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Brainwashing by Boras

M's most crucial call is A-Rod's By Bob Finnigan (Oct. 8, 2000)

Remember we are not talking about a 30-year-old free agent who is regarded a quality player, but a 25-year-old who is one of the top performers in the game and at one of the most demanded positions. There will be clauses totally different from any seen before.

But there will be no short-term contract, no three- or four-year deal to give Alex an out if he is not happy with his decision.

"We don't want a short-term deal," Boras said. "It will be long term.

"According to what I hear, a number of teams will be very interested. They will have to make accommodations, there will be no discount. And because of the length of the contract, we are not only talking current market value, but future market. My job will be to get it right for the long term."

Rodriguez ponders future By Drew Olson (Oct 18, 2000)

Rodriguez, represented by super-agent Scott Boras, has never indicated that he will not return to the Pacific Northwest. Popular thinking suggests, however, that he will sign the richest contract in baseball history, a pact worth $20 million per season at a total value of about $200 million.

M's shouldn't blow the budget on one player By Ron C. Judd (Oct. 22, 2000)

Let's face it: When all the 2000 pennant run emotions fade and reality rears its ugly head, the Griffey Rule remains in effect: Winning beats star power, every time. And no player is worth $20 million a year in a game where a smartly spent $60 million can win a division pennant.

The problem goes beyond money. The A-Rod race has all the earmarks of the kind of feeding frenzy that makes general managers shut off their brains and increase their credit lines. It is already taken as a given, for example, that Rodriguez will command—and get—somewhere in the neighborhood of $20 million a season.

Heaven and earth—A-Rod may ask for it By Larry Stone (Nov. 5, 2000)

It has long been speculated that A-Rod would reach the $20 million barrier, but that might just be the starting point. The figure $25 million is starting to be tossed about, along with escalator clauses that ensure he remains the highest-paid player. There are also indications that some clubs are willing to offer a 10-year contract.

A-Rod stakes sure to heat up Jon Heyman (Nov. 5, 2000)

Speculation once was that Rodriguez would command $20 million annually. But he might even top $25 million considering the one-dimensional superstar Carlos Delgado's new $17 million-a-year deal.

Looking like a Billion—Statistical Data Included By Jared Hoffman (Nov. 13, 2000)

Teams interested in signing him should block out some reading time—his agent, Scott Boras, has prepared a 60-page book detailing why Rodriguez projects to be one of the greatest players in baseball history and deserves to be paid accordingly. Boras has indicated it might take a long-term contract worth $20 million a year to sign Rodriguez—or it might take more.

Making dollars and sense Larry Stone (Nov. 15, 2000)

Rodriguez is seeking to become the most preferentially paid player in baseball history—perhaps as high as $25 million a year for 12 years. The Mets—in announcing Monday they were no longer in the running for Rodriguez, despite being considered the favorites to land him—balked at the ancillary demands reportedly tossed out by Boras in discussions with clubs.

Going after A-Rod a risky business by Carol Slezak (Nov. 15, 2000)

You might feel $240 million over 12 years, or thereabouts, would be enough for Rodriguez. Enough to buy his own Lear jet, for starters. With enough left over, surely, to out-billboard his dear friend Jeter. But this isn't about your feelings. This is about Rodriguez and his needs.

Reinsdorf: A-Rod price is too high Seattle Times staff (Nov. 17, 2000)

Jerry Reinsdorf, chairman of the White Sox, might have taken his team out of the Alex Rodriguez market. But General Manager Ken Williams suggested Reinsdorf's comments were misunderstood.

"I read with amusement that Scott Boras said he's only going to talk to teams that are willing to pay at least $200 million," Reinsdorf said in an interview with Baseball Weekly. "If those are the conditions, we are not a player. We are not going to be used."

Williams said he doesn't expect the numbers being mentioned to reflect the real offers teams will make to Rodriguez, though he acknowledged the reported demand of $200 million over 10 years is more than the Sox are willing to pay.

M's can do with, without A-Rod Bob Finnigan (Nov. 20, 2000)

The Mariners have not been able to make an offer to Rodriguez's agent Scott Boras, but a National League club executive said rumblings that this talk of $20 million per year for 10 years and beyond may be no more than "dreamy demands."

"Alex may be worth a lot more than Carlos Delgado ($17 million a year from Toronto)," the executive said, "but, as they say in the stock market, there is a resistance level, and this $20 million talk may be that level."

A meeting of the mums By Bud Withers (Dec. 8, 2000)

Unclear is how deep the discussion went into potential sticky issues surrounding the negotiations: Boras' reported demand for a contract as long as 12 years at $20 million annually; an escalator clause that would keep Rodriguez at or near the top in baseball salaries; an "out" clause that could provide for Rodriguez' escape if the club is not on a satisfactory course; and his much-publicized belief that the fences at Safeco Field need to be moved in "substantially."

Sox know Rodriguez stakes rising By Chris De Luca (Dec. 9, 2000)

The Seattle Mariners held serious talks Thursday night in Miami, reportedly stopping short of offering Rodriguez a contract close to his opening demand of 10 years at $20 million a year. They were expected to make a formal offer this weekend.

For the Yankees, a Silver Lining By Tim Marchman (May 22, 2007)

Do the Yankees really want to lock themselves into playing a 38-year-old Alex Rodriguez at a salary of something near $30 million?

SUPERMAN A-ROD IN LINE FOR $30 MILLION A YEAR By Joel Sherman (June 18, 2007)

The tough period is most definitely over. A-Rod is again chasing history, another MVP award and, perhaps, the first $30 million annual contract. He set the tone for a Yankee rout last night with a two-run homer in the first inning off Orlando Hernandez.

Players, owners will prosper as long as fans pay By David Whitley (June 19, 2007)

Speaking of which, Rodriguez can opt out of his contract after this year. His agent told LA Weekly that baseball may soon see its first $30-million-a-year player.

"I don't know when, but there will be one because baseball revenue will keep growing," Scott Boras said. (Bolding mine)

600

• The home runs
  
• The vague comments before the committee*
  
• The physique that looks like he could have been a juicer
  
• The corked bat (demonstrating that he was willing to cheat)
  

• Sosa has terrific natural power.
  
• Sosa obviously has tremendous natural physical gifts.
  
• It's possible that his physique was achieved by creatine, proteins and supplements due to the above that nature bestowed upon him.
  
• The era itself was conducive to the 60-HR barrier being breached by someone (smaller parks, lighter and harder bats, livelier baseballs, better weight training and nutrition, a shrinking strike zone, and pitchers being actively discouraged from pitching inside).
  
• To give a general idea of what the era is like, ask yourself: How many shortstops have had a three-year stretch averaging over 50 HR? A-Rod hit 156 from 2001-2003 and is on pace—assuming 600 AB—to hit 63 in 2007. Is that steroids or simply a gifted player hitting in an era of bloated offensive totals?
  
• Sosa's seasons of 66, 63, 50 and 64 HR from 1998-2001 occurred during the four seasons of the age a hitter's power generally peaks (late 20s-early 30s) and coincided with the seasons he garnered the most hits (198, 180, 193, 189), AB (642, 643, 625, 604), doubles (116), and percentage of balls in play being hits (.302 BA). A power hitter getting between 30-45 more hits will translate into a lot more taters. Ergo, Sosa improved both his contact and plate discipline at the same time his power spiked. If the home runs came first, then the walks, I could see pitchers avoiding his "new-found" power. However, the home run spike seemed to coincide with greater selectivity, more consistent contact and many more opportunities while playing half his games in a good home run park.
  

The Whine Cellar

LF Reed Johnson 
1B Lyle Overbay
CF Vernon Wells
3B Troy Glaus
DH Frank Thomas
RF Alex Rios
2B Aaron Hill
Ca Gregg Zaun
SS Royce Clayton

Webb Search

Player            2B  Team  Pace 
Magglio Ordonez   34   DET   78
David Ortiz       27   BOS   70
Chase Utley       30   PHI   65