Not So Welcome Back

The Yankees dropped the biggest bomb of the off season not only on the other teams, the fans, but probably even surprised themselves with this move. The Yankees and free agent third baseman Alex Rodriguez have agreed to the outlines of a 10 year, $275 million deal even after management made it abundantly clear that they would not negotiate with A-Rod if he opted out of his contract. Throughout all of the drama, A-Rod has merely ended up right where he started, but he did manage to thoroughly top his old record setting contract. Brian Cashman has supposedly docked Rodriguez the $21 million the Yankees lost by his opting out of his old contract (the money the Texas Rangers were set to pay A-Rod), so this could have been nearly a $300 million contract if not for that fact. This whole situation puts Yankee fans in an awkward predicament as of how to feel about A-Rod. Many Yankee fans, myself included, were furious at A-Rod after his ugly divorce from the team. The type of hatred around the baseball world directed at A-Rod was incredible, and many people were just plain happy to have him off of the team. Right when most people were ready to move on to a life without A-Rod in pinstripes, he is thrust back into the scene with a complete reversal what everyone expected to happen. While nothing is official as of yet, those people who were bashing A-Rod a week ago, again like myself, I even wrote an article about him being on steroids, now have to learn to live with him once again, like it or not.
From a purely baseball perspective, this is a no-brainer. The Yankees needed a third baseman and they got the best available one, and they did so without giving up any prospects as an added bonus. The Yankees needed a power, right handed bat and guess what, they got the best one again. They were able to keep him away from the Red Sox or Angels as well, so there is no arguing this signing from just the on the field aspects. The money should not be the cause for concern either, as even if this $275 million deal is record setting; it’s not all that extravagant given the situation. Scott Boras did want that $350 million deal at one point, there were rumors of him receiving up to $40 million a year, and with teams like the Red Sox, Mets, Angels, Dodgers, Giants, Cubs, and Marlins (yes the Marlins) all rumored to be in the hunt it is a safe bet that A-Rod could have received at least the same amount he got from the Yankees, if not more. Where this move can be criticized is from the public relations stand point and from how his teammates will accept him back after all the drama. The Yankees management did make it abundantly clear that they would not negotiate with A-Rod if he opted out and they did go back on their word. Hank Steinbrenner now claims that A-Rod wants to be a Yankee to justify this move, but they may lose some credibility here. However, to some it may appear as if Scott Boras over estimated the demand for his client and since that $350 million deal was not out there he had to come crawling back to the Yankees. I was looking forward to having a bit of a lower payroll, but this deal will blow that completely out of the water as the Yankees are likely to end up back around $200 million, but that is just something we will have to deal with. The biggest concern is that not only has A-Rod alienated the fans but he may have done the same with his teammates. It may be awhile before he is joking around in the dugout with Melky Cabrera and Robinson Cano again. A-Rod will have to do a lot of apologizing and justifying of his decision to opt out before his teammates (especially Derek Jeter) will accept him back. The bottom line is that A-Rod is now a Yankee once again and the pressure will be on him will be even greater then ever. If Rodriguez does not deliver a championship during the next decade he is signed for then it would be tough to justify bringing him back amidst all of the controversy. This is assuming he even does officially sign this contract they have agreed upon and with the way this process has gone so far, would anyone really be surprised if another twist in the saga was forthcoming?