A-Rod is retiring this Friday
- Thread starter RedOctober3829
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None of the writers have mentioned this possibility, and I think if it was this, it wouldn't be a special press conference and A-Rod wouldn't be part of it.
While I'd love it to be he's being released/retiring immediately, this just doesn't have that vibe. but we'll see/hope/pray.
And can CC get the next press conference please?
6 years with an OPS well over .900 and another 6 years over 1.00. I remember being just awed by what this kid did in 1996 as a 20-year old SS: .358/36/123 and 9.4 WAR - as a 20 year old! I'll be damned if every Sox fan I knew didn't want him on our team. At least up until he turned 28 and started playing for the Yanks.*
Arguably, the most polarizing MLB player of my generation.
(Meanwhile, in the AL East, Jeter was a 22 year old ROY and Nomar was getting his first AB's with the Sox)
Edit: Thanks Pap. Soriano deal.
Arguably, the most polarizing MLB player of my generation.
(Meanwhile, in the AL East, Jeter was a 22 year old ROY and Nomar was getting his first AB's with the Sox)
Edit: Thanks Pap. Soriano deal.
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It has to be an outright release to try to join another team to get to 700, right?
To be honest I forgot this tool was still an active player.
To be honest I forgot this tool was still an active player.
I'm thinking of when Mike Schmidt retired in 1989- left in the middle of the season, admitted he couldn't do it any more. That was about as classy as you can be under the circumstances. I'm not expecting the same from ARod.
I have hated him longer than maybe anyone else here (back into his Texas days), but he has acted differently since the year-long suspension, saying all of the right things (he put his foot in his mouth almost every time he talked publicly before then) and seemingly acting as unselfishly as possible. I'm pretty curious what will happen ten hours from now, but I am pretty sure it will be 'classy', no matter how it goes down.
I would agree – he hasn't stepped wrong publicly in about two years. And my abiding memory of that era immediately preceding was when he went on WFAN ranting like a maniac.
Maybe this is part of the reason they planned it for a Sunday Morning
https://www.yahoo.com/sports/video/ichiro-robbed-3-000-035655208.html
Whatever the announcement, the back page will probably go to Ichiro (MLB even made a big deal of that ridiculous "breaking" of Pete Rose's record).
Combined with the Olympics, it's probably the best time to do it.
https://www.yahoo.com/sports/video/ichiro-robbed-3-000-035655208.html
Whatever the announcement, the back page will probably go to Ichiro (MLB even made a big deal of that ridiculous "breaking" of Pete Rose's record).
Combined with the Olympics, it's probably the best time to do it.
Obviously I don't know any more than anyone else, but IMO you're really overthinking it. This has nothing to do with Ichiro or the Olympics or Ken Griffey Jr., this has to do with A-Rod realizing NY is done giving him ABs and whatever conversations Cashman and Hal and Girardi have had with him since the trading deadline. It also probably has something to do with him seeing Tex's press conference the other day, but outside of that, it is all about him and his present and future for NY (non-existent), another team (theoretically possible), or if it's time to hang it up at age 41. We'll know in nine hours, or sooner if it leaks.
I'll risk being the pedant and point out he was traded to the Yankees, he didn't sign there.
Maybe he finally agreed to a buyout last night. Maybe they are releasing him now because they want to make a roster move before their game today, and you sort of have to have a press conference when you release A-Rod.
What's amazing is it hasn't leaked yet, from the Scranton side either if there is a corresponding move (they play at 1 today also).
Here is my current guess: he DHs today to give him a 'goodbye' game and then is released after the game, NY is off tomorrow so that leaves plenty of time for his replacement to join the team. That would explain the timing of a Sunday AM press conference also.
Here is my current guess: he DHs today to give him a 'goodbye' game and then is released after the game, NY is off tomorrow so that leaves plenty of time for his replacement to join the team. That would explain the timing of a Sunday AM press conference also.
Some high quality work in this thread, folks.
Not sure how everyone is missing the most obvious answer here: the press conference is to announce that he finally is ready to fully transition to a centaur, and Cashman and Girardi are there to stand behind him.
I wonder if he will announce his retirement and leave money on the table, including the 20 million he is owed for 2017? I don't think people are expecting A-Rod to do that, but he has made so much money during his career--it would be a graceful way to exit while remaining in the good graces of Yankees fans and the Yankees organization. In turn, perhaps the Yankees will hire him to work for the organization in some capacity.
