December 18, 200322 yr Pudge: Negotiations were unfair BY BARRY JACKSON bjackson@herald.com RONNA GRADUS / FOR THE HERALD HONORED: Ivan Rodriguez, who was a key to the Marlins' World Series championship walks the red carpet on Wednesday night at the inaugural Premios Fox Sports awards show. Speaking publicly for the first time since he parted with the Marlins, catcher Ivan Rodriguez said Wednesday the team was unfair with him in negotiations. ''It wasn't fair -- that's for sure,'' he said. ``I was just asking for the same amount of money I made last year, and they still said no. The offer they made to me a month ago was not fair.'' The Marlins offered Rodriguez a three-year, $24 million contract, sources said. The Marlins paid Rodriguez close to $10 million last season, but nearly $7 million of that was deferred. Rodriguez is believed to be seeking a four- or five-year contract worth at least $10 million annually. During negotiations, agent Scott Boras told the Marlins that Rodriguez had a four-year, $40 million offer elsewhere, a team official said. But no team has confirmed making an offer of that size to the 32-year-old catcher. ''The offer we made we thought was fair,'' Marlins president David Samson said. ``I wish him nothing but success.'' UNINTERESTED IN CUT Rodriguez said he would have been happy staying with the Marlins, but didn't feel comfortable accepting a pay cut. ''I tried to do my best to stay with the team,'' he said. ``[Owner]Jeffrey Loria and the Marlins were thinking different. That's part of the business. At the same time, I'm very pleased with the season. I win the World Series for the first time in my career with a Marlins uniform, so I am very happy for that.'' The Marlins would be permitted to sign Rodriguez after May 1 if he does not sign elsewhere. But the Marlins have said he will not be on the team next season. OTHER POSSIBILITIES Asked about reports he was close to signing with the Baltimore Orioles, Rodriguez said, ''I don't know. I keep waiting for calls. We'll see what happens in a few days.'' One broadcast report said the Orioles had offered a three-year, $30 million deal. Rodriguez also has been linked to the Los Angeles Dodgers and Chicago Cubs. Rodriguez was at The Radisson Hotel in downtown Miami on Wednesday for the first annual Fox Sports awards for Hispanic and Latin American athletes. Rodriguez accepted an award recognizing the Marlins' championship. does anyone really care what he thinks anymore?
December 18, 200322 yr His major beef is that it was "not fair"!? We're in 5th grade again folks! Pudge's response to Samson's claim that it was fair was reportedly "Nuh-uh!"
December 18, 200322 yr HEY PUDGE YOU GREEDY DORK, THE ONLY REASON YOU GOT 10 MILLION WAS BECAUSE IT WAS A 1 YEAR CONTRACT!!! AND DEFFERED. YOU SURELY KNOW TAHT THE MARLINS HAD TO OVERPAY BECAUSE OF THOSE 2 REASONS AND UR NOT WORTH 10 MILL A SEASON IN A LONG TERM CONTRACT DOOD!!! SAME AS CLEMENS. HES NOT WORTH 13 MILL BUT FOR JUST 1 SEASON AND DEFFERED, YOU GOTTA OVERPAY TO MAKE IT ATTRACTIVE
December 18, 200322 yr You shouldn't blame Pudge entirely (although anybody who has a 12ft bronze statue of himself does have some ego issues), I mean if any of us had a little weasel named Scott Boras whispering in our ear that we could be making 8 million dollars more somewhere else, you'd start to see the dollar signs too. It supprises me however, that he is still talking like this now, I mean I could see right after the talks, but he still isn't signed, and I haven't really heard of alot of teams banging down his door. I hope he realizes that if he doesn't sign somewhere else the deal we offered is probably going to be off the table on May 1st, partially because of the talk that has been going on has ruined alot of the good vibes between team and player
December 18, 200322 yr does anyone else hear Scott Boras talking when Pudge says those words? Something tells me that's the rhetoric that Boras got him to buy into. The saddest\happiest thing is going to be when Pudge signs for 3 years, $23-26 million somewhere else. i can't wait to see him explain that away. sure is interesting that all these teams that Boras claimed were falling all over themselves to give Pudge 4 years at $10 million per year haven't surfaced yet....
December 18, 200322 yr It's beating a dead horse at this point, but I continue to be amazed that a player actually thinks a 1-year $10 million contract is the same thing as getting a 5-year $50 million contract. It ain't the same thing Pudgie-boy. I heard Pudge's final offer was 4-years, 38 million, 3 bronze statues, and 1 giant fountain in downtown Miami with a marble statue of him in the middle and Dom Perignon shooting out of his asss, but the Marlins stood firm.
December 18, 200322 yr Fudge, as he henceforth will be known, made a mistake. I think even Moorad wouldnt have oversold his client. Wrong market, wrong year - sorry Borass.
