Re: A-Rod to BOSTON!!!!
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Union rejects restructuring proposal; Hicks sets deadline for deal
Dec. 17, 2003
SportsLine.com wire reports
NEW YORK -- The baseball players' union got in the middle of the proposed Alex Rodriguez trade Wednesday, forcing the Red Sox and Rangers to find another way to complete the blockbuster deal.
In a rare move, the union intervened and rejected Boston's proposed restructuring of Rodriguez's $252 million contract. The changes were needed before Texas could send the AL MVP to the Red Sox for Manny Ramirez.
Still, the deal to swap baseball's only $20 million-a-year players is not dead.
"The dialogue is continuing," said Scott Boras, Rodriguez's agent.
In order to make his deal more palatable for Boston, Rodriguez agreed to renegotiate his contract. But baseball's labor contract doesn't allow a reduction unless the player gets something of value in return.
"It was clear it crossed the line ... and by a huge margin," Gene Orza, the union's No. 2 official, said after meeting with Rodriguez, his agent and Red Sox general manager Theo Epstein. "We did suggest an offer the club could make to Alex that would not do that. As was its right, the club chose not to make it.
"The principle involved is a transcendent one, affecting all of Alex's fellow players," Orza said. "To his credit, Alex, from the outset, recognized this."
Neither Orza nor Boras would detail Boston's proposal. Red Sox president Larry Lucchino declined comment, and Rangers officials did not immediately return calls seeking comment.
Boras said he expects the parties to meet again Thursday, and Texas owner Tom Hicks says there is a Thursday evening deadline for an agreement.
Rodriguez hit .298 with an AL-leading 47 home runs and 118 RBI last season. Ramirez hit .325 with 37 homers and 104 RBI.
Rodriguez signed his record 10-year contract to play in Texas after the 2000 season, but three consecutive last-place seasons with the Rangers has made him long for a change.
Rodriguez's contract has seven years and $179 million remaining on it, and Ramirez has finished three seasons of the $160 million, eight-year deal that he agreed to the same day. He is owed $97.5 million.
The only other time in recent years the union has been so involved in this kind of negotiation was when Mo Vaughn went from the Anaheim Angels to the New York Mets after the 2001 season.
Vaughn was owed $50 million in salary and bonuses, but agreed to defer $8 million of the signing bonus and $13.75 million in salaries. As part of the agreement, the money was deferred at 5.436 percent interest and Vaughn will receive the payments from 2005 through July 2011.
AP NEWS
The Associated Press News Service
Copyright 2003, The Associated Press, All Rights Reserved
<hr /></blockquote><font class="post">
He agrees to reconstruct his contract with Boston, but not with Texas?
Link
</font><blockquote><font class="small">Quote:</font><hr />
Union rejects restructuring proposal; Hicks sets deadline for deal
Dec. 17, 2003
SportsLine.com wire reports
NEW YORK -- The baseball players' union got in the middle of the proposed Alex Rodriguez trade Wednesday, forcing the Red Sox and Rangers to find another way to complete the blockbuster deal.
In a rare move, the union intervened and rejected Boston's proposed restructuring of Rodriguez's $252 million contract. The changes were needed before Texas could send the AL MVP to the Red Sox for Manny Ramirez.
Still, the deal to swap baseball's only $20 million-a-year players is not dead.
"The dialogue is continuing," said Scott Boras, Rodriguez's agent.
In order to make his deal more palatable for Boston, Rodriguez agreed to renegotiate his contract. But baseball's labor contract doesn't allow a reduction unless the player gets something of value in return.
"It was clear it crossed the line ... and by a huge margin," Gene Orza, the union's No. 2 official, said after meeting with Rodriguez, his agent and Red Sox general manager Theo Epstein. "We did suggest an offer the club could make to Alex that would not do that. As was its right, the club chose not to make it.
"The principle involved is a transcendent one, affecting all of Alex's fellow players," Orza said. "To his credit, Alex, from the outset, recognized this."
Neither Orza nor Boras would detail Boston's proposal. Red Sox president Larry Lucchino declined comment, and Rangers officials did not immediately return calls seeking comment.
Boras said he expects the parties to meet again Thursday, and Texas owner Tom Hicks says there is a Thursday evening deadline for an agreement.
Rodriguez hit .298 with an AL-leading 47 home runs and 118 RBI last season. Ramirez hit .325 with 37 homers and 104 RBI.
Rodriguez signed his record 10-year contract to play in Texas after the 2000 season, but three consecutive last-place seasons with the Rangers has made him long for a change.
Rodriguez's contract has seven years and $179 million remaining on it, and Ramirez has finished three seasons of the $160 million, eight-year deal that he agreed to the same day. He is owed $97.5 million.
The only other time in recent years the union has been so involved in this kind of negotiation was when Mo Vaughn went from the Anaheim Angels to the New York Mets after the 2001 season.
Vaughn was owed $50 million in salary and bonuses, but agreed to defer $8 million of the signing bonus and $13.75 million in salaries. As part of the agreement, the money was deferred at 5.436 percent interest and Vaughn will receive the payments from 2005 through July 2011.
AP NEWS
The Associated Press News Service
Copyright 2003, The Associated Press, All Rights Reserved
<hr /></blockquote><font class="post">
He agrees to reconstruct his contract with Boston, but not with Texas?
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