All A-Rod talk here

[mauidano]

That makes Papi's $16 mill salary look rather nice. A-Rod is still gong to have to share DH AB's with Tex and Beltran too.  Not going to be pretty but I'm sure he'll toe the company line on this and be happy to bank his $22 big ones.
 
Cashman sounds like he's setting up the "A-Rod failed the physical" press release in February.

 

[nattysez]

That makes Papi's $16 mill salary look rather nice. A-Rod is still gong to have to share DH AB's with Tex and Beltran too.  Not going to be pretty but I'm sure he'll toe the company line on this and be happy to bank his $22 big ones.
 
Cashman sounds like he's setting up the "A-Rod failed the physical" press release in February.

 
He also gets a $6mm "marketing bonus" if he hits six HR (which will take him up to 660 total), so he can get $27mm this year.

 

[techsoldaten]

Wondering what the chances are he actually gets those 6 HRs. 
 
Without speculating on his actual physical condition, the team could simply choose to use him against pitchers where he doesn't have a good chance of putting anything over the wall (i.e. against the Red Sox starting line up, with it's high GB rate).
 
From the management perspective: do you do this? It is more worth it to let him set some records and have those go down in the history books, or do you take steps to prevent him from ever seeing that $6mil bonus?

 

[Rovin Romine]

Wondering what the chances are he actually gets those 6 HRs. 
 
Without speculating on his actual physical condition, the team could simply choose to use him against pitchers where he doesn't have a good chance of putting anything over the wall (i.e. against the Red Sox starting line up, with it's high GB rate).
 
From the management perspective: do you do this? It is more worth it to let him set some records and have those go down in the history books, or do you take steps to prevent him from ever seeing that $6mil bonus?

 
If he's healthy enough to play, he's getting the six across the season.  

 

[jon abbey]

Almost certainly true, but if he really is being relegated to DH against LHP duty only, it's not going to be so easy. FWIW, he has 10 total HRs against LHP in 347 PAs since the start of 2011. 

 

[wilked]

Wondering what the chances are he actually gets those 6 HRs. 
 
Without speculating on his actual physical condition, the team could simply choose to use him against pitchers where he doesn't have a good chance of putting anything over the wall (i.e. against the Red Sox starting line up, with it's high GB rate).
 
From the management perspective: do you do this? It is more worth it to let him set some records and have those go down in the history books, or do you take steps to prevent him from ever seeing that $6mil bonus?

maybe they can put exlax in his gatorade also to make it even more difficult for him!
 
-Yankees are going to do whatever they can to win each and every game, they will not decrease their chances of winning to try and save $6 million.  ARod can still crush mistakes I am sure and he will get his 6 unless he gets hurt or released.

 

[StuckOnYouk]

He would be wise to hit like jeter and aim for the short porch in RF

 

[NDame616]

Wondering what the chances are he actually gets those 6 HRs. 
 
Without speculating on his actual physical condition, the team could simply choose to use him against pitchers where he doesn't have a good chance of putting anything over the wall (i.e. against the Red Sox starting line up, with it's high GB rate).
 
From the management perspective: do you do this? It is more worth it to let him set some records and have those go down in the history books, or do you take steps to prevent him from ever seeing that $6mil bonus?

So they would keep him on their roster only to put him into games where they figure he has the smallest chance of getting a HR? So, only play him against the tea's best pitchers in hopes he goes 0-4?
 
If that's honestly their thinking, they would just cut him (which they aren't doing) and give his roster spot to someone who they think can hit.

 

[jon abbey]

The $6M doesn't really matter much to NY, they're already way way over the $189M they were hoping to get under at some point (better luck next CBA), and so I really doubt they'd let it affect decisions about his playing time. 

 

[Plympton91]

In his last 710 plate appearances in the major leagues, Alex Rodriguez has a 112 OPS+. I'm not even sure he'd be a liability in an everyday lineup, let alone a bad enough player to warrant eating $61 million in order to save a $6 million bonus. If I were a small market team, I'd see whether the Yankees would be willing to eat all but $5 million a year to be rid of him. On a $3 year, $15 contract, he'd likely be a significant net positive, and in a small market atmosphere, the media circus wouldn't be oppressive.

 

[Snodgrass'Muff]

For those who watch the Yankees every day, what is the consensus on his ability to play third base? I was ready to jump in here and argue that a small market team should be willing to absorb far more than 5 million per year since Sandoval was also a 12% better than league average hitter at third base in his most recent season and just got 20 million per year (buyout included) while being about a decade younger and having better defensive ability, accounting for some of the gap between them. I was having a hard time seeing a 45 million dollar difference between them over the next three seasons until I considered the possibility that ARod has to move to first base because his his hips and age. At that point, hitting around 10% better than league average (assuming some decline) makes James Loney the closest comp from last year's hitters and he was valued at about 5 million by fangraphs.
 
