A-Rod to Opt Out

[ehh]

Re: A-Rod to Opt Out

I am.

We are in big trouble for the short term.

Unless there is some huge unforseen trade, I really don't give us any chance of winning the AL East next year.

Maybe when someone is paying A-Rod $25 million + when he is in his late 30's-early 40's it will look like a good thing, but right now it's not.

Us not winning the AL East in '08 IMO should not be considered major short term trouble. I also don't think anyone should say we are in short term trouble until we see what the 2008 team will look like - there are way too many question marks right now.

Are we going to replace 54 RBI, 150 RBI, etc? Obviously not. Outside of Barry Bonds' 2001 season which was obviously steroid-ridden, A-Rod's '07 season was the best one of this generation.

But I honestly think this will be viewed as a good move, possibly as soon as 2009. Our pitching staff is finally the FO's #1 concern which it needs to be. I do not care if we miss the post-season next year if it sets us up as favorites for '09-'13 or longer. I do not want to see Cano, Chamberlain, Hughes or Kennedy traded. Wang, I wouldn't care if he was shipped off, I never viewed him as more than an over-achieving #3. I will not declare that the Yankees are done if we don't trade for Miguel Cabrera or Johan Santana this winter.

[ComfortablyLomb]

Re: A-Rod to Opt Out

Us not winning the AL East in '08 IMO should not be considered major short term trouble. I also don't think anyone should say we are in short term trouble until we see what the 2008 team will look like - there are way too many question marks right now.

Are we going to replace 54 RBI, 150 RBI, etc? Obviously not. Outside of Barry Bonds' 2001 season which was obviously steroid-ridden, A-Rod's '07 season was the best one of this generation.

But I honestly think this will be viewed as a good move, possibly as soon as 2009. Our pitching staff is finally the FO's #1 concern which it needs to be. I do not care if we miss the post-season next year if it sets us up as favorites for '09-'13 or longer. I do not want to see Cano, Chamberlain, Hughes or Kennedy traded. Wang, I wouldn't care if he was shipped off, I never viewed him as more than an over-achieving #3. I will not declare that the Yankees are done if we don't trade for Miguel Cabrera or Johan Santana this winter.

It's funny you want to move Wang since he's arguably the one (close to) sure thing in the 2008 Yankees rotation. You know what you're going to get from him. He's definitely not what I would call an ace but he's a solid starter who can go 200 innings with a well above average ERA.

You don't know if Pettitte is coming back and even then he isn't really the guy he was a couple of years ago. Mussina looks like he's hitting the wall and at 38-39 (not totally sure) that may be the case. And Chamberlain and Hughes are question marks. They have the potential and all but you can't throw them for nearly as many innings as you'll need them to, not unless you want to risk their arms. And even then they're still young guys and even with their skill sets there's a chance they'll need to get used to the league.

[sask3m]

Re: A-Rod to Opt Out

the giants have a lot of money freed up now that bonds is gone, although who knows maybe they sign a-rod and bring bonds back for one more yr. at say 5 mill or so, is that a possibility, that wouldn't be a bad 3 4 combination.

[pistoldill]

Re: A-Rod to Opt Out

Just out of curiosity, I would like to see if there are any Yankees fan that are upset with Arod opting out..I for one am not..I could care less what he did in the regular season...Its the postseason that counts and the reason why we got Arod in the first place. Im not upset at all..in a way im kind of relieved

Would love to hear from Yankees fans on this..If possible someone should put up a poll.

Because Derek Jeter had a bang up post season too.

[dooch]

Re: A-Rod to Opt Out

It sucks that he opted out, but my thought on that is 'Good riddance'. It's clear he didn't want to play for the Yankees since he refused to even take their calls and didn't wait the 10 days to make the decision. He's going to go wherever Boras tells him to go basically - my guess is the Dodgers, Angels or Giants.

It hurts in the short term (but not as much as people think), but they are still set up very nicely for the future. With his 30 million off the books and almost 50 million coming off after next year between Giambi, Moose, Pavano, and Farnsworth-less, that's 80 million to play with when their will likely be free agents such as Santana, Sabathia, Teixeira, etc on the market.

They scored about 80 more runs than the next highest team. Obviously losing his 50+ Hr's and 150+ rbi's will hurt, but if they go get a guy like a Joe Crede who can hit 20 hr's and drive in 80 or so runs and play a great defense, they have plenty of offense elsewhere to compensate. Mo and Posada will be back; Pettitte hopefully. They'll be fine. And the late 90's dynasty never had a team of sluggers - so I'm not too worried.

[Sandman42]

Re: A-Rod to Opt Out

They'll be fine. And the late 90's dynasty never had a team of sluggers - so I'm not too worried.

Yeah, but those team had great starting pitching and a great bullpen. The pen sucks now unless Britton, Veras, Ohlendorf, and Ramirez make some big strides this year.

[ComfortablyLomb]

Re: A-Rod to Opt Out

It sucks that he opted out, but my thought on that is 'Good riddance'. It's clear he didn't want to play for the Yankees since he refused to even take their calls and didn't wait the 10 days to make the decision. He's going to go wherever Boras tells him to go basically - my guess is the Dodgers, Angels or Giants.

It hurts in the short term (but not as much as people think), but they are still set up very nicely for the future. With his 30 million off the books and almost 50 million coming off after next year between Giambi, Moose, Pavano, and Farnsworth-less, that's 80 million to play with when their will likely be free agents such as Santana, Sabathia, Teixeira, etc on the market.

