The case for Alex Rodriguez

[imahustla]

So I was listening to ESPN Radio this morning and the host made some very good points about why other teams should go after Alex Rodriguez right now like all hell if he's available.

First of all, here's some analogies. If you want to buy a nice winter jacket, when do you buy it? In the summer. Likewise, if you want to buy nice new jet skies, get 'em in the winter. Right now, the stock has never been so low on A-Rod, a guy who has gold gloves, silver sluggers, and MVPs under his belt. The guy definitely doesn't have a talent issue. And he isn't a clubhouse cancer like Terrell Owens. He simply can't handle New York. Sucks for him, but he's one of many athletes who can't.

The ESPN host said that he knew a guy who made millions as a sports gambler in Vegas and asked him what his secret was. The guy told him, "Just see what the public is saying and bet against it. If the public was right, then there wouldn't be casinos." Likewise, A-Rod's stock is as low as it will possibly go right now. The amount of talent you can give up and get a two-time MVP and gold glove SS right now is insane.

On top of that, the Rangers pay 1/3 of his salary, so he isn't ridiculously expensive like his contract would lead you to believe. Yeah, he'll still be expensive as hell, but the Indians have said that they have been targeting this offseason as the "make or break" winter. So let's see.

Let's be honest...who would you rather see at SS, Jhonny Peralta or Alex Rodriguez? Peralta might come around soon, but it's no guarantee. A-Rod is twice the player Peralta is even in a down year and, if healthy, that IS a guarantee.

Peralta, Marte, and Cliff Lee or Westbrook for A-Rod? Discuss.

 

[PIP]

I would take A-Rod in a New York minute (cheesy)... He's a damn good player, and I would love to see him here..A-Rod and Hafner at 3,4 in the lineup would be excellent..

In fact, I would trade Cakes & Shakes Sabathia, Marte and anyone else not named Sowers, Sizemore, Hafner, and Garko.. Even if they wanted Victor, Marte, and Fat ass, I'd do it.....

 

[Mac]

They actually discussed this on WKNR this morning and Brenda pointed out that nine million of his salary is paid by the Rangers and in a trade, most likely the Yanks would pick up another couple million so essentially, we could get him for around $10-12 mil a year.

Now, the problem is, we don't really have a whole lot the Yanks would be interested in. Would they be interested in a prospect at third, maybe creating a hole at third base for the Yanks and a couple of prospects and maybe a Jake Westbrook?

The third thing is, Bud Shaw was who he was talking to about this subject, he said that there was no way that the management would look into that kind of investment, which made me think they would because if we brought in A Rod, that alone would get people in the seats.

ARod wouldnt get us anymore wins, theoritcally, but it would get people interested.

 

[James]

im gonna write up something about why the yankees wont win with the way they have been doing things these past couple years...

 

[imahustla]

Now, the problem is, we don't really have a whole lot the Yanks would be interested in. Would they be interested in a prospect at third, maybe creating a hole at third base for the Yanks and a couple of prospects and maybe a Jake Westbrook?

I don't know man, we definitely have the arms that the Yankees are so desperate for. With Sowers finally coming up and doing so well, we have an excess of left handed pitching. Like Pip said, I wouldn't mind one bit if we traded Fat Ass Sabathia (who, for some reason, is getting WORSE year by year, maybe because he's boys with Drew Gooden). Marte gives them their third baseman. For all we know, they might go out and get Soriano back and have him play second, esp with the money they'll save by replacing A-Rod with Marte at third.

Sabathia, Marte, and a guy like Franklin Gutierez or Trevor Crowe for A-Rod straight up...I doubt there are many teams out there that are willing to top that. And it may not even be that big of a sacrifice for us...we might be able to move Peralta to third, since he keeps saying he can play 3B, anyways.

We can only hope and pray, I guess...ray:

 

[Cavs1]

we also have another intriguing 3rd base prospect in Kevin Kouzmanoff if we do deal Marte!

 

[Smooth]

Lee, Peralta and a prospect?

 

[cdt]

A-Rod will never be an Indian.

 

[B Mac]

Do you guys realize the Indians were second in the league in runs? Why the hell would we trade for more offense? Whats worse is that you want to trade pitching for him. This is not a good idea. A-rod is an amazing player but we need pitching and while Peralta had a down year the cost to trade for A-Rod is not worth it, especially not when Marte is still so young and full of talent. I just dont like it.

 

[Mac]

Fact of the matter is, Dolan needs to do somethign to get fans in the seats and that is one way to accomplish thtat.

 

[SportMcAllister]

Sabathia to the Yankees? A lefty in Yankee Stadium?

Instead of looking at what the Indians can offer to overpay to get ARod to Cleveland (of course overlooking the fact that ARod has a little thing called a no trade clause) you have to look at what other teams supposedly would be offering...

The Angels would offer Figgins, Scott Shields, and Santana - and possibly another player as well....

WhiteSox Joe Crede and Brendan MCarthy as part of a package....

(these are from various newsstories i've stumbled across on the net)

both of these deals solve the Yankees problems - who to play at third, getting some young starting pitching, and in the Angels deal getting someone who can help in the pen (& perhaps eventually succeed Rivera as a closer)

the Indians could perhaps top that talent, but do the Indians have the players the Yankees would be interested in....

Sowers? Perhaps, but like CC i wonder about a lefty in Yankee Stadium...

who else? the Indians, in case you haven't noticed, don't have a pen so they don't have anyone from the pen they can trade....

can the Indians offer the Yankees a successor at third base? i can't see the Yankees going after Marte or Kouz - i suppose, if there were enough other matches that the Yankees could end up signing someone else to play third...

ARod isn't coming to Cleveland.