Red Sox want A-Rod if Yanks don’t re-sign him
Boston reportedly eager to make play for Rodriguez if he opts out of deal
 | The Yankees' Alex Rodriguez has 3½ season left on the record $252 million, 10-year deal, but can opt of the contract this fall and become a free agent — a decision the slugger would have to make within 10 days of the conclusion of the World Series. |
Ray Stubblebine / Reuters |
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ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - If Alex Rodriguez isn’t interested in talking contract with the New York Yankees until after the season, and the Yankees won't deal with him if he opts out of his contract, the Boston Red Sox could end up as the big winner — in the race for A-Rod.
A-Rod has 3½ seasons left on the record $252 million, 10-year deal, but can opt of the contract this fall and become a free agent, but would have to do so within 10 days of the conclusion of the World Series.
But the Yankees maintain if Rodriguez opts out of his current contract after the season, they won't get into a bidding war for his services, the New York Daily News reported. And if that happens, the Red Sox are prepared to make a big push for the slugger, the paper reported.
Boston would be able to afford a six- to eight-year contract would between $180 million and $240 million. Red Sox team president Larry Lucchino would be more than willing to pay that price, especially since Boston just missed acquiring Rodriguez in 2003 when a trade with the Texas Rangers fell through because the players' union rejected it.
"Lucchino has never stopped wanting him," a source told the paper.
Rodriguez is owed $24 million in each of the next three seasons by the Yankees, with Texas offsetting much of the money by paying New York $8,116,000 next year, $7,101,500 in 2009 and $6,087,000 in 2010.
He is guaranteed an additional $3 million annually by the Rangers, the original deferred money in his contract that was converted to an assignment bonus at the time of his trade to the Yankees.
“Like I’ve said all year, I think it’s something we’ll do at the end of the year,” Rodriguez said before the Yankees opened a four-game series against the Tampa Bay Devil Rays.
“I think it would be selfish on my part to talk about my contract status when our team desperately needs wins. My goal is to win as any games as we can, focus on my teammates and really play at a real high level in the second half.”
The Yankees, who have won nine consecutive AL East titles, have been hampered by injuries to key players and trailed the Boston Red Sox by 10 games coming out of the All-Star break.
A-Rod, however, has rebounded from a subpar 2006. He leads the major leagues in with 31 homers and 87 RBIs, and he is batting .317.
“The one thing I want to focus on is getting a win tonight and play baseball,” Rodriguez said, responding to reports that the Yankees would like to begin talks soon on an extension that would keep him in New York.
“That sort of thing I leave to the people upstairs,” Rodriguez said. “My only concern is to play baseball and play at a high level.”
Does that mean that no matter what, he will not negotiate before the season ends?
“Correct,” Rodriguez said.
His agent, Scott Boras, said extension talk was premature.
“We have always been under the plan that it’s something we would talk about at the end of the season, and we’ve had no discussions with anyone,” he said. “Don’t expect to.”
Two other Yankee mainstays, closer Mariano Rivera and catcher Jorge Posada also could become free agents at the end of the season.
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Rivera said he has not had any talks with the Yankees during the season. He said he’s fine with that, and that he wouldn’t be upset if the team initiated talks with Rodriguez before turning attention to him.
“That’s the Yankees’ business. They have to do whatever they have to do. It’s none of my business,” Rivera said. “I have a job, and we’ll see what happens.”
Like A-Rod, Posada said he isn’t interested in talking contract until after the season.
“I’ve got nothing to talk about. ... There’s no sense for me to negotiate something now when I can wait and see what happens,” Posada said.
“I want to wait. I want to see it. I’ve never experienced free agency. First time ever. Probably the only time. I want to see what it’s like.”
Asked whether he wants to stay in New York, Posada said: “This is the only team I’ve known, and the only team I’ve played for. But if they don’t want me here, I won’t come back probably.”
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