Spending like drunken sailors was not a problem for George, nor will it be for Hank and Hal.
I only wish Miguel Cabrera is available cheap.
Channel 7 in Boston reports that the Braves, Angels, Cardinals, and Yankees have each offered Lowell 4 years, and between $55-60 million.
I think the Nov. 4 NYTimes article that A-Rod was angling to come back to the Yanks all along may have been right. I posted on Replacement Level for the first time about how Boras does not lose anything by accepting the villain role in this. If A-Rod is really angry with him, why doesn't he fire him?
It came up in one little article that A-Rod's not allowed to talk to the Yanks without Boras unless he fires him. If true, that's very sticky, because I doubt A-Rod has broken with Boras. Just a ploy.
RS says that Lowell wouldn't go to 1B. I don't see why he should, but then again, the Braves' making an offer to him supports that idea. They have a 3B, unless Chipper's going to first.
It doesn't make much sense to me that the Braves would want to pay big money for him, though.
I think that when it's all done, Boras/ARod will get more years and money than what was in the Yanks original extension (if you can believe any of the numbers). Both sides will claim victory and ARod will express his undieing affection for those loveable Yankee fans. Yanks will have highest paid catcher, closer, 3rd baseman etc, etc and Steinbrenner regime power transition proceeds seamlessly--nothing's changed.
Lowell at first base and watching his fly balls die in left field at Yankee Stadium makes no sense at all. I guess there are other 4-year offers out there so next move is Theo's. I smell a trade.
What was the reason that Lowell had such a bad year for the Marlins before the trade?
Could it be that Lowell will revert to an average player away from Fenway. His home/away numbers support this idea. I think it very likely that he will be a below average player if his home was Yankee Stadium, with it's huge left field.
I'll be sad if he leaves but I don't think we should offer 4 years at 55 million.
Wow, the Yankees have turned into a bigger circus than they already were... these last two days have been the most entertaining hot stove days I remember- well, maybe Daisuke's flight plan was better. It seems like Cashman is back to being overruled constantly over there. Overpaying for old guys in years and $'s, and not building a real pitching rotation (unless the whole threesome of Cunt, Franchise and IPK can pitch well the whole year). And the payroll is gonna reach unprecedented grounds, it seems.
It will be an interesting season, I'd say.
The Red Sox should probably look at upping their offer of money per year to match that of the other teams. And what's wrong with adding a team option for a fourth year? There's no mention of that. Maybe 3/41 or 42? Maybe have some mutual option that guarantees a fourth year if he reaches any sort of a milestone. If he stays above a certain batting average or something for that second or third year. If he stays above it, the contract would stipulate the fourth year becomes guaranteed.
They've had to have looked into that and discussed that. It's certainly something that I would suggest.
Oh well. We'll see how it goes. But luckily, there are some pretty decent contingency plans in place. Other years, that might not have been the case.
From the Heralds blog - By all indications, Sox pitchers Jon Lester and Clay Buchholz would not be part of any deal for a third baseman. Nor would prospect Justin Masterson or outfielder Jacoby Ellsbury.
When talking about Lowell replacements. Glad to here that!!! (well except for that Lester part).
From This Breitbart.com news story...
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) - Barry Bonds was indicted Thursday on perjury and obstruction of justice charges, the culmination of a four-year federal investigation into whether he lied under oath to a grand jury looking into steroid use by elite athletes.
San Francisco chose not to make an effort to re-sign the home run king, who with 762 homers has topped Hank Aaron's old mark of 755. The seven-time NL MVP hit .276 with 28 homers and 66 RBIs.
Geoffrey said...
I'll be sad if he leaves but I don't think we should offer 4 years at 55 million.
Why not? Is there a salary cap I don't know about...they have enough money.....
They gave Drew 5 years 70 million.and with every contract that comes every player will cite that ludacris amount in time and years.....And no one else was bidding on Drew
I wonder what hurts your free agent status more allegations of steroid use or perjury indictments?
