AN A-ROD FISH STORY

 

 

 

 

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Alex Rodriguez

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March 7, 2004 -- AN NL East club did try to obtain Alex Rodriguez. Of course, it was not the Mets.

The Marlins - seeing the stadium-building potential of their most famous baseball-playing native - asked Texas about acquiring Rodriguez. Besides the Red Sox and Yankees, Florida was the only other club that pursued the slugger with any vigor this offseason and the pursuit went far enough that A-Rod was actually asked by the Rangers if he would have interest in going to the World Series champions.

 

Rodriguez did not want to talk about if other clubs seriously explored the possibility of landing him. But a person familiar with the inner workings of A-Rod's offseason said Rodriguez was "very impressed" the Marlins would consider all the on-field and off-field implications of obtaining the star. Ultimately, though, as badly as Rodriguez wanted out of Texas and away from manager Buck Showalter, he still yearned for a place such as Boston or New York that he considered baseball-centric.

 

But the Marlins' concept on going after A-Rod was built on trying to make South Florida more of a hotbed for the team. The Marlins have romanticized about getting a retractable-domed stadium built in downtown Miami and, while that possibility has dimmed, the club is still working with Florida city and state officials to find land and funds to construct a complex in the region.

 

A-Rod has worked hard since being obtained by the Yankees last month to stress his New York roots. But he was raised, for the most part, in Miami. His on-field skills, bilingual ease and natural off-field charm would have made him a great recruiting tool for a new stadium by exciting both the fan base and politicians.

 

Rodriguez, according to the source who had inside access to his offseason machinations, might have had his desires firmly stuck on the Yankees and Red Sox, but was actually surprised more clubs did not ask about him after talks with Boston collapsed in December. The fact that Texas was willing to take potential distraction Manny Ramirez and his onerous contract just to get rid of A-Rod's bigger pact, the Rodriguez camp thought, should have been a flare to other teams that the game's best player might be able to be bought for pennies on the dollar.

 

It speaks to the lack of imagination throughout the game that more clubs were not aggressive in this forum. While many executives around the sport criticized the implication of the Yanks obtaining A-Rod, Mariners president Chuck Armstrong, speaking to the Seattle Times, praised the ingenuity of getting a superstar so cheaply and, when asked if the Mariners would have jumped into discussions had they known they could get A-Rod at a similar cost, called it "a no-brainer."

 

 

 

For the record, Rodriguez would never have gone back to pitcher-friendly Safeco Field or worked again for bottom-line-watching Mariners CEO Howard Lincoln.

 

wow. If we really did that, i'm shocked. Of course, we didn't

 

-NY Post(key words)

Just the thought that we looked into it, nonetheless strongly pursued it, is awesome.

believe it.

Nice to see, but thankfully it didn't happen.

Wow :wow

 

I defintely wouldnt have mind if that happened, unless we had to get rid of some of our key players then that would be a no no.

I love the fact that they tried to get A-Rod. Is it true? Maybe, but that is pretty cool.

 

And this team didn't even offer Vlad a contract?

I love the fact that they tried to get A-Rod. Is it true? Maybe, but that is pretty cool.

 

And this team didn't even offer Vlad a contract?

We did offer vlad a contract...

And this team didn't even offer Vlad a contract?

We did.

Yes, we certainly tried to get Vlad, it just didn't work out.

I'm personally interested in finding out what we were offering. I wish someone could get a hold of that information.

I'm personally interested in finding out what we were offering. I wish someone could get a hold of that information.

probably pitchers/ pitching prospects

 

i would love to see what we were offering tho, if this story is true

Good thing it didn't happen. We couldn't afford it.

Wow. Just wow. :mischief2

I'm personally interested in finding out what we were offering. I wish someone could get a hold of that information.

something along the lines of Alex Gonzalez, Scott Olsen, and Blaine Neal

 

:whistle

the nice thing about getting ARod is that he could build a stadium himself.

I'm happy that we didn't get Alex because we can't afford him. He costs way to much money. And if you look at our team and our payroll than you will see that we are doing a great job of keeping a lot of our players and still having a low payroll. We thought we would be losing a lot in the catchers position by getting rid of Pudge-but look at the way Castro has been playing lately...If he continues to play like that during the regular season than the loss of Pudge wont mean anyhting! And we couldn't afford him also...And the loss of Lee isn't a big deal-Choi can do the job...even though Choi can't be as good as Lee was on defense-IMO Choi can be like Lee was on offense...