If ARod can play slightly below average defense at third and still hit at something near that 112 OPS+ for the next three seasons, he'd be one of the best bargains in baseball at 5 million per. If he's a first baseman with average or below average defense in that span, he's probably worth about that much. If he's a below average defensive first baseman, or worse, a DH... or even worse, incapable of reaching that level of hitting at all, he could end up a sunk cost. Might be worth the risk for a small market team with a hole in their lineup and a belief that they are one or two average bats away from the playoffs, but that might be a tougher sell for the Yankees to make to another GM than you are suggesting, Plympton.
 
Your post did lead me to completely reversing my thinking from reaction to posting, though, so thanks for provoking some thought.

 

[jon abbey]

To answer both of those posts, no one really knows what he's capable of since he just spent a full season away from the game after missing the first four months of 2013, and he will turn 40 in July. Cashman obviously doesn't think he's going to help NY much based on his actions this offseason, but it's hard to know how much of that is based on what he thinks A-Rod is actually capable of still doing to help a team and how much is based on NY wanting to sever ties (if possible) with a prima donna asshole who everyone hates. He wasn't an infielder, but I'm reminded a bit of Barry Bonds who put up a 1.045 OPS in his last season with SF (169 OPS+) and then couldn't get another job anywhere, even as a DH. 

 

[Rovin Romine]

For those who watch the Yankees every day, what is the consensus on his ability to play third base? I was ready to jump in here and argue that a small market team should be willing to absorb far more than 5 million per year since Sandoval was also a 12% better than league average hitter at third base in his most recent season and just got 20 million per year (buyout included) while being about a decade younger and having better defensive ability, accounting for some of the gap between them. I was having a hard time seeing a 45 million dollar difference between them over the next three seasons until I considered the possibility that ARod has to move to first base because his his hips and age. At that point, hitting around 10% better than league average (assuming some decline) makes James Loney the closest comp from last year's hitters and he was valued at about 5 million by fangraphs.
 
If ARod can play slightly below average defense at third and still hit at something near that 112 OPS+ for the next three seasons, he'd be one of the best bargains in baseball at 5 million per. If he's a first baseman with average or below average defense in that span, he's probably worth about that much. If he's a below average defensive first baseman, or worse, a DH... or even worse, incapable of reaching that level of hitting at all, he could end up a sunk cost. Might be worth the risk for a small market team with a hole in their lineup and a belief that they are one or two average bats away from the playoffs, but that might be a tougher sell for the Yankees to make to another GM than you are suggesting, Plympton.
 
Your post did lead me to completely reversing my thinking from reaction to posting, though, so thanks for provoking some thought.

 
Is there a penalty to playing him though?  I mean, assuming we didn't sign Panda, I'd rather go with WMB than play ARod, even if a 112 OPS+ and decent 3B skills were guaranteed.  I imagine a lot of people feel similarly.  Does something like that impact the abstract "brand"?  Or the bottom line in terms of revenue generated?

 

[soxhop411]

 
 
http://www.newsday.com/sports/baseball/yankees/source-alex-rodriguez-believes-he-will-win-yankees-third-base-job-1.9813239?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter

 

[mauidano]

 
 
http://www.newsday.com/sports/baseball/yankees/source-alex-rodriguez-believes-he-will-win-yankees-third-base-job-1.9813239?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter

I can hardly wait! Let the circus begin!

 

[EvilEmpire]

Exactly what I want to hear. ARod is preparing to play 3B and is presumably working his ass off to make it happen. Good.

 

[TheYaz67]

That is pretty amusing from A-Rod, who must have amnesia about his trashing of the Yankees management in part of his insane failed PR/legal bid to avoid the year suspension.
 
You know, that and the fact that Headley actually finished last season as the Yankees 3rd baseman, having put up an 119 OPS+ in the process.  I would say its his job to loose, not A-Rods (and taking into account his recent 112 OPS+ as mentioned above as being his "baseline").  This "competition" could go well in Spring training and result in a solid starter/backup/DH combo for NY, who knows. However given what we know about A-Rod and his ego/vanity, if they both play fairly well in March and he stays healthy and Headley beats him out for the job, his attitude and subsequent words and actions could poison that clubhouse.
 
If that happens, Cashman and ownership will probably become much more willing to eat most of that contract to make him go away, and/or just release him/eat it all, as Snod suggests....

