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$30 Million?!?!?!

Frayed Knot Jul 15 2007 07:48 PM

That's the figure being tossed around by the media as the magic number that Mr. A. Rod is going to get (at a minimum!!) by opting out of his current deal at the end of the year. Shirley I can't be the only one to think this is nuts? Now keep in mind that I'm not one of those who objects to what these guys make based on just sheer awe-power. Generally I don't care and think they should make all they can. I'm just stunned that this is being treated as if it's practically a done deal if not a low estimate. I mean, let's look at this for a second. - The 25 year old FA Alex Rodriguez gets $25mil/yr over 10 years at a time when other top FAs (Manny, Sosa, Giambi, Thome) were topping out in the $17-$20 range. - Then, in the years after that, the market actually came down a bit to the point where Bonds, Vlad and others were making more in the mid-teens - and then, even after things started to rise again, no one has yet made it back to the $20mil mark unless you want to include the rate at which Clemens is getting paid even though his total money also falls short. In other words, in the 7 years since that contract was signed, not one player has come within 80% of it on a per/year basis. Meanwhile, the team who signed him to it wanted out before it was 1/3 of the way through and was willing to pay to get rid of it because it was such a burden on the rest of the payroll. - plus the team that picked him up only did so because they were getting him at about 60 cents on the dollar ... and they only got him because the first team that tried to pick him up (Boston) needed a bigger discount than that and couldn't get the MLBPA to agree to it - and now, of course, the team that has him wants to break with their "no in-season negotiations" pledge because it's their only way to keep the discount that they're getting. So in the midst of all this we're supposed to think that there are suitors everywhere lining up to willingly pay more than the amount three teams ran from (and the other 27 wouldn't touch) even though top salaries really haven't moved in that time and the FA in question is now 32 rather than 25? I mean I know he's the best player in the game now (or at least in the class photo if you don't want to go to "Best") but the floor on negotiations is going to start at a level 50% above what the next best group is getting? Man I just can't see it.

Edgy DC Jul 15 2007 07:56 PM

Where's the number coming from?

cleonjones11 Jul 15 2007 07:58 PM

I'd trade Beltran for a CF playing Arod yesterday They can have Valentin and ben Johnson too

metirish Jul 15 2007 08:06 PM

Edgy DC wrote: Where's the number coming from? From the media,watched the "Sports Reporters" this morning and heard it again,read papers last week and that was the number,Boras must love it.

Edgy DC Jul 15 2007 08:11 PM

I just want to know if the number is coming out of Boras mouth or the Yankees. cleonjones11 wrote: I'd trade Beltran for a CF playing Arod yesterday They can have Valentin and ben Johnson too Which has nothing to do with the topic.

Frayed Knot Jul 15 2007 08:15 PM

Edgy DC wrote: Where's the number coming from? Initially the number is probably from Boras - floating it out there as his minimum target. The Yanx aren't going to publicly discuss a number and neither is any other team. But then it (or more) is being run with by just about everyone who talks about the subject - and it's being talked about a lot up here these days - as if they're powerless to even contemplate that it might not happen. It's going to be interesting however it winds up.

Rockin' Doc Jul 15 2007 08:23 PM

I too have seen the $30 million per season figure bantered around by the media of late. Personally, I don't see it. Rodriguez may be the best player in the game today, but I just don't believe a team can build a successful contending team when one player commands so much money. Such a high salary is a strain on a team's salary structure and makes it far more difficult for them to assemble the teammates needed to surround the star with a solid contender. For that reason, I believe that Rodriguez and Boras will find MLB owners far less inclined than the media to think that such an investment is prudent.

Edgy DC Jul 15 2007 08:34 PM

If nothing else, I think a year of 36-year-old A-Rod at $30 mill in 2011 is a far wiser investment than a year of 44-year-old Roger Clemens at $20 mill in 2007. If the Yankees made the latter move, I can't put the former move beyond them. One thing that's changed since the original deal, however is that teams are finding it far harder to get insurance on their megadeals.

Gwreck Jul 15 2007 09:43 PM

One would have to figure that $30 million figure includes not only the production but also the promise of the extra promotion associated with the eventual A-Rod-breaking-the-HR-record nonsense.

Rockin' Doc Jul 15 2007 09:44 PM

Should A-Rod elect to opt out of the last 3 years of his contract, I suspect he would most likely end up back with the Yankees. If there is a team capable of and willing to put up $30 Million/year for 3-4 years for A-Rod I suspect it is indeed the Yankees. To retain Rodriguez in such a scenario, would cost Steinbrenner far more money than any increase in salary he might agree to, because Hicks and the Rangers would be off the hook for their share of the remaining contract A-Rod elected to give up.

Johnny Dickshot Jul 15 2007 09:48 PM

Tents. You have to consider the tents.

Nymr83 Jul 15 2007 10:24 PM

Rockin' Doc wrote: Should A-Rod elect to opt out of the last 3 years of his contract, I suspect he would most likely end up back with the Yankees. If there is a team capable of and willing to put up $30 Million/year for 3-4 years for A-Rod I suspect it is indeed the Yankees. To retain Rodriguez in such a scenario, would cost Steinbrenner far more money than any increase in salary he might agree to, because Hicks and the Rangers would be off the hook for their share of the remaining contract A-Rod elected to give up. thats why i dont think he'll be a yankee next year unless they work something out before he opts out. once he opts out the yankees are going to feel pretty stupid giving him what might amount to a 10 million per year raise (taking into account what Texas is no longer paying) while also adding a year or 2.