George King reports that Alex Rodriguez could be swayed to either leave or stay in New York depending on who the Yankees hire as their new manager.
With the Yankees making plans to meet with Rodriguez and agent Scott Boras, Steinbrenner was asked if the session would take place before a manager was hired.
“It has nothing to do with the manager being named. I don’t think that’s important,” Steinbrenner said.
It might be more important than Steinbrenner believes. Rodriguez developed a strong relationship with Don Mattingly when he was the hitting coach and is very close to first-base coach Tony Pena. It’s not known how Rodriguez feels about Joe Girardi, who was the Yankees’ bench coach in 2005, Rodriguez’s second Yankee season.
It seems like King had a deadline to meet so he just came up with something on the spot. His hypothesis is based on a bunch of guesses he has made, not any information from reliable sources. Does George seriously believe that A-Rod’s status will have do do with anything other than money? This is the guy who went to a horrible Texas team because they were the only team willing to fulfill his demand of doubling Kevin Garnett’s record contract for American professional sports. This is the guy about to forsake $27 million over the next 3 years after making over $130 million in his career because he thinks he can make more. If the Yankees offer more than anybody else, Alex will stay. If they do not, he will leave. It is that simple. Like many athletes, A-Rod has proven that he is more loyal to dollar signs than anything else.
totally agree unless a-rod states i wont opt out and sign a fair extension right now then i would listen to his demand for a mgr..and thats only listen..1 man does not make a team..we were a dynast w scott brosius at 3b
Comment by will — October 27, 2007 @ 2:31 pm