 

[mastergasket]

Exactly what I want to hear. ARod is preparing to play 3B and is presumably working his ass off to make it happen. Good.

 
It sounds to me more like the setup for more drama and bad blood when he inevitably doesn't get made the starting 3B. At this point, wouldn't it be better just to see ARod be humble for once, accept that he'll be the primary DH, and focus most of his effort in the batting cage? He has to know he's a financial and reputational detriment to the team, so why not try to minimize that as much as possible? I'm not saying he shouldn't practice 3B as well, but he certainly shouldn't be delusional about his place in the pecking order anymore.

 

[EvilEmpire]

It sounds to me more like the setup for more drama and bad blood when he inevitably doesn't get made the starting 3B. At this point, wouldn't it be better just to see ARod be humble for once, accept that he'll be the primary DH, and focus most of his effort in the batting cage? He has to know he's a financial and reputational detriment to the team, so why not try to minimize that as much as possible? I'm not saying he shouldn't practice 3B as well, but he certainly shouldn't be delusional about his place in the pecking order anymore.

I don't think ARod will be any more of a distraction than he has been in the past, and I doubt there is anything he can say or do to change that either way. He could be a model citizen and the circus wouldn't go away. He could mouth off about his role on the team and nothing would change. The persistent circus atmosphere aside, I think he'll get along fine with his teammates. And again, as a competitive ballplayer, I expect him to compete hard to be at 3B. I don't think that is a shock to coaches, ownership, or his teammates. I don't think his attempt to stick at 3B will degrade his ability to hit the ball as a DH. Getting (or staying) in better shape will probably help.

Also, if he works too hard to stay in the field, he may injure himself. I don't think the Yankees would be too sad about that, especially if insurance comes into play.

 

[jon abbey]

First of all, I don't think there's any competition for the 3B spot if Headley is healthy, except in the mind of A-Rod. Cashman has already said very clearly that Headley is the 3B, and I doubt he would have signed with NY if they hadn't told him the same thing very directly. 
 
As for A-Rod being a distraction, all that's going to end up doing is cutting into his ABs even more, and I'm sure that's the last thing he wants as he tries to bulk up his lifetime counting numbers a bit more. He must know that if NY did decide to cut ties with him, there's a good chance the rest of MLB would shun him the same way they did Bonds after SF let him go, even with minimal financial obligation. 
 
But if he does manage to be a good soldier, there should be a role for him on this team, assuming he can still hit. If Tex or Headley goes down, that role will involve a lot more playing 1B or 3B than if they're both healthy. 

 

[derekson]

I expect either Headley, Teixeira or ARod himself will miss significant time and this issue will go away. Plus he'll get plenty of ABs at DH even when all three are healthy. The media is trying to drum up a controversy when there's really enough playing time to go around.

 

[ThePrideofShiner]

I expect either Headley, Teixeira or ARod himself will miss significant time and this issue will go away. Plus he'll get plenty of ABs at DH even when all three are healthy. The media is trying to drum up a controversy when there's really enough playing time to go around.

 
Agreed. ARod is the starting DH, he is just trying to assert the idea that he is in good shape and available.
 
I think he will fall in line once he is in camp.

 

[cborgia]

First of all, I don't think there's any competition for the 3B spot if Headley is healthy, except in the mind of A-Rod. Cashman has already said very clearly that Headley is the 3B, and I doubt he would have signed with NY if they hadn't told him the same thing very directly. 
 
As for A-Rod being a distraction, all that's going to end up doing is cutting into his ABs even more, and I'm sure that's the last thing he wants as he tries to bulk up his lifetime counting numbers a bit more. He must know that if NY did decide to cut ties with him, there's a good chance the rest of MLB would shun him the same way they did Bonds after SF let him go, even with minimal financial obligation. 
 
But if he does manage to be a good soldier, there should be a role for him on this team, assuming he can still hit. If Tex or Headley goes down, that role will involve a lot more playing 1B or 3B than if they're both healthy. 

In the mind of Arod? Isn't that a limited venue for significant competition?

 

[cborgia]

Why does anybody assume that things that Arod did 3 seasons ago have ay relevance to what he's capable of in the future? He's had major surgeries, he's aged significantly at a point where every year contributes significantly to a downward career trajectory, and he is unlikely to risk losing his contract by further experiments with PEDS (although this can never be rules out, given his trance record of delusional and foolish behavior). As an example, in 2012 Derek Jeter hit .316 with a .791 OPS and 15 hrs  and scored 99 runs. After breaking his ankle at the end of 2012 and barely playing in 2013 because of injuries, he hit .256 with a .617 OPS in his final season. 
There are few if any examples of successful return from two seasons off in late career, and most players are done long before their age 39 season. I think he's not going to like what he learns during spring training. 
But you guys are way harsh on him for marking his territory. Isn't it obvious that he was just trying to explain trickle down economics to his cousin?

