On the Yankees beat

He's gotta go. This "marriage" has gone on too long and it needs to end. He'll be with either:
1. Cubs
2. Angels
3. White Sox
4. Dodgers

He staying with the Yanks.

He's staying with the Yankees.

Cash has made it clear that he doesn't want to trade him and he won't do so unless he is blown away by some club offering a frontline starter in return.

They can sign Matsuzaka and let Phil Hughes enter the rotation by the All-Star Break and your starting pitching will be significantly better than last season.

Also, If I were A-Rod, I'd pull a "Steve Carlton" and keep my mouth shut. Don't talk to the media and just play the game! Stay focused on the prize if that's what he truly wants.

A marriage of 3 years needs to end? And AROD is the one that cannot handle the pressure?
Yeah...

I say Yankees.

He'll be a Yankee. To good of a player to trade for any pitcher or full time player or both. Take A-rod's personality with achieving, the no trade clause. I respect the other opinion but this guy is too good to give up on. Also, he's not stupid. Which team the Cubs or Yankees has a better chance of making it to the WS next year not in 3 years? A-rod does need some assistance with talking to the media!

Hey Jim, want to make some extra cash tutoring A-rod on media responses.

I hope A-Rod goes anywhere but here. I know it is 50/50 with us Yankee fans. But I am sorry I will trade the 35 HR's and 121 RBI'S for pitching because the last time I checked we have 8 other guys on this team that can hit homers. I honestly don't know what the A-Rod fans are waiting for. Do you truly believe he is going to just snap out of it and all of a sudden hit 12 homers come this postseason. And for you Yankee fans who say look at his regular season numbers...last time I checked regular season numbers mean nothing come postseason time.Trade him it is for the better. We do not need a slugger 1-8.Get pitching for him back. And if the pitching does not work out oh well we did not need A-Rod anyway. Cause we did not win when he was here!

Larry,

What's the story behind AROD achieving the notrade clause?

I don't know about all Yankees fans wanting to talk about A-Rod.

You are looking at one Yankee fan that's just not caught up in this Alex commotion.

He stays, he goes, it doesn't really matter to me.

I've said this before and I'll say it again.

He will still give you good production if he stays but if they do trade him, they better get a whole lot back or else it's not a good trade.

Deep down inside, I wouldn't trade him now. His number are down (this past year is one of his worst numbers-wise).

Wait until he has an explosive year and then you can command top dollar for him.

Annonymous: would it sound better as, and the no trade clause.

Larry - I just thought there was a story behind it. I am kinda new to baseball, so I thought it came with his monster contract.

AJ - AROD has hit in the post season. He has struggled in 2 out of 3 years of post seasons.

What is wrong with you people?

tough loss for the mets tonight.

A-

Get it right since Game 4 ALCS 2004 A-rod has gone cold. After that outburst in Fenway that night A-Rod has struggled.So that would pretty much make it almost all of his 3 years. Now tell me what job you can fail at even 2 out of 3 times and still be able to keep it?

AJ, I have it right, now its your turn, 2 years does not make a career.

And the other yankees? How many other Yankees have gone cold since game 4?

This is baseball not Investment banking, the costs and failure rates are different.

Annonymous: welcome to this baseball blog about the yankees where the fans are passionate about keeping the Yanks on top. Sometimes fans from other teams offer different opinions.Some of those opinions are objective and sobering to us Yankee fans. And some are meant to annoy us.
If, your new to baseball don't be afraid to speak your mind. You will learn about the game quicker from fans with a different opinion.

Annonymous: Sorry, It is in his contract plus he can opt out in 2007 or 2008. Scott Boras his agent, one of the best.

