If the Yankees are no longer interested, who can afford this?
 

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=3091277

Before Alex Rodriguez opted out of his contract with the Yankees earlier this week, the team was told that it would not be able to meet with the third baseman unless it presented an offer of at least $350 million, sources say.

The Yankees had hoped to meet with Rodriguez this week, and would have presented him with an extension offer close to five years and $150 million, to begin at the conclusion of his 2008-2010 contract, through which he would have earned $81 million. Through the Yankees' proposal, then, Rodriguez would have made about $230 million over eight years, and during the last five years of the contract, sources say, he would have earned the highest annual salary in Major League Baseball history.

But team executives were told, sources say, that in order to arrange a meeting with Rodriguez, they would have to be prepared to make an extension offer that would take the third baseman's deal up to a total value of $350 million. That means that the offer the Yankees intended to propose would have been more than $100 million short.

Rodriguez's agent, Scott Boras, sent the documentation of Rodriguez's intention to opt out of the contract to Yankees general manager Brian Cashman during Game 4 of the World Series, Cashman has said, and the GM did not speak with Boras until after news of the decision was published on SI.com.

The timing of how this played out, and the fact that Rodriguez did not meet with the Yankees to hear their offer before making his decision, has led some baseball officials to surmise that a deal with another team may already be in the works. In an interview with ESPN.com's Jerry Crasnick on Thursday, Boras said, "We have had no economic discussions regarding Alex Rodriguez with any major-league team."


The Mets, Dodgers, Angels, Giants and Marlins are among the teams which have not publicly ruled out pursuing Rodriguez. Sources say it is highly unlikely that the Dodgers will seriously entertain the possibility.

350 mil?! A-Rod and Boras ****ing insane...

Remember it wasnt the Yankees who gave him his stupid contract in the first place.

I figure Bora$$$ will eventually sell his choke artist ass to somebody for this obscene price, but it sure would be nice if the owners would FINALLY take a stand and tell Pay-Rod to go fist himself. I'd love to see him playing for less next year.

Nobody in sports is worth that much, but he is the best player in baseball hands down.

Yes, and he has been invaluable to the Yankees. Look at all the World Series rings they have since he got there.

I hope he doesn't get any offers. He's pricing himself out of the market.

Exactly.

Heck, even the Mariners had a 100 win season after they dumped the guy.

Hes a heck of a talent, but its proven that you dont need to dump alot of money towards a "mega superstar" while you ignore other parts of your team.

lots of cash for the Chiefs Defense of the post-season...

Maybe Boras and ARod's uber-greed will wake up the players union to initiate a ****ing salary cap. idiots.

Bud Selig has been the worst Commissioner ever. Bring back Judge Kennesaw Landis.

I guess the Mets can afford him. It's just moving Wright to 2nd base being something they might not want to do.

If he even sniffs that kind of money, I swear to God I'll stop watching, following, reading about, or thinking about baseball. If we're really gonna pay guys $30,000,000 a year to play a game, **** it. I'm already right there with all professional sports as it is.

Shaq's been getting this for years you know......

Baseball is a disgusting pile of shit as far as i'm concerned. Has been for YEARS.

Basketball too. Gross.

I'd be happy to see the Cardinals take Wright off the Mets' hands if they want Pay-Rod. :thumb: