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A-Rod Decides To Opt Out Of Contract

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A Tribune wire report

Published: October 29, 2007

DENVER - Alex Rodriguez opted out of his $252 million, 10-year contract with the Yankees on Sunday in what appears to be the end of his tumultuous career with New York.

Rodriguez's decision, announced by agent Scott Boras during Game 4 of the World Series, makes the third baseman eligible to become a free agent.

Boras said he attempted to notify Yankees general manager Brian Cashman of the decision but couldn't reach him, so he left a voice mail.

'He was traveling and I was traveling,' Boras said.

Rodriguez loses the final $72 million in guaranteed salary in the record contract, which he signed with Texas before the 2001 season. The Yankees lose $21.3 million in remaining payments from the Rangers, a subsidy agreed to at the time of his 2004 trade. New York has said it would not attempt to re-sign A-Rod if he opted out.

Boras said during a telephone interview that Rodriguez made his choice because he was uncertain whether Mariano Rivera, Jorge Posada and Andy Pettitte would return to the Yankees. Boras said it became clear that the others wouldn't make a decision by Rodriguez's deadline to opt out - 10 days after the World Series.

'Alex's decision was one based on not knowing what his closer, his catcher and one of his statured pitchers was going to do,' Boras said. 'He really didn't want to make any decisions until he knew what they were doing.'

Cashman did not respond to messages seeking comment.

A-Rod, likely to win his third AL MVP award next month, made his decision before the Yankees announced a replacement for departed manager Joe Torre.

Texas turns out to be the biggest winner, saving the remaining money it would have had to pay New York as part of the 2004 trade. Boras said the Rangers remain responsible for $3 million in annual deferred money A-Rod is owed in the next three years under the contract.

'We're going to wait until we hear officially, but obviously it would be welcome news on our end,' Rangers general manager Jon Daniels said in an e-mail to The Associated Press.

Rodriguez hit .314 this year and led the majors with 54 homers and 156 RBI. He was announced as a winner of a Hank Aaron award for offensive achievement before Game 4 but wasn't on hand to receive it.

New York was preparing to offer Rodriguez a four- or five-year extension worth between $25 million and $30 million annually and had hoped to meet with A-Rod to present the offer.

'We didn't want to enter in a discussion of the economic parameters until we knew the status of players because that was central to Alex's decision,' Boras said.

Rodriguez's decision was first reported by SI.com.

Yanks To Name Skipper; Girardi May Be Choice

DENVER - The Yankees will make their final decision on Joe Torre's successor as manager today, according to Hank Steinbrenner, with an announcement likely to come Tuesday at the earliest.

'The decision will be finalized tomorrow, I would say so,' Steinbrenner said Sunday in a telephone interview. Asked if General Manager Brian Cashman had made a recommendation to ownership, Steinbrenner said, 'Not as far as you know.'

Steinbrenner, the son of George Steinbrenner, the Yankees' principal owner, offered no hints as to who the choice will be. But a person who has spoken with the Yankees' decision makers said he felt strongly that Joe Girardi would get the job. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the Yankees had not made a final decision.

Girardi, who is at the World Series as a commentator for Fox, said, 'I've got nothing new for you.' He added that he had had no conversations with the Yankees since his interview last Monday.

Don Mattingly and Tony Pena also have been interviewed for the job, and Hank Steinbrenner said any of the candidates would be acceptable. 'I think so,' he said. 'They were all chosen for a reason. They were all impressive.'

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