The only way I am trading A-Rod to the Cubs is if we get back Zambrano. We can only trade him for quality pitching.
I think these teams are more realistic if a trade does go down:
1)Angels-Ervin Santana/Casey Kotchman and Scott Shields
2)WhiteSox-Joe Crede/McCarthy
3)Some type of 3 way deal to bring in Willis
I think the Yanks are going to go hard after Willis this off-season-I'd much rather have him than this unknown Japanese pitcher who is going to cause millions on top of millions and could be the next Irabu.
How about this rotation for next year:
1)Wang
2)Willis(Tyler Clippard and other prospects-Dont wanna have to deal Melky but if thats what its going to cost..
3)Santana(in the A-Rod Trade)
4)Mussina-only for a one year 9 million deal. If he wants more he can walk
5)Big Eunich-Hopefully Hughes can step in by mid-season

I would like to see A-rod traded only if the yankees were to get an ace starting pitcher in return, and one that has proven success in the AL. What do Pavano, Vasquez, Weaver, Wright, Johnson (less so)have in common? NL retreads... stop the madness Yankees. I think we have a trend here, you generally can't get a good or even great NL retread and have success in the AL. The bats are better and not having the pitcher bat every three innings makes a big difference. I think in the AL, pitchers need and develop the experience of working themselves out of jams without facing an easy "K" or sac bunt, every so often. In the NL, pitchers can attack the 6,7 & 8 hitters more aggressively and that usually leads to more success. In the AL, it seems that the 7 and 8 hitters are the weakest and they are still pretty good. The nine spot has turned into a second leadoff spot and teams usually have guys with good obp (can u say cano?)which is vastly different then having a pitcher in that spot.

Therefore, while Zambrano is good, even great, i don't trust the NL starters that don't have AL experience. Does he have it? If not, let's move on to a team who does and have been rumored to be interested in A-rod, like the Angels.

If there are no aces available, suit A-rod up at third and move on. He is a valuable commodity and could really help the team. Put it this way, unless they start walking people to pitch to him, then he helps the team.

Maybe I want to like him so badly that I have rose colored glasses, but I still think he will be great as a Yankee, because he is determined.

There is going to be a lot of offers thrown at the yankees for Arod.

The only way I would ever get rid of him and his 35+ HR 120+ RBI's is if we get a number 1 or 2 starter.

Ervin Santana, Garland, Freddy Garcia, Zambrano,Willis, Zito are all pitchers I would take for Arod. The deal would also have to include prospects and/or a third baseman.

I honestly do not believe this is going to happen since starting pitching is so valuable and that has been proven once again this postseason with the tigers.

Unless the Cubs offer Zambrano I doubt the yankees will trade A-Rod...It all depends...the only situation that would work best for both parties would be if he went to the Cubs...then he wouldn't be labled a quitter or a guy who ran away from the Yankees...He could just say well i wanted to play for my old coach...the father figure in my baseball career...no egos bruised if he went to the Cubs...

He's staying with NYY. First, I don't think the Cubs have enough to convince the Yanks to trade him. Carlos Zambrano and Derek Lee might get it done but that would be about all I would accept. What other pitching do they have to offer. Come on Derek Jeter, give Alex a hug and tell him he's great so we can all move on. Alex needs to be coddled and your the captain so do what you have to do. Let's get pitching!

Behindenemylines: Weaver and Wright aren't necessarily NL retreads. Weaver was decent for the Tigers his whole career before being traded to NYY, and Jaret Wright's best sesason was in Cleveland...remember how well he pitched in the playoffs for them? Same goes for Johnson, he had good years in the AL. I do agree however, that I would like to get an established starter, but what team doesn't want one.

Jim, you are right about weaver, I was blinded by his lack of success, but I thought wright got "reinvented" in Atlanta. I have other examples allbeit from the Red Sox, Clement and Becket for example.

I agree that everyone wants starting pitching, so that is why that is the only reason to trade a-rod.