 

Anyways it is great to look at our team and our payroll and its great to see that we have a great team despite our low payroll. Look at all the money that the Mets have...and they dont do anything with it...If we had all that money that the Mets have than we would be able to keep all of our players and we wouldn't have to worry about getting someone else to take their place...And the Yankees have a lot more money and yet they always seem to have some trouble winning the division over the Red Sox...and they are suppose to win the WS every year with all the money they have....but they dont.

 

I think that the Marlins will have another great year! I can't wait for the season to start. Go Marlins!

the nice thing about getting ARod is that he could build a stadium himself.

The House that ARod Built...

And this team didn't even offer Vlad a contract?

We did. Actually, I know a guy who knows Vlad's agent, and he says the Vlad was never offered a contract from the Marlins so . . .

hmmmmmmm...

 

interesting article from the herald today:

 

Team tried to trade for A-Rod

 

BY CLARK SPENCER

 

cspencer@herald.com

 

 

The Marlins made a play for Alex Rodriguez during the winter but never came close to completing a trade with the Texas Rangers to acquire the superstar.

 

One baseball industry official described it as a ''shot in the dark,'' but the Marlins approached the Rangers twice over the winter to ask about Rodriguez, who was later traded to the New York Yankees.

 

''I don't comment on trade rumors,'' said Marlins general manager Admin Beinfest when asked Sunday about the disclosed deal, first reported in The New York Post.

 

Acquiring the high-profile Rodriguez would have provided the team a major boost in its attempts to obtain public financing for a new, retractable-roof ballpark. Rodriguez grew up in Miami and lives here during the offseason.

 

The Marlins were willing to package players in a trade with the Rangers, but Texas could not come up with as much money as Florida wanted to provide compensation for the more than $170 million left on Rodriguez's contract.

 

The only other teams that reportedly tried to obtain Rodriguez were the Yankees and Boston Red Sox.

 

LOWELL'S INJURY

 

Team physician Dr. Dan Kanell examined the elbow of third baseman Mike Lowell on Sunday, and a MRI could be performed sometime this week.

 

But Lowell said he remains optimistic that the injury is not serious and that, even in a worst-case scenario, he could play through the pain this season.

 

''Even if there's the worst-case scenario -- bone chips or bone spurs -- I wouldn't have surgery during the season,'' Lowell said, adding that he would play despite the soreness.

 

So far, Lowell said tests have not revealed any structural damage. He said he hyper-extended the elbow on a relay throw to the plate at Colorado last August and the problem persisted through the World Series.

 

''I just don't want it to nag and bother me,'' he said.

 

Manager Jack McKeon plans to use Lowell as a designated hitter instead of at third base this spring in games played in American League-team ballparks to avoid further exasperating the inflammation in the joint. Lowell said it bothers him when he throws, but not as much when he hits.

 

BENITEZ'S DEBUT

 

New closer Armando Benitez is scheduled to make his first spring training appearance for the Marlins this afternoon when they face the Montreal Expos.

 

Benitez did not throw or work out extensively during the winter, and the Marlins have tried to build up his arm strength the past two weeks with routine bullpen sessions.

 

''I'll try not to disappoint the team,'' Benitez said. ``I've taken it very slow with batting practice. But I feel more comfortable. I'm ready to get into a game.''

 

Josh Beckett is set to make his second start of spring training today.

 

PITCHING PROWESS

 

Carl Pavano said he never saw the recent Sports Illustrated article that did not rank the Marlins starting rotation among the top five.

 

''It doesn't surprise us,'' Pavano said after allowing only one hit over four innings in his spring-training debut Sunday. ``We're not looking for any respect from anyone. But if last year didn't prove it, then I think we have another challenge ahead of us this year.''

 

Catcher Mike Redmond said he was shocked the Marlins weren't included on the list.

 

''We're not up there?'' Redmond said in disbelief. ``I'll put our pitching staff up against anybody's.''

 

The Marlins have completed their first cycle with their top four starters, and the results have been strong. Pavano, Beckett, Brad Penny and Dontrelle Willis have combined to throw 12 2/3 innings, allowing three runs on nine hits and just two walks.

 

''These guys are picking up where we left off last year,'' McKeon said. ``No messing around. These guys are all business.''