The Yankees will offer Alex Rodriguez arbitration according to the New York Daily News.
Why would Rodriguez even consider accepting the arbitration offer, which would give him a one-year deal without a no-trade clause? There’s an easy answer: he wouldn’t.
“Essentially, he’d be coming back in a non-guaranteed situation on a one-year deal,” Cashman said. “I don’t think they’re accepting it.”
Cashman said he sees no risk in offering arbitration to Rodriguez, who is seeking a deal worth at least $300 million over 10years. Should A-Rod sign with another team, the Yankees would receive a first-round draft pick and a sandwich pick, which falls between the first two rounds of the draft. Two years ago, the Yankees used picks in those two rounds to land pitchers Ian Kennedy and Joba Chamberlain.
A-Rod would be nuts to accept arbitration. Even if he does not get the kind of offers he is seeking, they will still beat what he will get next year, when he will be a year older and presumably coming off a less productive season. It would also be difficult for him to make peace with a fanbase he recently spurned, thinking he could cash in on a monster year at the plate. If he somehow accepts, that fills the team’s gaping hole at third base. Money certainly will not be an issue. Otherwise, the Yankees chose to get a pair of picks in return for his departure instead of nothing. Two Draft picks is better than nothing so this is obviously a sound move.