I'm all for trading A-ROD. Most players have slumps or "off" years. Even Jeter had a horrible 3 months a few years ago. But when it starts to show in a players defense, you better look to move him. I believe the Angels will offer us the best total package for him. They would love to counter the Dodgers adding Maddox, and give Vlad protection in that lineup. Plus, the Angels are in a huge Latino market in SoCal. If the W/SOX offer McCarthy and Crede, I would give that very serious consideration. McCarthy would be a good #3 starter, and Crede is one of the best "clutch" hitters in all of baseball. His defense is also outstanding. Crede does have a disk problem in his back that might "queer" the deal. As for the Cubs, I don't see them trading us any healthy starting pitching. Wood and Pryor are both a "crap shoot", and there is no way they would let Zambrano go. They have no claim to Aramis Ramirez, so we can get him for just money if so inclined. The current availability of Ramirez means any trade involving A-ROD doesn't have to include a 3rd baseman. If we can get a #3 starter, a solid setup man, and a prospect, we should do it. The Angels can give us all 3. We do need to inform Ramirez of our plans, and have him "waiting in the wings." After we trade A-ROD, we then sign Ramirez. If we sign Ramirez before trading A-ROD, other teams will see we have a "log jam" at 3rd base, and drive a harder bargain.

Despite the A-Rod haters who want to completely bury this guy, I think they are completely underestimating his value on the market these days.

This guy is the best player in MLB and Cashman isn't going to give him away for anything less than a frontline starting pitcher in return, perhaps more.

The Yanks don't have to trade A-Rod and Cashman has said many times that he has no intention of trading him.

I don't think that means A-Rod will never be traded from the Yanks, but I do think it means that Cash would have to be offered a deal that knocks him out of his chair to pull the trigger.

Many Yankee fans think he is an overrated bum, but I guarantee other ballclubs don't believe that at all and think he's completely getting a raw deal in the NY media market and Yankee fans.

This guy would bring a team an instant marketing superstar on their ballclub (and the best player in the game on top of it) and many owners around the league would run over their mothers to get a guy like A-Rod on their team because his marketability alone would pay for itself in no time.

Let's not be crazy and underestimate this guy's value because it's a lot higher than you think in every market that isn't New York.

I think it's disgusting how the Yankee fans are trying to run A-Rod out of New York one year after he won the MVP. A-Rod is a first ballot hall of famer in the prime of his life, a genuinely nice guy who enjoys playing in NY, and a guy who would kill to win a championship. Cashman should be fired if he trades A-Rod for 50 cents on the dollar.

Dave:

The one thing you clearly do not understand is the regular season means nothing to yankee fans. Arod needs to come up big in the post season and it is clear he can not do that.

He is a distraction in the clubhouse, he does not have the right attitude, he never says the right thing and he clearly is not working out in NY.

The yankees have enough offense without AROD to make it to the post season. Trading him and his ridiculous contract for a number 1 or 2 pitcher (since this is what we really need)and some prospects gives the yankees a chance to go further in the post season next year.

Yankees will not win a world series with Arod. Trade him for a pitcher.

A-Rod stays, and he should!!!

I agree with Larry. A-Rod should keep his pie hole shut and stop talking to the media and stop reading the papers and no tuning into sports center either! At the end of the season he can go over how good he looks and see the videos. It's the only way he's going to get out of his head and play the game.

If he goes we better get equal value. A #1 starter and 3B that is better than average. 35 HR + 121 RBIs! Come on, we can't say they won't be missed. And a few of them were clutch, he even had a walk off HR this year. And a grand slam against the Mets when they where feasting on Wright's fast ball and up 4-1 in the 3rd inning. It looked like the Yankees were going to be trampled and they ended up trampling the Mets 16-7!

Nostrodamus, errr McCarthy, I'm glad you can predict the future. I hope you can also be able to tell me the sex of my first born.

The reason why the Yanks haven't performed in the postseason since they acquired A-Rod is because their pitching has been in a steep decline.

That isn't A-Rod's fault and signing Matsuzaka will steer their rotation into the right direction.

Add Hughes to the mix by the All-Star break next season and you could have a rotation of Wang, Matsuzaka, Moose, Hughes, and Randy Johnson.

I think the Mets would kill for a rotation like that right now.

