Pyle of List

This is probably my favorite picture of Alex Rodriguez. It appears that he’s gazing into your soul.

… with his next contract. A-Rod has been taking a beating in the media for opting out of his contract to become a Free Agent. His ever so loveable agent hasn’t really helped matters either. But I don’t understand the uproar over a guy maximizing his value, making some more money and allegedly attempting to get a percentage of ownership. (As Rage Against the Machine once wisely said “F**k the g-ride, I want the machines that are making ‘em”.) But what if that’s not his reason for leaving? Could we be missing the most obvious motivation for his departure from the Yankees? What if A-Rod wants to win a championship and doesn’t think he can do it in New York?

One way or another, A-Rod has worn out his welcome in New York. He’s become the lightning rod for the Yankee failures of the past four seasons and a symbol of the high-cost, low-yield era of baseball’s most decorated franchise. Of course, most of the attention is unfairly focused on his post-season performance, which isn’t as awful as everyone assumes. Check out his stats compared to Willie Mays’. But I don’t have to know a lot about the sport to tell you that one man does not make a World Series champion, no matter how much of the payroll he accounts for. Especially when that man is not a pitcher. If he stays in New York, it’s a lose-lose situation since his Yankee legacy is all but sealed as a Dave Winfield-type figure with overwhelming promise and disappointing results. And the Yankee have so much money tied up in A-Rod that they cannot afford to get younger, which is what they so desperately need. You could honestly sign 8-9 young, hungry and talented players for what you’re paying Rodriguez. No matter how you stack it, the Yankees cannot win a championship as long as A-Rod is on the roster. Which means A-Rod cannot bring home a title as long as he’s wearing the hallowed pinstripes.

By opting out and becoming a free agent, A-Rod not only helps himself, he ends up helping the Yankees too. He’ll get his money, the most ridiculous contract in sports history (to be studied by agents and players alike far and wide for years to come) and a better shot at taking home the elusive World Series title. Don’t think he hasn’t noticed how winning a Super Bowl changed everything for Peyton Manning. The Yankees get to retool the franchise and blame a perfect fall guy for their previous lack of success and even the temporary pains of rebuilding. That may even be enough to distract fans from the fact their farm system closely resembles the cupboard of an unemployed bachelor.

In 5 years, everyone will be better off because of the move and we will have forgotten all about A-Rod’s “selfishness” for opting out. Plus, wouldn’t A-Rod reuniting with Joe Torre in LA and winning a title be a great storyline ESPN can beat to death?