[新聞] A-Rod by the dozen ?
新聞來源 http://tinyurl.com/22wcyx
先來看一些之前的相關交易傳聞
‧ Between $250-$300 million deal
‧ Cashman: No deal if he opts out
‧ Boras: Yankees may change stance
重點:
Boras打算為A-Rod繼續爭取一份長達12年的合約
但是恐怕沒這麼容易
Alex Rodriguez's agent, Scott Boras, dropped a hint that they may be seeking a
12-year deal in an interview with SI.com on Thursday. Boras spoke
enthusiastically about the superstar's value over a "12-year span'' and
suggested it would be higher in years 8 through 12 because of the records he'd
be chasing and breaking. One thing seems sure: These high-stakes negotiations
won't go easily or quickly.
Speaking of things dragging out in Yankeeland, poor Joe Torre will have to wait
into next week to learn his fate. Some supporters of the legendary manager are
reading a modicum of hope into the apparent delay. However, the actual reason
for the seeming holdup may not have anything to do with any change of heart and
could simply be George Steinbrenner's sons, Hank and Hal, adhering to their own
schedule and not the former-breakneck pace set by The Boss in his heyday.
At least two Yankee-connected people said the support for Torre among club
higherups appears extremely thin. His best hope may be based on a strong
executive reaction to the overwhelming, nonstop player testimonials, and that
seems like something of a longshot.
The intrigue heats up on all fronts. Based on early returns and rhetoric, the
Yankees appear headed for their wildest winter yet.
The club's high command meets early next week to map out a strategy regarding
their multitude of marquee men without contracts, including three big potential
free agents they hope to keep -- Rodriguez, Mariano Rivera and Jorge Posada --
and one all-time great manager headed for Cooperstown.
Despite the unforeseen delay, and a good bit of threatening rhetoric already
from players and others, the smart money sees it like this: The Yankees sign
Rivera to a three-year extension at a record rate for a closer and Posada to a
three-year extension at a raise. There will be a likely parting of the ways
with the legendary skipper, and a continuation of the fascinating high-stakes
game of poker with A-Rod that will likely go on for weeks, and maybe right up
until Rodriguez's famed opt-out deadline 10 days after the World Series.
(Technically, he can opt out anytime before then, as well.)
Some superstars are easier than others, and despite Rivera's assertion his
future could be affected by the call on Torre, most baseball people believe the
loyal closer will have a hard time extricating himself from the pinstripes, no
matter what happens to Torre. The same goes for Posada, who's also made it
clear he prefers Torre to stay.
While underlings said they believe the younger Steinbrenners are indeed reading
all the Torre testimonials, baseball people point out the value of their words
are limited since players always say it isn't the manager's fault and almost
always go where the money is, anyway. (Though if anyone could have any effect,
it would most likely be Andy Pettitte, who holds a $16 million player option
and has in the past shown a willingness to play elsewhere or perhaps even
retire.)
Ultimately, no one believes it's too likely Yankees higherups will let
"the inmates run the asylum.''
$300 million for A-Rod?
The real A-Rod negotiations haven't begun yet, and the rhetoric has already hit
fever-pitch levels. GM Brian Cashman predicts these talks will include "a lot
of noise and drama'' before they are completed. We're looking forward to it.
The give-and-take already is eye-opening, and speculation within the sport
about what A-Rod's final take will be is rising, now often ranging in the
$250-to-$300 million range. Considering the 12-year hint, the total asking
price is expected to easily exceed $300 million. Superagent Boras appears to
have a perfect storm of positive factors, from A-Rod's monster season
(.314, 54 home runs, 156 RBIs) to an incredibly weak free-agent class to
baseball's big economic leap.
Boras offered multiple reasons why A-Rod's value is unparalleled in a lengthy
interview with SI.com on Thursday, so lengthy he may have trouble keeping his
famed free-agent player book to one volume. If you want, Boras can also
condense his argument into three letters: I, P and N. Which stands for iconic
(A-Rod is an icon now, a step up from when he signed his $252-million Rangers
deal), performance (that speaks for itself) and network (he significantly
raises the price of ad sales and value of a network).
The Yankees have hit home run after home run on the business front, and that
doesn't hurt A-Rod, either. Boras said, flatteringly, "The Yankees are very
well run.'' The Yankees' attendance is up from 3.5 million to 4.3 million since
acquiring A-Rod, the ratings at their YES Network are up and the value of YES
is up from close to $1 billion to an estimated $3 billion. Boras estimates that
A-Rod increases revenues by $20-30 million, and appreciation goes well above
and beyond that.
"The evidence is very clear. This is one of the rare players who literally pays
for himself,'' Boras concluded. "The Yankees can't afford not to keep A-Rod.''
While Rodriguez is undeniably good for business, Yankees people will counter
that it's hard to quantify exactly how good. They'll point out that they were
moneymakers for years, well before they acquired A-Rod.
Cashman steers altogether clear of the business argument, responding, "I'm just
a lowly general manager trying to assemble a simple baseball team ... He's
obviously a tremendous talent. We hope to retain him. If we don't, we'd have to
look to other ways to be as good. My job is to assemble the best baseball team
I can possibly put together, not to collect stars.''
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