In a shock to no-one, really, Brian Cashman has gone on record as saying that the Yankees will not pursue Alex Rodriguez if he chooses to opt out of his $252 million contract at the end of this season.
The as-late highly publicized opt-out clause allows A-Rod to void the final three years of his contract and become a free agent. The Yankees current deal with A-Rod has Texas picking up about a third of the ridiculous contract. This is pretty much standard operating procedure for Cashman who has even told Mariano Rivera to wait until season’s end for a new contract.
Should A-Rod choose to become a free agent, he’d likely land another $150-$180 million dollars on the open market if the Alfonso Soriano deal is any indication and, if the Cubs inexplicably fail to make the post-season this year, I expect them to be on a short list that includes Anaheim and possibly Queens (should A-Rod decide 2nd Base is OK). A-Rod would arrive in Chicago just in time for the much-heralded “100 Years Since” celebration at Wrigley.
The Yankees have been making it clear lately that they want to deflate the payroll by dumping two huge contracts in exchange for prospects so it would be no surprise if they chose to save A-Rod’s 8 figures and elevate one of their third base prospects.