Whats better than the fact that Alex Rodriguez signs the biggest contract in the history of baseball and It's not even the top story.....
Whats better than the fact that Alex Rodriguez signs the biggest contract in the history of baseball and It's not even the top story.....
This is true, but you look at the timing of his announcement. Kinda like the timing of his announcement to opt-out of his contract. I don't think this was coincidental. Not that it really matters in the long run. I love how A-Rod feels like he needs to be larger than the game itself, when really he's announcing to the world that he opted out of his contract with the Yankees only to rejoin them for more money.
I hope a likable player comes along soon and makes a good run at the home run record, without being that asshole superstar like Bonds and A-Rod are. I wonder if that's realistic anymore.
They gave Drew 5 years 70 million.and with every contract that comes every player will cite that ludacris amount in time and years.....And no one else was bidding on Drew
Player A: .280/.344/.468 ops+ of 110.
Player B: .284/.390/.500 ops+ of 128.
Oh yeah player b is one year younger. So, better numbers for B but he is over paid because he had his worst year ever while player A had the best year in his entire career. 3 years at 40-42 is what he is worth.
s1c said...
3 years at 40-42 is what he is worth.
You are worth what the hidgest bidder is willing to pay you...
and for you to tell people what you think he is worth , you must have vast knowledge of the red sox books and what % they pay for player contracts and how much money they actually bring in...
worth can not be valued only in dollars , people who have money constantly overpay for things the Red Sox have money, and if Drew is a year younger why not give Lowell the 4 years .....
Look if Theo believes he has a better option to play 3rd than so be it but to set values on players and stick by them so stubbornly is foolish...The yankees paid A-rod, Posada, and maybe Rivera the money they did is because they have tons of it ......
"They've had to have looked into that and discussed that. It's certainly something that I would suggest."
Unfortunately, due to the player's union, you can only do performance incentives based on certain things. ABs are one, BA is not, as far as I understand.
You are worth what the hidgest bidder is willing to pay you...
That is what you are worth to that team. If the rest of the league decides to jump off of the bridge should the Sox also?
Should Lowell get more than Papi?
How about Manny?
Theo and them have a budget. Out of that budget comes the salaries, and what you are worth is based on projections and what they believe they can handle over the next three years. I personally would be willing to see a three year deal at 45 because I think he brings more than just his bat and glove to the team.
If the Cardinals(who have Rolen) are willing to pay him 55-60 let them. If the Yankees want to pay him 60 million let them. When you over pay for someone it creates problems later.
Mike Lowell is a good player and from all accounts a better person, but don't forget he had a fragging career year. In almost every category last year was his best.
and for you to tell people what you think he is worth , you must have vast knowledge of the red sox books and what % they pay for player contracts and how much money they actually bring in...
You sir are unbelievable - I bumped up his worth from Theo's and their bid. I just take a look at what the team wants to spend (145-155 million) and then I subtract 20 million for MBM, 12 Mil for Papi, 14 mil for J.D. Drew, 10 mil for Tek and so forth (that is 56 million right there). If you want to make a target range you have to do the figures. Notice I didn't even touch the pitching.
The only reason why the Sox have some flexibility with Lowell is Ellsbury, Pedroia, Youkilis, Okajima, and Lester. If they weren't paying them below 6 mil in salaries, they would have less flexibility.
s1c said...
You sir are unbelievable - I bumped up his worth from Theo's and their bid. I just take a look at what the team wants to spend (145-155 million)
You are syaing they are only going to have a jump up in salary between 2 - 12 million , they jumped up 23 million last year alone....
sic said:The only reason why the Sox have some flexibility with Lowell is Ellsbury, Pedroia, Youkilis, Okajima, and Lester. If they weren't paying them below 6 mil in salaries, they would have less flexibility...
with that being said , where did the flexibilty come from when they signed Drew , Lugo, and Dice-K....
Lets not make it seem like they are trying to work within some sort of budget they posted 50 mill just to talk to Dice-K last year..
Post a Comment