They scored about 80 more runs than the next highest team. Obviously losing his 50+ Hr's and 150+ rbi's will hurt, but if they go get a guy like a Joe Crede who can hit 20 hr's and drive in 80 or so runs and play a great defense, they have plenty of offense elsewhere to compensate. Mo and Posada will be back; Pettitte hopefully. They'll be fine. And the late 90's dynasty never had a team of sluggers - so I'm not too worried.

They might not have had a team of sluggers but they scored a lot of runs. They were great teams overall. Very balanced.

Runs scored per game, runs allowed per game and league rank:

Year - RPG (rank) - RAPG (rank)
2000 - 5.41 (6th) - 5.06 (6th)
1999 - 5.56 (3rd) - 4.51 (2nd)
1998 - 5.96 (1st) - 4.05 (1st)
1997 - 5.50 (2nd) - 4.25 (1st)
1996 - 5.38 (8th) - 4.86 (5th)

They were scoring as well as anyone from 97-99 but more importantly they were pretty much the best pitching team in the league through that stretch too. I don't think that's happening next year. Not that those numbers tell the whole story but it gives you a good idea of what they were doing relative to the league.

More recently:
2007 - 5.98 (1st) - 4.80 (8th)
2006 - 5.74 (1st) - 4.73 (7th)
2005 - 5.47 (2nd) - 4.87 (9th)
2004 - 5.54 (2nd) - 4.99 (6th)

The pitching has been pretty much league average. I wouldn't assume that Posada, Rivera, and Pettitte will be back either. They might, they might not. It's not a lock either way. It will be very interesting to see what the Yankees do this winter.

[Kelvarr]

Re: A-Rod to Opt Out

So who is everyone's bets? I have heard a LOT of teams. Giants, Angels, Dodgers, Mets, Cubs, Red Sox, White Sox, Tigers, Mariners, Marlins, Rangers...

I don't see the Red Sox realistically going after him...he is tarnished for being a Yankee. I don't see the Rangers bringing him back. And I definitely don't see the Mariners going after him. And the Marlins? Eh, I don't see that as very realistic. And the Tigers just made a move Renteria. I guess they could bring A-Rod in and move Inge to a utility role, but I doubt it.

So that leaves the Cubs, Mets, White Sox, Giants, Angels, and Dodgers, IMO.

Like I said on another board...

Inge is a good fielder and all, with a cannon arm, but come on....how does a .236 AVG, 14 HR, and 70 RBI bode well? I realize that 70 RBI for a #8 hitter is pretty good, but the rest could use some work.

I like the guy, and would want him to stick around, but I would take A-Rod any day over him.

[ehh]

Re: A-Rod to Opt Out

It's funny you want to move Wang

If Wang is moved then Santana is coming to NY. He wouldn't be involved in trade for a position player.

[NYJets]

Re: A-Rod to Opt Out

You get the feeling that Boras might have made a mistake, with all the talking he's done over the last few days.

He blamed Mariano Rivera for A-Rod not having a great post season legacy.

[Stu]

Re: A-Rod to Opt Out

You get the feeling that Boras might have made a mistake, with all the talking he's done over the last few days.

He blamed Mariano Rivera for A-Rod not having a great post season legacy.

Yeah, it sounds like they're trying to get the Yankees involved in the bidding and the Yanks are having nothing to do with it. Maybe he thought they were bluffing.

Also of note is Larry Lucchino said on WEEI this morning that Mike Lowell is their #1 priority and A-rod is only a secondary option if they can't bring Lowell back.

[ckarlic]

Re: A-Rod to Opt Out

You get the feeling that Boras might have made a mistake, with all the talking he's done over the last few days.

He blamed Mariano Rivera for A-Rod not having a great post season legacy.

Nah..i honestly think that Boras already had suitors for Arod before he opted out..Im pretty sure that he wouldnt risk something this big and take a chance in the market...He is probably close to a deal already!!!

[ckarlic]

Re: A-Rod to Opt Out

Nah..i honestly think that Boras already had suitors for Arod before he opted out..Im pretty sure that he wouldnt risk something this big and take a chance in the market...He is probably close to a deal already!!!

Well i actually take that back..maybe the market isnt soo bright for ARod. According to the NY Daily news it looks like Arod is hoping that the Yankees will reconsider: http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/ba...hance_t-2.html

Either the market isnt that good without the Yanks or ARod doesnt want to seem like the "Greedy Goat" that people view him.

You guys decide

[Stu]

Re: A-Rod to Opt Out

Well i actually take that back..maybe the market isnt soo bright for ARod. According to the NY Daily news it looks like Arod is hoping that the Yankees will reconsider: http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/ba...hance_t-2.html

Either the market isnt that good without the Yanks or ARod doesnt want to seem like the "Greedy Goat" that people view him.

You guys decide

Don't be fooled by that. ARod wants the Yankees to reconsider because Boras was counting on them to help drive up the price the other bidders end up paying. It should be real interesting to see what kind of money he ends up with, and how it compares with the Yankees rumored extension offer, if the Yankees and Red Sox don't get seriously involved in the bidding.

[ckarlic]

Re: A-Rod to Opt Out

Don't be fooled by that. ARod wants the Yankees to reconsider because Boras was counting on them to help drive up the price the other bidders end up paying. It should be real interesting to see what kind of money he ends up with, and how it compares with the Yankees rumored extension offer, if the Yankees and Red Sox don't get seriously involved in the bidding.

Yeah that was what i was thinking too...Hoping that the Yanks stick to their word and say "Good-Bye" He will get a **** load of money but with the Yankees and Sox involved in the bidding war who know how much he will make..I think Boras is a little weasel!!! Screw him!!