There is no doubt in my mind that ARod is a goner .Batting him 8th in game 4 was a clear signal that Torre has lost confidence in him. Retaining Torre for 2007 is a clear signal that the Torre/Jeter combine won over any A Rod /Pinella threat. The Yankees should wait until the Angels , Chisox , Cubs and Dodgers slug it out w/ the best offer. This could be another Cowboys trade of Hershel Walker to the Vikings with the Yanks reaping the benefits for years in the future

Thanks Larry.

It is fair to judge Arod by a different standard because he came here with a bigger reume and reputation. The trade in 2004 was front page news across the country. He was the most recognizable and endorsement-friendly face in sports at the time. Bigger than Bonds, Pujols, Manning, Brady and about even with Shaq. He was not here to be one of the guys and bat sixth. If the Yankees had won the championship this year and he had gone 4 for 40 throughtout the post-season, he would not be embraced, and not be considered a great champion Yankee.(Remeber that when Clemens won game 4 of the 1999 WS he still was not embraced because many critics said that it wasn't a "must" win). Only if he leads the Yankees to multiple championships will he be embraced. Maybe that is not fair- but that's the way it is- just read the blogs. He was supposed to be the centerpiece of the team- our Ortiz,Pujols or Bonds. Jeter, Williams and Posada were the complimentary role players. It is time for him to go.+

Hey Nostradamus, errrrr McCarthy.

I’m glad to hear you can predict the future because I would like you to tell me whether my Michigan Wolverines will beat Ohio State one month from today so I can place my bets in Vegas now.

First off, the reason why the Yankees haven’t appeared in the World Series since 2003 is not because they acquired A-Rod.

If you recall that off-season after they lost to the Marlins, the Yanks lost two great pitchers (and their two best postseason pitchers) – Roger Clemens and Andy Pettitte – to “retirement” and free agency respectively and replaced them with Javier Vaquez and Kevin Brown, both of whom completely bombed.

Because Cash desperately needed to replace Brown in the rotation, he then acquired Randy Johnson – who has also subsequently bombed in his 2 years in pinstripes.

None of that is A-Rod’s fault as much as some people want to blame him.

Their pitching has been in a steep decline since Pettitte and Clemens left and it’s no coincidence that they haven’t been able to make it to the World Series since.

However, keep in mind that it was blown saves by Mariano Rivera in Games 4 & 5 of the 2004 ALCS at Fenway Park which kept the Yankees from going to the World Series that season and probably destroying the St Louis Cardinals.

By no means am I blaming Mo for the collapse by the Yankees, but to use A-Rod as the scapegoat is cowardly and a complete lack of understanding of reality.

A-Rod isn’t the reason why this team hasn’t won in the last few years. It’s because of their starting pitching. Fix the rotation and you’ll solve most of your problems.

This team can win with A-Rod.

A Rod says he is staying, his agent says he is staying, Cashman says he is staying. I'm not sure if I have the facts right, but I seem to rememebr that in the winter of 2004, about a month passed between the time that the A Rod to Red Sox trade fell through and the A Rod to Yankees deal. In the time between, didn't the Rangers hold a press conference in which they named A Rod as captain and A Rod said he was committed to playing his career in Texas? Anyone else have similiar memories? It just goes to show that posturing is one thing and the result could be totally different. Maybe someone at Newsday can run an article from that time on the blog.

Yankee nut - the difference btw that deal and this season is AROD wanted out then, that is not the case now.

The Red Sox were denied by the CB/ players union because although AROD was willing to take a pay cut - it was going to restructure his contract. That was in December.

Aaron Boone tore his ACL in Feb, then they asked AROD will you move to third - since HE ACTUALLY WANTED TO LEAVE, he said gladly.

Actual articles from then will be nice though.

Oh, and he was named captain for the Rangers in January.

The 1 issue that seems to be getting over-looked in the trading of A-ROD, is his defense. His defense was horrible all year. Everytime he handled a grounder or made a throw, you had to hold your breath. There is no way the Yankees can make a championship run with that kind of defensive liability at such an active position. We can replace his offensive production either through his trade, another trade, or just sign Aramis Ramirez. Improving a teams defense also improves a teams pitching, which appears to be every posters wish.

