Do The Yankees Want A-Rod in 2008?
Alex Rodriguez Won't Negotiate. Should New York Really Care?
A-Rod can opt out of his contract after the 2007 season. By telling the Yankees that he won't discuss an extension during this season, is he saying goodbye to New York?
When the New York Yankees traded for Alex Rodriguez in February of 2004, many believed they had the player that could return New York to the glory days of 1996 through 2001, when the Yankees won five pennants and four World Series titles. But since they signed the superstar slugger, nothing has gone according to plan.
2004 Season Disappointment
Despite acquiring the game's best all-around player, the Yankees have not returned to the promised land in A-Rod's three seasons. In 2004, he put up statistics well below his regular season averages. He hit .286 with 36 home runs and 106 RBI. Good numbers for a normal human, but at $25 million, the Yankees were probably expecting 50 homers and 130 RBI. But it was his first season, and much was forgiven.
But then the Yankees lost to the Boston Red Sox in humiliating but historic fashion in the 2004 American League Championship Series. After taking a 3 games to none lead, the Sox stormed back and won the Series 4 games to 3. A-Rod hit a mediocre .258 in the series, and went just 2 for 13 in the four straight losses.
That's right, in A-Rod's first season, the Boston Red Sox broke the Curse of the Babe as they got past the Yankees and then won the World Series by sweeping the Cardinals.
2005 Regular Season Most Valuable Player and Post Season Least Valuable Goat
A-Rod rebounded in 2005, hitting .321 with 48 home runs and 130 RBI. He won the American League MVP award, and it looked like A-Rod would finally break through in the post-season to win his first World Series. Again, it didn't happen. Instead of moving forward, the team took a step backwards, losing to the Los Angeles Angels in in American League Divisions Series. During the five game ALDS, Alex Rodriguez hit just .133 with 0 home runs and 0 RBI.
The Nadir: the Miserable 2006 Campaign
In 2006, things turned ugly. Although he had played a solid third base the two previous years, when the month of June rolled around, A-Rod suddenly looked like he had forgotten how to field. He committed 10 errors that month, which led to his American League high of 24 gaffes among third basemen. His repeated flubs sparked the ire of Yankees fans, who mercilessly booed him both on the field and when he came to the plate. It was an ugly scene for one of the game's true greats. Although he did finish with a .290 Batting Average, 35 HR and 121 RBI, many believed that Alex Rodriguez had just suffered through his worst season as a player and as a man.
The postseason was even worse. The Yankees fell to the Detroit Tigers in the ALDS, three games to one. Alex Rodriguez had just one single in 14 at-bats. No RBI. No runs scored. As the Yankee team walked off the field at Comerica Park in Detroit after their Game 4 loss, one couldn't help but notice that since he had arrived in the Bronx, A-Rod and his team were going backwards. The year before he arrived, they were two games from winning their fifth World Series in 8 years. Now they couldn't get out of the first round of the playoffs.
2007 Begins to Change Everything for Alex Rodriguez
When the 2007 season rolled around, speculation was rampant as to how A-Rod would bounce back from the trials and tribulation of the prior year. There were questions about his physical, mental and emotional abilities to handle the New York pressure. Most surmised that until he left the Bronx, A-Rod would never regain his true form.
But when he had one of the greatest Aprils in baseball history, the cheers returned. The love was back. Even when he slumped briefly through May, and even when he got involved in a public infidelity scandal, the fans still had his back. Those fans were rewarded when Alex started smacking the ball in June like he was Sammy Sosa in 1998. As the All-Star break arrived, he led the league in home runs (30), RBI (87), runs scored (79), and slugging percentage. Clearly, A-Rod was back and better than ever. He was even fielding much better, getting recognition as a Gold-Glove caliber player at the hot corner.
But as well as A-Rod has played, the Yankees have not played well as a team. At this point, 89 games into the season, the Yankees have a 45-44 record. They are 9.0 games behind Boston for the Eastern Division, and about 7.5 games behind the wild card leader. In other words, unless they go on a tear, right now, they will not make the playoffs.
In other words, if the Yankees continue on this pace, they will have to face the fact that since they acquired Alex Rodriguez, they have gotten worse every year. Which brings us to Mr. Rodriguez's current contract situation.
A-Rod Declines Contract Extensions Talks
When Rodriguez signed his famous 10-year, $252 million contract with the Texas Rangers in 2001, one contractual provision allowed him to opt-out of the deal and become a free agent at the end of the 2007 season. In an effort to lock up their most statistically productive player before that happens, Yankees management approached A-Rod and his agent to discuss the possibity of signing a lucrative extension while this season was still going on. A-Rod and agent Scott Boras declined.
And why not? New York hasn't exactly treated him well. Except for this season, of course. And if Alex Rodriguez goes into a protracted slump, you can bet your bottom dollar that the boos will be heard once again. The headlines will turn ugly. And life will become miserable for Alex and his family. So, one has to agree with A-Rod that he should play the season out, see how the Yankees do, listen to the fans and the media circus, examine the teams plans going forward, find out how much money over how many years they are offering as compared to other suitors such as the Angels and the Red Sox (and the Cubs if Mark Cuban can complete that sale). So, if he waits until the end of the year, he guarantees himself a bidding war, one that will start at $28 million a year and go higher depending on just how strong his second half is. A-rod is doing the right thing for himself. No doubt about it.
But what should the Yankees do to protect their team and their fan base? Keep Reading.
