While the Yankees were preparing their extension offer to A-rod, that would have added 5 years and 150 million to his remaining 3 years. Agent Scott Boras made it clear that any team expecting to sit down and talk about A-rod, had to be willing to begin negotiations at 350 million! Wow! Begin at 350, does that mean Boras thinks he can go up from there? Granted
A-rod is the best player in baseball, but, no other player in baseball history has commanded a contract of this value or expected length (12 years).
We have not heard anything publicly from A-rod about his intentions for his next employer, only from his mouth piece, Scott Boras. I think that this furthers the public dislike for A-rod in that the public views his silence as acceptance of Boras' actions thus far. The announcement that
A-rod was opting out of his contract during game 4 of the World Series said to America that
Rodriguez is bigger than the World Series. A-rod has not apologized for this event, so he must have approved of this tactic. He had 10 days AFTER the World Series to opt out of his contract, he didn't even wait for the WS to end. They could have at least extended a courtesy meeting to the Yankees to offer an extension. A-rod basically said I don't like New York and I'm leaving. This all happened after he publicly stated from spring training through the end of the season, that NY was the place he wanted to be, but yet opted out before talking with the Yanks?
The only team A-rod is loyal to, is team A-rod and team Boras, and his acceptance of Boras' style of business and negotiation tactics says all A-rod is concerned about is making as much money as possible regardless of how that may effect a team's future ability to surround him with talent over those 12 years.
A-rod says he wants to help a team win a championship, and even though he has been the best player in baseball, has not been able to do so. After signing a contract given by an inexperienced owner that later crippled the Rangers ability to sign any other players, A-rod is determined to sign an even more lucrative contract? Either you want to win or you want to make as much money as possible?
In a refreshing turn this week, T-wolves PF "Big" Al Jefferson opted to not follow his agent's advice and wait until next year to sign a new contract most likely a "max" deal. Jefferson signed an extension this year and admitted that he was not worth a "max" deal (yet). Al showed that not every athlete is out to break the bank.
Maybe A-rod can learn something from someone almost 10 years younger then him and have a voice of his own and let America know what he wants and not just hide behind Boras. Perhaps this would gain him the public acceptance he has been yet to gain.