Hey,

Did you read my post? I said we need pitching, its obviously the reason why we have not won a world series in 6 years. And we will not win a world series without trading Arod because we will not be able to get that pitching without giving up Arod.

Hence: We will not win a world series with Arod.

Arod is a distraction to the entire Yankee organization...his defense was awful, his attitude is pathetic, and he can not hit when it counts....the post season.

Terrance:
I think your time line agrees with mine, but I disagree with your premise that he wanted out of Texas and he doesn't want out of new York. If he wanted out of Texas so badly, then why go to a press conference and accept being the captain of a team. Now neither of us can get inside of A Rod's head, but my point was that in 2004 he appeared in public to announce his loyalty to Texas and then one month later agreed to be traded. Now here we are in 2006 and he is again publicly stating that he wants to stay on a specific team. I just think that we shouldn't predict what is going to happen based on what A Rod says- I think it is 50/50 that he will be traded and the deciding factor will be whether Cashman wants to do it or not.

Nostradmus,

The Yanks don't need to trade A-Rod for pitching.

If they sign Matsuzaka and Hughes is part of the rotation by the All-Star break, they don't need to trade away the best player in the game.

Hughes is going to get a shot next season, Cash said so last week.

A lot of teams would love to have a rotation of Wang, Matsuzaka, Moose, Hughes, and Randy Johnson and the Yankees don't have to overhaul their roster to get it.

A-Rod is a distraction because of people like you hating him and booing him in his own ballpark.

The media wouldn't cover this stupid A-Rod nonsense if so-called Yankee fans didn't sling mud at him everytime he walked out of his house.

AMEN!! You said it anaconda!

Get off the guys back and stop publicizing his every move and comment. No one is perfect and the media here blows everything out of proportion. Remember the "day in central park" fiasco! They talked about it for a week.

He's a distraction because everyone is soooooo obsessed!

It's a shame all people remember is when he didn't get a hit or didn't make the play. Lets' not kid ourselves into thinking he is the worst thing that's happened to the Yankees. Carl Pavano is!

I hope Jim comes up with another Yankee topic for the off season. The A-rod line is starting to recycle itself. There were great comments for both sides of the question. Now, its up to Cashman.

All the right things will be said concerning the A-Rod situation until after the World Series is over. He'll say he he wants to stay, Cashman will say he's not entertaining any offers for him. Then the rumors start flying and get stronger. The media and fans speculate what will happen.
Then, all of a sudden - breaking news and ............................. ! ! !

Isn't it time to leave it alone? Let A-Rod play and maybe, just maybe the 2007 season will be special. All you guys who can't stand him, who do you get to hit .290, 30-plus bombs and drive in 120-plus in a "bad year"? Do you realize those numbers? Do you?
He made me angrier than a bleeding volcano with his paltry postseason, but who else di anything outside of Jeter and Posada?
We give up on too many people too soon. Think Weaver is enjoying his ride? What about the jack-leg known as The Gambler?

Wouldn't it be great if we ignored him the way we chose to ignore Giambi? Just leave him be and let him perform. What has he done to be so ridiculed (aside from some dumb comments when he was worried about his image)? Yet, Giambi has now missed the last game of the Marlins' World Series loss and the Detroit "decider" this year. Do we hate him?
I like Giambi. I like A-Rod. I liked Lidle. They are Yankees and deserve our respect for what they did over 162 games.

the gambler's on greenies this month.

anaconda gets it.

"The media wouldn't cover this stupid A-Rod nonsense if so-called Yankee fans didn't sling mud at him everytime he walked out of his house."

Here's what you wanted Yankeenut:

The Associated Press

January 26, 2004, Monday, BC cycle

SECTION: Sports News

LENGTH: 718 words

HEADLINE: A-Rod named captain of Texas Rangers

BYLINE: By RONALD BLUM, AP Sports Writer

DATELINE: NEW YORK

BODY:
Now he's captain A-Rod.

