02/14/2004 6:57 AM ET

Yankees inquired about A-Rod

MLB.com

 

The New York Post reported in its Valentine's Day edition that the Yankees recently approached the Texas Rangers about the possibility of acquiring superstar Alex Rodriguez and that, though the conversation never got serious, a deal may not be completely of the question.

 

Yankees general manager Brian Cashman, reached Friday night by the tabloid for its exclusive back-page piece, declined to elaborate about any specifics but did say:

"I won't comment about trade rumors, but it should come as no surprise that I am constantly floating weather balloons to my counterparts. Ninety-nine (percent) of them get popped and fall to the ground."

The Post went on to say that Cashman confirmed he had contacted the Rangers. Without attribution, the story said what-if conversations about getting A-Rod in pinstripes had included Alfonso Soriano as one of the players that could be dealt from the Bronx to Texas.

 

The reporter speculated that any deal of this magnitude -- characterized to this point far more as intriguing more than likely -- probably would call for the Yankees to give up hard-throwing pitcher Jose Contreras and minor-league catching phenom Dioner Navarro in addition to Soriano.

 

The Rangers, not represented by any source in The Post article, reportedly did not express any great interest in pursuing the matter, especially in the wake of the much-publicized winter maneuvering that would have sent Rodriguez to the Boston Red Sox.

 

The sides in that case made meaningful progress toward a deal, but didn't get it done. That left Texas and Boston to focus instead on relationship management with their shopped-but-untraded marquee players: the Rangers with the league MVP, and Boston with both Manny Ramirez (who would have landed in Texas) and shortstop Nomar Garciaparra.

 

The Yankees also already have an All-Star shortstop in Derek Jeter, who is the team's captain, but they have a hole to fill at third base because of the offseason knee injury Aaron Boone suffered while playing basketball.

"The fact that Cashman toyed with the idea is delicious," George King wrote in The Post. "Cashman wouldn't say when the balloon was floated, but it's likely that it was after Boone's knee collapsed. ... Cashman could have been doing his due diligence in case (Yankees owner George Steinbrenner) asked him if he had talked to the Rangers about A-Rod.

 

"And you know Steinbrenner inquired about A-Rod's situation when the Red Sox and Rangers did a major tango late last year. ... When that fell apart due to the Players Association not allowing A-Rod to restructure his contract, the pressure was off the Yankees a bit."

 

The Post report, perhaps playing to the Valentine's Day audience, wrapped up with a paragraph that covered all the bases: from flirtation that leads to nowhere or -- one never knows -- to a possible heavy hitting romance.

 

"Cashman floated a balloon that had little chance of climbing very high," King concluded. "Yet, that failed attempt could be looked at as a foundation if the next balloon soars."

 

This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

Contreras, Soriano, and Navarro for one A Rod? Is Cashman insane? One, A-Rod costs twice as much as all of those players combined. Two, Contreras could be npt a good, but an excellent starter, Soriano is one of the best hitting second basemen in histoy, and navarro is a great catcher prospect.

 

Cashman's a dope.

Contreras, Soriano, and Navarro for one A Rod? Is Cashman insane? One, A-Rod costs twice as much as all of those players combined. Two, Contreras could be npt a good, but an excellent starter, Soriano is one of the best hitting second basemen in histoy, and navarro is a great catcher prospect.

 

Cashman's a dope.

He costs almost three times as much as all of those guys. They better not get him...

If they do that, then who's going to play second, who's going to step into the rotation, and their farm system is officially empty.

 

I hope the Yankees make that move, it's going to make them a lot worse and it'll be the Bronx Zoo all over again because Georgie is obviously forcing Cashman into this crazy s***...

For some reason the Yanks(Read: Steinbrenner) are not that high on Soriano. It befuddles me. He is still young and will learn plate discipline i am sure.

To be honest, the NY media has really turned on Soriano (for some obvious reasons.) But look at Gary Sheffield's postseason last year. Look at Derrek Lee! These guys aren't getting the heat soriano is getting. If Soriano was on any other team in the majors and the yankees needed a second basemen (instead of third), george would go nuts trying to trade for him. However, because we already have soriano, we don't know what we got until it is gone.

 

Soriano's defense is middle of the pack, but if you watch him play he definitely covers a lot of space and he's definitely improving. His approach at the plate has also improved. Soriano is a special player, it would be a huge mistake to trade him.

To be honest, the NY media has really turned on Soriano (for some obvious reasons.) But look at Gary Sheffield's postseason last year. Look at Derrek Lee! These guys aren't getting the heat soriano is getting. If Soriano was on any other team in the majors and the yankees needed a second basemen (instead of third), george would go nuts trying to trade for him. However, because we already have soriano, we don't know what we got until it is gone.

 

Soriano's defense is middle of the pack, but if you watch him play he definitely covers a lot of space and he's definitely improving. His approach at the plate has also improved. Soriano is a special player, it would be a huge mistake to trade him.

I've seen him play in person a few times, and his ability to get to the ball isn't in question, but it's his ability to come up with it cleanly that kind of startles me. He's serviceable defensively for a second baseman, but his hitting at that position is amazing. I like Soriano, I think he could start at second for all but 5 other teams, so trading a guy like that is stupid.