I've heard that A-Rod, unlike Jeter, wants to stay in the game after his retirement, perhaps as a commentator or coach (and maybe an eventual manager).
I've heard that A-Rod, unlike Jeter, wants to stay in the game after his retirement, perhaps as a commentator or coach (and maybe an eventual manager).
If he were really going for image rehabilitation, it might be more likely they'd be using that money to start a new charity or something.
Pedro Gomez @pedrogomezESPN 5m5 minutes ago
@AROD presser at 11 am. Back four rows "reserved," usually a sign that @Yankees players will sit in these seats.
@AROD presser at 11 am. Back four rows "reserved," usually a sign that @Yankees players will sit in these seats.
Horseface, A-ROID and Sherman Klump all retire in the same week?
Who's left to hate in that scenario?
I can't for the life of me imagine The Yankees want to keep him around in any capacity. Granted A-Rod's entire Yankee career wasn't a disaster, but he's been a huge distraction these past few seasons. It wasn't that long ago that the team was looking to negate his contract and IMO the Yankees and A-Rod have probably come up with sort of mutual exit strategy.
If "Sherman Klump" is CC, he's not going anywhere, so you've got a year left to hate him.
NY's priority next year will be figuring out the 2018 and beyond rotation, since Pineda/Eovaldi/CC's deals are all up after 2017, and Tanaka has an optout then also. They are starting to build an OK set of internal options (as I detailed elsewhere), so next year will be about trying to get them ready to step in when needed.
Part of that "in about two years" period you mention he spent out of the game due to a year long suspension. Perhaps that year off got him to thinking a bit differently.
Release him, Pay him off, send him to the marlins. He loves it in Florida, and he gets to hit 700 HR. In 300 more ABs....
And we did give up Soriano, which most people forget. Still a great trade, but So
Eh, Yankees are like the WWE right now, no one to really love and no one to really hate.
But I did get secret video of A-Rod and Cashman negotiating
I'm not the one saying Miami but if he did then wouldn't it have to be first base.
Probably, but he's never actually played there, even after NY lost their top four 1B this year.
wallace matthews @ESPNNYYankees 55s56 seconds ago
A-Rod's teammates were informed this morning that their attendance at the presser is mandatory
A-Rod's teammates were informed this morning that their attendance at the presser is mandatory
There's already a ton of money coming off the Yankees' books in the next few years, which coincides nicely with their newly restocked farm system. If A-Rod accelerates New York's financial windfall by retiring early...that would be unfortunate.
I don't watch that team, at all. Are they filling the stands this year as they are in the wild card hunt? If not then maybe they take a shot and hope he can bring something to get them or keep them in the wc chase. It would be pretty funny if the Mets took him. again first base is the only option there and they seem over filled in the depth chart.
My only other guess is he's trying to save face to the public and just go out now to try to get a announcing gig somewhere. Maybe he thinks it would be best to leave the hr record alone. I agree with some previous posters on the fact that he's been fairly quiet for the past two years. Either he's had a change of heart or waiting for the right time to try out some new "medicine"
I don't think this will actually matter much no matter how it plays out. The salary owed is just for 2017 (and the rest of this season), and NY isn't going to spend much in the offseason either way, they don't really have many holes to fill. Chapman or Jansen or Melancon is the main possibility, and they can afford to do that either way if they choose, and after next year, it'll be a moot point.
Getting into the armchair analysis end of things, A-Rod has always desperately wanted to be liked, more than maybe any professional athlete I can remember. I am certain that Tex's press conference on Friday led to this today at least to some extent, and I am also pretty sure that one of his goals is to leave being liked as much as possible. We'll see what that actually means in a half hour...
Shane Hennigan @RailRidersTT 5m5 minutes ago
Haven't seen Tyler Austin yet but FWIW, he's listed as available off the bench for the RailRiders and his locker is still full.
Haven't seen Tyler Austin yet but FWIW, he's listed as available off the bench for the RailRiders and his locker is still full.
Right but the salary they would save next year doesn't vanish if they don't spend it in 2017. It can be added to their available cash 2018 FAs and beyond. A-Rod's salary is a sunk cost; if he retires, that's $21 million of new-found money.
More like $30M with the luxury tax savings, but 1) I don't think they're really lacking for available funds, especially once they get to 2018 and 2) I will be pretty stunned if A-Rod renounces his whole 2017 salary.
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