A month after Alex Rodriguez nearly was dealt to Boston, the American League MVP and Texas Rangers management put on their finest evening clothes Sunday night and tried to put a formal end to their troubled offseason filled with trade talk and tension.

At an unusual news conference in which everyone wore tuxedos, the Rangers appointed Rodriguez their captain.

"I feel good about with who I am in bed with and who I am married to with the Rangers," Rodriguez said.

In town to accept the MVP award, Rodriguez met for five hours in the hotel suite of Rangers owner Tom Hicks, with general manager John Hart and manager Buck Showalter joining in. Afterward, the quartet proclaimed the start of a new era that they hoped would culminate in Texas' first World Series title.

"I definitely think I'm going to be here for a long time," Rodriguez said. "I'm probably pretty sure it will work out for the best."

Texas wanted to get out from the burden of the record $252 million, 10-year contract it signed Rodriguez to after the 2000 season, and the seven-time All-Star shortstop was frustrated following three last-place finishes with the Rangers. Texas then agreed last month to a tentative trade that would have sent the seven-time All-Star shortstop to Boston for outfielder Manny Ramirez.

"It looked like there might be a situation that would be win, win, win," Hicks said.

But the deal was contingent on A-Rod agreeing to restructure his contract, and the players' association vetoed the proposal made by Boston, saying it would have reduced the deal's value by $28 million to $30 million. The union made a counteroffer that would have cut $12 million to $13 million, a plan Boston found unacceptable. The trade then collapsed.

"This was an unpleasant experience, but probably a necessary one," Hart said.

Showalter said he had been thinking of making Rodriguez captain for the past year, but Hicks wasn't aware of the plan until halfway through Sunday's meeting.

"I feel a grand responsibility not only to the Texas Rangers, but to our fans," Rodriguez said, adding that he was touched by the gesture, especially given that he's only 28.

Showalter said the only other captain under him was Don Mattingly with the New York Yankees.

"It's something I know that portrays the best in Alex," Showalter said. "It is very important as we go forward that we have someone like Alex lead our young people in the proper direction and set the tone."

Rodriguez, just back from a vacation to London, Milan, Florence and Venice, said he was convinced the Rangers were "moving this train in the right direction." The team is going with youth, putting a renewed emphasis on pitching.

He called the offseason "very stressful" and said he was "very happy the trade talks have ended."

"I feel very good about our plan as we move forward," he said. "I feel we're going to be very good, very soon."

Hicks looked at the injuries to Texas pitchers the last few years and said the Rangers "had more bad luck than any team should have."

"I think definitely the toughest days are behind us," Rodriguez said, adding that he looked forward to one day negotiating a new contract with Hicks that would extend "into my 40s."

Notes:@ Rodriguez received the AL MVP award at the annual dinner of the New York chapter of the Baseball Writers' Association of America. "As you guys know, I've had a really relaxing winter this year," Rodriguez told the crowd. He said that on his European vacation, he largely went unnoticed - until some kids approached him one day. "Finally, somebody's going to recognize me, I'm A-Rod," he said. Then Rodriguez said the kids walked up to him and said in broken english: "Let's go Yankees." ... The biggest ovation at the dinner went to major league baseball vice president Phyllis Merhige, who received an award for long and meritorious service. ... A-Rod's agent, Scott Boras, also represents free agent Ivan Rodriguez and said the 10-time All-Star catcher could agree to a contract this week. Detroit has offered $40 million over four years. ... Hicks, a member of baseball's committee on the relocation of the Montreal Expos, hopes to whittle the contender cities to two or three by the owners' meeting in May.

Matsuzaka and Mussina are not even signed yet. So dont start counting your chickens before they hatch.

Matsuzaka has never even gotten a MLB hitter out before. He is also going to have a lot of other teams looking his way.

Johnson may not get better after his surgery...

Hughes is still to young to bring up and like you said probably wont come up til the All Star Break....you can not rely on him either to immediatley make a difference.

So that leaves us with Wang as the only pitcher we definetly know for sure about right now.