December 18, 200322 yr like i said.... at some point mr. rodriguez will wake up and discover reality. that still has not occured.
December 18, 200322 yr Pudge should be on the Raiders. The dumbest man in America belongs on the dumbest team in America. Pudge is such a tool, what a loser.
December 18, 200322 yr The fact that Boras is able to get away with all of his bs exposes the stupidity of baseball owners. He crafted some outrageous contracts for the likes of JD Drew (next Mickey Mantle), Chang Ho Park, A-Rod,etc. with his puffing. If I were an owner, I wouldn't give him the time of day. :hat
December 18, 200322 yr The fact that Boras is able to get away with all of his bs exposes the stupidity of baseball owners. He crafted some outrageous contracts for the likes of JD Drew (next Mickey Mantle), Chang Ho Park, A-Rod,etc. with his puffing. If I were an owner, I wouldn't give him the time of day. :hat Boras "gets away with all this BS" because it's in the Miami Herald's interest to devote space to it. For those who only read the sports page online you've missed a couple of anti-stadium stories in the last few days including today. It seems a couple of commissioners, one from the county and another from the city of miami, who are against the use of development tax being used to fund the stadium are now proposing to a put a "Marlins stadium" tax on the Nov 2004 ballot. The should go over big in tax adverse Miami-Dade county. Grrrrr. Of course the Herald didn't identify either commissioner as against the stadium.
December 18, 200322 yr It just makes you want to cry, doesn't it. Pudge screwed up when he got greedy thinking Boras was going to deliver the next monster contract. I'm still going to bet he ends up with the Cubbies at 18M/3yrs. The O's are looking at Lopez as a priority.
December 18, 200322 yr Author Rodriguez hit .297 with 16 homers and 85 RBI. those arent worth 6 million Exactly. Am I the only one who remembers when Pudge would hit into a double play with the bases loaded in the 8th inning like every game until September. He'll get 10 million. 10 million yen!
December 18, 200322 yr Rodriguez hit .297 with 16 homers and 85 RBI. those arent worth 6 million Exactly. Am I the only one who remembers when Pudge would hit into a double play with the bases loaded in the 8th inning like every game until September. He'll get 10 million. 10 million yen! yep it seemed like everygame
December 18, 200322 yr If Pudge were asking for the same price as he got last year then the Marlins are dumb. We should of signed him again for 10 Million. 7 Million is too little for a 10+ year veteran. Thats more for a one or two year player. To me the Marlins were Unfair.
December 18, 200322 yr If Pudge were asking for the same price as he got last year then the Marlins are dumb. We should of signed him again for 10 Million. 7 Million is too little for a 10+ year veteran. Thats more for a one or two year player. To me the Marlins were Unfair. Nice to see Scott Boras is a member.
December 18, 200322 yr Rodriguez hit .297 with 16 homers and 85 RBI.? those arent worth 6 million Exactly. Am I the only one who remembers when Pudge would hit into a double play with the bases loaded in the 8th inning like every game until September. He'll get 10 million. 10 million yen! yep it seemed like everygame It was every game!
December 18, 200322 yr If Pudge were asking for the same price as he got last year then the Marlins are dumb. We should of signed him again for 10 Million. 7 Million is too little for a 10+ year veteran. Thats more for a one or two year player. To me the Marlins were Unfair. Um.....Screw it. I won't even bother.
December 18, 200322 yr Author If Pudge were asking for the same price as he got last year then the Marlins are dumb. We should of signed him again for 10 Million. 7 Million is too little for a 10+ year veteran. Thats more for a one or two year player. To me the Marlins were Unfair. How stupid can you get?
December 18, 200322 yr If Pudge were asking for the same price as he got last year then the Marlins are dumb. We should of signed him again for 10 Million. 7 Million is too little for a 10+ year veteran. Thats more for a one or two year player. To me the Marlins were Unfair. Nice to see Scott Boras is a member. Welcome, now leave. :lol
December 18, 200322 yr Rodriguez hit .297 with 16 homers and 85 RBI.? those arent worth 6 million Exactly. Am I the only one who remembers when Pudge would hit into a double play with the bases loaded in the 8th inning like every game until September. He'll get 10 million. 10 million yen! yep it seemed like everygame It was every game! ... of his entire career.
December 18, 200322 yr If Pudge were asking for the same price as he got last year then the Marlins are dumb. We should of signed him again for 10 Million. 7 Million is too little for a 10+ year veteran. Thats more for a one or two year player. To me the Marlins were Unfair. how about this...let's make a wager: whenever Pudge finally does sign a contract with some team out there, I'll give you a dollar for every dollar Pudge gets next year over 9 million dollars, you give me a dollar for every dollar he gets under 9 million dollars. Deal?
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