 

And don't get me started about moving ARod to third, Jeter is the most over-rated SS in baseball, if anyone should move it should be Jeter going to second or third, ARod is a much better fielder with a much stronger arm...

I hope the yankees get a-rod so they can cry 2 years from now,when those players(contreras,soriano,navarro)become studs,soriao is a stud already...

the yankees have now REALLY lost it.

 

 

what does this solve exactly?

 

 

instead of a gaping hole at third, its now going to be at second.

 

 

alright.

 

 

granted second is 'easier' to fill generally....but so?

I just hope we get mike bordick and get done with it.

Newsday has just reported that the Rangers have agreed to send A-Rod to the Yankees for Soriano and a minor league pitcher just saw it on ESPN bottom line

http://www.newsday.com/sports/ny-arod0214,...-span-headlines

 

FU*KFU*KFU*KFU*KFU*KFU*KFU*KFU*KFU*KFU*KFU*KFU*KFU*KFU*KFU*KFU* KFU*KFU*KFU*KFU*KFU*KFU*KFU*KFU*KFU*KFU*KFU*KFU*KFU*KFU*KFU*KFU*K FU*KFU*KFU*KFU*KFU*KFU*KFU*KFU*KFU*KFU*KFU*KFU*KFU*KFU*KFU*KFU*K FU*KFU*KFU*KFU*KFU*KFU*KFU*KFU*KFU*KFU*KFU*KFU*KFU*KFU*KFU*KFU*K FU*KFU*KFU*KFU*KFU*KFU*KFU*KFU*KFU*KFU*KFU*KFU*KFU*KFU*KFU*KFU*K FU*KFU*KFU*KFU*KFU*KFU*KFU*KFU*KFU*KFU*KFU*KFU*KFU*KFU*KFU*KFU*K FU*KFU*KFU*KFU*KFU*KFU*KFU*KFU*KFU*KFU*KFU*KFU*KFU*KFU*KFU*KFU*K FU*KFU*KFU*KFU*KFU*KFU*KFU*KFU*KFU*KFU*KFU*KFU*KFU*KFU*KFU*KFU*K FU*KFU*KFU*KFU*KFU*KFU*KFU*KFU*K :banghead :banghead :banghead :banghead :banghead :banghead :banghead :banghead :banghead :banghead :banghead :banghead :banghead :banghead :banghead :banghead :banghead :banghead :banghead :banghead

God damn it. I got cracking on the numbers and the Texas GM made a genius move.

 

READ THIS:

 

Texas Starters and their home and away statistics:

 

Blalock 1.014 to .736

HR 18 to 11

AVG .342 to 2.60

 

Arod 1.029 .961

HR 26 to 21

.314 to .282

 

Teixera .965 to .646

HR 19 to 7

.298 to .217

 

Young .919 .658

HR 9 to 5

.353 to .262

 

Palmeiro .946 to .790

HR 21 to 17

.282 to .240

 

Gonzalez .892 to .910

HR 11 to 13

.293 to .294

 

Diaz .619 to .652

2 to 2

.259 to .256

 

Home statics % better:

OPS 28%

HR 32%

AVG 15%

 

Soriano 2003 adjusted 154 games away from Yankee Stadium

OPS .917

HR 46

AVG .306

 

If Soriano played 77 games at Arlington and 77 games on the road in 2003 his statistics will look like this:

 

(1173.76+917)/2 = 1045.38

53 HR

(.352+306)/2 =.329

 

.329 AVG 53 HR and an 1045 OPS!!! And his he his improving! Watch out in 2004

2004 MVP? 40-40? 50-50??? I'm happy for sori, he deserves good fans because fu*king nyers are as*holes, but I'm selfish...I want my SORI.

From the marketing point of view, this is not a bad move at all.

 

The boss is going to recover every penny of that 20+ million dollar salary, and make much more of that. One of the best players to put the uniform, potentaly retiring as HR king of all time.

 

Now, who do they put at 2nd?

I heard rumors Bordick would unretire and play second. Cairo can play second and his lack of offense might not be the end of the world...hell Stein and cash might be stupid enough to trade for vidro.

The scary part: JETER is staying at SS. ARG!!!

If they do that, then who's going to play second, who's going to step into the rotation, and their farm system is officially empty.

 

I hope the Yankees make that move, it's going to make them a lot worse and it'll be the Bronx Zoo all over again because Georgie is obviously forcing Cashman into this crazy s***...

What about? 1B - Clark, 2B- Jeter, 3B - Sheff, SS - ARod, OF - Bernie, Lofton, Matsui, DH - Giambi. Not only the best offensive option, but pretty decent defense too. Giambi's knees are off the field. Lofton covers the field better, and is a better hitter than Lamb or Cairo. Sheffield's bad D is marginally worse at 3rd, but covered by a much better shortstop. Jeter's D is not as bad with a 1B with more range and the lack of LHPs that pitch inside on the staff.

 

They could try Maddux, Maels or DePaula in the rotation, and it's not like their very last prospect wasn't going to be involved in a midseasonn trade for a reliever anyway.