My point: We need another pitcher. We do not need Arods late inning RBI's in blowout games, we dont need his attitude and we dont need the distraction..even if it is partly the fault of people like me that can not stand looking at him and his gay ass purple lipstick everyday screwing up games with his errors.

Jim:
Thanks for posting the article. Some very interesting quotes from Arod in the piece. No wonder he gets booed so much when the Yankees play at Texas. Stay tuned...

McCarthy:

Yes, they will need a Plan B if Matsuzaka signs with another ballclub.

However, there is plenty of time between now and Spring Training to address this team and make necessary changes to the starting rotation because the 2006 World Series hasn’t even started yet.

You lecture me saying that you can’t count on guys like Hughes, Moose, and Matsuzaka because they aren’t signed for next season or haven’t recorded an out at the MLB level.

Well, that’s true. However, you also can’t make any guarantees that trading A-Rod will give you a quality arm in return.

Yes, Santana looks pretty good with the Angels and Brandon McCarthy appears to be a great young prospect with a lot of promise with the ChiSox.

But, these young kids aren’t exactly a sure thing in NY either. If you recall, Javier Vasquez was as close to a sure thing when they acquired him from Montreal a couple of years ago and he turned out to be a huge bust for this ballclub.

Randy Johnson was still pitching lights out when the Yanks acquired him in 2005 and wasn’t showing any signs of slowing down.

Yes, his age was a concern, but the guy just had another spectacular season in 2004 with the D-Backs and would have won his 6th Cy Young Award if not for a guy named Roger Clemens coming out of “retirement” to pitch for the Astros and having an unbelievable season.

Unfortunately, there aren’t many guarantees in this game and in NY, but sometimes you have to go to war with the guns you have. It may not be a bad thing to give the kids a chance and let them pitch because they aren’t going to mature at the major-league level by continuing to pitch at the minor-league level.

The Yanks have had pretty good success with a few of their young kids the last couple of years (Wang, Cano, and Melky), so who is to say that Hughes won’t be next great talent or somebody else from their farm won’t step up and do the job.

Let’s not forget that we are talking about the Yankees. The team they put on the field in April may not be the same team they have in August. Cash will make a deal during the season or the trade deadline if he feels the Yanks need to do so.

The only way I trade A-Rod is if they cannot sign Matsuzaka and a GM calls Cashman and knocks his socks off with a deal that he can’t refuse.

I’m not looking to aggressively pursue a deal for A-Rod because you don’t give up your best bargaining chip for anything that isn’t your primary need in return.

The more you are perceived as the aggressor and trying to unload a player, the less you will be offered in return for that player.

A-Rod has a lot more value on the market this off-season because of the lack of star power on the free agent market and his immense marketability in a large sports market outside of New York.

I have faith in Cashman and I believe that he will make the necessary changes to help this ballclub and won’t trade A-Rod just for the sake of trading him because that would be idiotic.

Thanks for the article Jim.

The team was desperate to move his contract, hence the trade. I cannot wrap that article around to mean anything else.

All these personal attacks on a player...for shame.

I agree anaconda, trading him for the sake of a trade will be idiotic. Besides pitchers are so unpredictable, the come here not succeed, and then win rings else where.

I agree with you. We should not trade Arod unless we get a good offer that includes a potential Ace, and either a average 3B or some really promising prospects.

I love building up a quality farm system because I love watching young guys get the chance to play in NY on the big stage. It costs us nothing to see if they can handle the pressures of playing for the Yankees.

But right now if they get an offer for Arod that includes one of the pitchers I mentioned you seriously have to consider it. Our other options all have huge "If's" and of course there is a chance that a potential Ace could not play as well on the big stage, i would take that risk over Matsakakaa, Huges, and The Old Unit.

I will guarantee that trading Arod would give us a quality arm. Whether or not he would be able to perform on the Yankee stage is up to Cashman and all of the yankee scouts. I trust them to make those decisions.

We can afford to lose Arod's offense so we can gain a number 1 or 2 starter.Why??? Because we have Damon, Jeter, Giambi, Bobby, Cano, Melky, and Matsui.