 

[jon abbey]

NY isn't counting on A-Rod for anything, that's why they signed Headley and Chris Young (freeing up Beltran for more DH ABs potentially) and traded for Garrett Jones. 

 

[wallypip]

I will be really happy if A-Rod and Garrett Jones can provide league average offense in a DH/backup platoon. If Alex's bat is worth more than Brendan Ryan's glove at 3B 1-2 a month, then that's gravy.  The list of guys who could hit enough to be in the lineup everyday at age 40 is just too short to even hope for anything more.

 

[jon abbey]

You could not make up better stories than A-Rod's reality:
 
Report: Alex Rodriguez training with Barry Bonds 
 
http://www.si.com/mlb/2015/01/20/new-york-yankees-arod-alex-rodriguez-training-barry-bonds

 

[Brohamer of the Gods]

"How do you sleep at night?"

"On top of a pile of money with many beautiful ladies."

 

[Rovin Romine]

You could not make up better stories than A-Rod's reality:
 
Report: Alex Rodriguez training with Barry Bonds 
 
http://www.si.com/mlb/2015/01/20/new-york-yankees-arod-alex-rodriguez-training-barry-bonds

 
ARod can still surprise.  
 
It's such a beautifully tone deaf, self sabotaging thing. 

 

[InsideTheParker]

According to the article, our 3Bman, Sandoval, has also trained with Bonds.

 

[Average Reds]

According to the article, our 3Bman, Sandoval, has also trained with Bonds.

 
Given who Bonds is in the game of baseball, it's not terribly smart for any player to be working out with him.  But for A-Rod to do this is simply mind-blowing.
 
He's either trolling us all or he's the most oblivious human currently breathing air.

 

[Lars The Wanderer]

Bonds worked as a hitting instructor for the Giants during spring training last year. I know he used steroids and is the epitome of all things evil, but he does know a few things about hitting a baseball.

 

[jon abbey]

I don't think anyone is questioning the potential effectiveness of it, just the way it looks, as AR said. 

 

[EvilEmpire]

I know he used steroids and is the epitome of all things evil, but he does know a few things about hitting a baseball.

And an absolute expert at preparing an aging, PED-abused body for a long season of baseball. ARod couldn't find a better mentor.

He's such a knucklehead. I vote trolling.

 

[Comfortably Lomb]

 
ARod can still surprise.  
 
It's such a beautifully tone deaf, self sabotaging thing. 

 
Part of me wants him to hit .220 this year and stick in the lineup every day. Another part of me wants to see him report to spring training looking like a miniature version of circa 2003 era Bonds and jack 50+ HRs this year so everyone, particularly the media, has choke down this guy shoving it all in their faces.

 

[mastergasket]

 
Part of me wants him to hit .220 this year and stick in the lineup every day. Another part of me wants to see him report to spring training looking like a miniature version of circa 2003 era Bonds and jack 50+ HRs this year so everyone, particularly the media, has choke down this guy shoving it all in their faces.

 
That would be an interesting theoretical. If A-Rod is somehow on pace for a monster season and it's obvious to everyone that he's on PEDs (again), do the Yankees ride out his success in order to make a push for the World Series? Or do they try to get MLB to "randomly" test him in the hopes that he gets a lifetime ban and they get out of his contract, but sacrifice his production?

 

[jon abbey]

That's not even a decision, they would ride out his success and hope he's good for the two years after that. He's signed through 2017, not 2025. 

 

[soxfan121]

I just want to thank jon abbey, and Arod, for trying their best today. No one else noticed, but I did. Thanks, beautifuls.

 

[Harry Hooper]

 
That would be an interesting theoretical. If A-Rod is somehow on pace for a monster season and it's obvious to everyone that he's on PEDs (again), do the Yankees ride out his success in order to make a push for the World Series? Or do they try to get MLB to "randomly" test him in the hopes that he gets a lifetime ban and they get out of his contract, but sacrifice his production?

 
Serious question, will Rodriguez automatically be on a more intensive testing schedule as a PED offender?

 

[Pilgrim]

http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/baseball/yankees/yankees-reject-a-rod-mea-culpa-meeting-request-article-1.2090690
 

 
 
Relations between Rodriguez, MLB and the Yankees became so heated in late 2013 and early 2014 that baseball executives and team officials hired extra security for protection, going so far as to have their homes and offices swept for bugging devices and employing bodyguards to accompany them, according to sources

 
“He put everyone through a lot of undue grief and unnecessary expense,” said one baseball source.
 
