[Slum]

Dammit, Xander, I can't rep you...But you're a 100% correct.

Edit: that was teh stupidest publicity stunt and subsequent announcement ever.

[Optimus Prime]

What?!?!? CAN'T REP ME?!?!!?



Damn you Slum, spread the love around!

Clemens was a huge bust....i don't mean to hurt your feelings...but the Yanks are gonna have to have a lot of things go their way this year to make the playoffs.....the pitching is at best suspect and unproven...and they are getting old.

Jeter has nowhere near the range a shortstop should.

[paladin]

A-Rod just takes it too. He's a better shortstop and he's wasting the prime years of his career playing a secondary position.

[Optimus Prime]

Because it's all about the Jeter mystique. Great clutch player, though as a defensive shortstop he is one of the worst....

A-Rod probably just realizes it doesn't matter what position he plays, he's a HOF no matter what. All he needs is a ring to be considered the greatest player ever eventually.

[Tiste Simeon]

A-Rod is like the best paid player in the world (or something near that) right?

[Slum]

Tiste Simeon;280169 said:

A-Rod is like the best paid player in the world (or something near that) right?

-He makes a paltry 27 million dollars a year before endorsements. He likes his strippers and card games though...good man.

[paladin]

i think beckham probably makes more on his galaxy contract. i think he makes 50mil/yr

endorsement wise, arod isnt very big. tiger is probably the king at this point, but mj and shaq also made astronomical money on endorsements and still do to some degree today. arod pales in comparison

[Optimus Prime]

Uh...Lebron James anyone?

[Tiste Simeon]

Maybe he's just the best paid MLB player or something. I just remember seeing some kind of statistic when I was watching a Yankees game before...

A page for Rodeo

[Slum]

Yeah, Tiste, he is the highest paid player in professional baseball. He got a record contract from the Rangers some years back that was, I believe, for 10 years and $250 million. The Yanks traded Soriano for him a few years ago; that deal included Texas continuing to pay a good part of the contract. Now I'm not sure if they still are, since A-Rod filed for free agency this winter before crawling back to the Yanks, but I think Texas is still paying a chunk of A-Rod's salary.

He's not too far ahead of other superstars though. I think it's more of an ego thing, being 'the highest paid'.

The Red Sox paid $50 million just talk to Matsuzaka, and the deal almost fell through because they only wanted give him $12 million a year. And he'd never even pitched in MLB game. These guys all feel slighted if they don't get more than other players they feel they're better than.

One player who's got a real gripe, in my opinion, is Prince Fielder. He started the all star game last year, hit 51 home runs, was in contention for the MVP award, and the Brewers wouldn't negotiate a new deal...not when they can still get away with paying $670,000. That's pretty lousy...

[RodeoRanch]

I don't think the Cubbies will make it this year. They're still a middling team, not a great one.

[Tiste Simeon]

Awww... *comforts Rodeo*

[Optimus Prime]

Slumgullion Spitteler;281268 said:

Yeah, Tiste, he is the highest paid player in professional baseball. He got a record contract from the Rangers some years back that was, I believe, for 10 years and $250 million. The Yanks traded Soriano for him a few years ago; that deal included Texas continuing to pay a good part of the contract. Now I'm not sure if they still are, since A-Rod filed for free agency this winter before crawling back to the Yanks, but I think Texas is still paying a chunk of A-Rod's salary.

He's not too far ahead of other superstars though. I think it's more of an ego thing, being 'the highest paid'.

The Red Sox paid $50 million just talk to Matsuzaka, and the deal almost fell through because they only wanted give him $12 million a year. And he'd never even pitched in MLB game. These guys all feel slighted if they don't get more than other players they feel they're better than.

One player who's got a real gripe, in my opinion, is Prince Fielder. He started the all star game last year, hit 51 home runs, was in contention for the MVP award, and the Brewers wouldn't negotiate a new deal...not when they can still get away with paying $670,000. That's pretty lousy...

Before A-Rod opted out, Texas still owed 80 million of his contract...now...nothing. A-Rod's opting out saved the Ranger's ass and screwed the yanks over

Fielder is like many young players who are awaiting Arbitration. He'll get his money, but whether or not it will be from the Brewers remains up in the air. A small market team like that will be hard pressed to afford him...

He may end up being the Yankee's 1st baseman eventually...ugh.

@Rodeo, the Cubbies can do it! It's gotta happen sometime!

[Slum]

Xander;281709 said:

Before A-Rod opted out, Texas still owed 80 million of his contract...now...nothing. A-Rod's opting out saved the Ranger's ass and screwed the yanks over

Fielder is like many young players who are awaiting Arbitration. He'll get his money, but whether or not it will be from the Brewers remains up in the air. A small market team like that will be hard pressed to afford him...

He may end up being the Yankee's 1st baseman eventually...ugh.

@Rodeo, the Cubbies can do it! It's gotta happen sometime!

Oh, I thought I heard something about the Yanks losing Texas's money, but I haven't been following their off-season too closely. That bites... They're going to free up a bunch of cash after this season though, with the departure of Mussina, Pettite, Giambi, and possibly Matsui if we can get rid of him (signed thru 2009). Not that I have anything against him, but his fielding his sub-par and his offensive production has been steadily declining.

At any rate, that would certainly free up the Yanks to make a nice big offer to young Mr. Fielder - a move I would certainly endorse. But the Brewers could have locked him up for the next 3-4 years by giving him a $4 million a year contract, instead they'll have to pay out the nose to keep him through arbitration, and will probably just lose one of the most talented sluggers in the game because they're spendthrifts.

Rodeo - Cubs got a chance, man! That division is weak and they made some good off-season moves; they got that big Japanese guy. And Pinella's one of the best coaches in the game. I imagine they'll make the playoffs - probably not past the first round, but it might happen.

[Optimus Prime]

The National League is wide open. Everyone loves the Mets, but I don't think they'll even win their division. They are OLD.

The Twins missed the playoffs with Santana, the Mets certainly can as well.

[Tiste Simeon]

I would quite like to see the Cubs do quite well this year. Maybe an Angels/Cub WS final?

[paladin]

Fielder is destined to be a DH, not a 1b. His build just won't let him survive very long doing both. As far as his contract... He agreed to terms on a contract and should play it out. I hate it in sports when a player feels that they should not play out their contract. That's not how it should work. You made a legally binding contract, complete it and stop being a douche.

A-rod is no longer owed money by Texas. The Yankees are paying his full salary now.

Matsui is a rock. Honestly, the Yankees shouldn't ditch him. He's better than Caveman and except for breaking his arm/wrist, he's been fairly consistent and healthy. That type of player is worth something, especially to the Yankees, who value and need consistency because of the age of the team.

[Slum]

I'd gladly trade Matsui to the Angels for one of your young starters.

But yeah, he hasn't been that bad. He's just not a great fit for the Yanks right now, from I what I hear on the radio and such...(I'm no expert) Damon at least has some speed and can bat early/late in the lineup. Really, the only reason I mention getting rid of Matsui, though, is because I heard we were shopping him this winter. To San Fran, I think.

My point with Fielder was that he could have been signed to a new contract this year for less money than it's going take after his deal is up. He's going to be getting Ryan Howard money if he goes to arbitration

And Fielder went vegan, so maybe he'll slim down - I don't see how you can be vegan and not get skinnier.

[Optimus Prime]

Damn, my braves lost tonight on a walk off homer...it was just the magic of Opening Night and a new ballpark for the Nats, i suppose.

[Slum]

Hood's balls in vice! Yankees' opening day got rained out...