In one incident at a charity event at the Manhattan Woods Golf Club in Pearl River, N.Y., Manfred’s caddy was approached by an investigator allegedly working for Rodriguez demanding to know what Manfred had been discussing during his golf round.

 
:stare:

 

[Oil Can Dan]

The next battle looming, according to sources, will be over the performance clauses in A-Rod’s contract, part of a separate marketing contract between the slugger and the Yankees. Rodriguez, who has 654 career home runs, needs to hit just six more to tie Willie Mays’ 660 and receive a $6 million bonus. The deal also calls for him to receive $6 million if he ties Babe Ruth (714), another $6 million if he ties Hank Aaron (755) and yet another $6 million if surpasses Barry Bonds (762) to become baseball’s all-time home run king.
But with A-Rod’s pursuit of the records discredited by his steroid admissions the Yankees will argue that those milestones are no longer valid in terms of marketing deals. 
 

Is this happening?  The Yankees are going to look to not pay him the extra $6m when he hits #660 next season?  Please be true!

 

[Pilgrim]

I've gone back and forth on this, but now I can't believe they haven't just released him.  The relationship is incredibly toxic, he won't be any good, and hes hogging a DH slot they desperately need.

 

[jon abbey]

Who do they desperately need it for that is so sure to be better than A-Rod? Chris Young? Garrett Jones? Now if he goes 0 for 40 in spring training and is missing balls by two feet, then I can see the argument for releasing him, or if Beltran can't play the OF but is roping the ball. 

 

[glennhoffmania]

Is this happening?  The Yankees are going to look to not pay him the extra $6m when he hits #660 next season?  Please be true!

 
The idea that this organization is going to make a stink over $6m is pretty fucking funny.
 

Who do they desperately need it for that is so sure to be better than A-Rod? Chris Young? Garrett Jones? Now if he goes 0 for 40 in spring training and is missing balls by two feet, then I can see the argument for releasing him, or if Beltran can't play the OF but is roping the ball. 

 
Because pretty much anyone who follows baseball knows that there's no way Beltran will make it through a full season trying to play RF?

 

[StuckOnYouk]

Exactly, didn't they just give Drew 6 million?

 

[mauidano]

http://espn.go.com/new-york/mlb/story/_/id/12221039/alex-rodriguez-new-york-yankees-meets-rob-manfred
 
What is there that can be said by A-Rod that will give him ANY credibility with Manfred going forward? I can't begin to fathom that Manfred even gave him the 10 minutes to suck up.

 

[nattysez]

http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/baseball/yankees/yankees-reject-a-rod-mea-culpa-meeting-request-article-1.2090690

"The Yankees have answered Alex Rodriguez’s attempts to apologize for his season-long steroid suspension and the scorched-earth tactics he used to fight the ban with a Bronx cheer.

The disgraced superstar offered to meet face-to-face with team executives to apologize for his role in the Biogenesis scandal and clear the air before players report to Tampa next month, the Daily News has learned, but the Yankee brass declined the invitation, telling Rodriguez, “We’ll see you in spring training.”

Rodriguez, described by one source as now looking noticeably thinner and “massless” than in previous years, has also attempted to cushion his re-entry into baseball with at least two meetings with MLB that began late last summer with new commissioner Rob Manfred."

 

[nattysez]

The Yankees reportedly will refuse to pay ARod his marketing bonuses.  You owe the guy $61mm and you're going to go to war over $6mm?  Is the goal just to goad him into doing something dumb (like refusing to play) that voids his deal?  
 
 

Only, the Yankees don't intend to pay A-Rod those bonuses if they come to pass. According to a report from the New York Daily News, the Yankees "intend to fight" A-Rod on the milestone bonuses, basically because he cheated to reach these home-run heights and everybody knows it.
 

 

[Average Reds]

The Yankees reportedly will refuse to pay ARod his marketing bonuses.  You owe the guy $61mm and you're going to go to war over $6mm?  Is the goal just to goad him into doing something dumb (like refusing to play) that voids his deal?  
 
 

 
I'm pretty sure they know they'll have to pony up the dough.  Might as well have the satisfaction of making him work for it.

 

[acf69]

The hypocrisy is fantastic, i.e. we are more than happy to pay and even give out new contracts to guys  that have been suspended due to PED if we feel they can still hit or pitch. If not, we will challenge that their performance was due to PED use and hence there is a breach of contract from the players perspective.
 
The only regret I had when I fired a person that clearly was not performing/toxic was that I didn't do it earlier. If you want to go to war with one of your players and deal with the distractions, be my guest. They should just release them and start a new era.