Arod - playing - now or never

[swampdragon]

Hate him or not-

Do you think that he still plays in MLB?

[Bob Kohm]

I'd be hugely surprised if he never plays again. There's very little chance that a lifetime ban could be made to stick, obviously. Will Selig rush out a ban to try and nail him before he joins the team? I don't think so-- he had his bite atthat apple before the Quad pull and didn;t do it. I could see it happening, but I'm doubtful.

[revo]

sounds like a suspension is coming this week, but ARod will appeal, so if the Yanks activate him from the DL, he might get some time in. But there's also some rumblings that MLB is working with the Yanks to just make him go away.

My guess is he's suspended, appeals, but plays a few weeks or a month and then is sent packing.

[joncarlos]

If a lifetime ban is Selig's starting point, then what is a settlement? 300 games? 200 games? Selig will probably hope to set the number high enough that A-Rod will just retire, but I think A-Rod is too stubborn to do it.

But if he does get something like 200 games, I can see the Yankees working out a buyout with him where they pay him 40mil to void his contract and A-Rod is free to try to find a team to let him play again in 2015.

[joncarlos]

Why would A-Rod even consider a crappy deal like that, JC? The Yanks are stuck with the horrendous decision they made when they gave A-Rod that contract. No way they get out of it, no way he accepts a buyout. Why on earth would he? I sure as hell wouldn't.

Arrogance? If the Yankees assure him that he's persona non grata and they'll just let him rot until the contract expires, or give him a chance to take a buyout and maybe get a chance to play for someone else and chase his precious records, I think he might be delusional enough to take it.

Also, I might be wrong, but didn't MLBPA say that they wouldn't let the 50/100/150 program (that 'follows the rules') be a reason for voiding a contract? If A-Rod gets a suspension for some other behavior that isn't part of the JDA, then the Yankees might have a better shot at voiding the whole thing.

[Don Quixote]

Arrogance? If the Yankees assure him that he's persona non grata and they'll just let him rot until the contract expires, or give him a chance to take a buyout and maybe get a chance to play for someone else and chase his precious records, I think he might be delusional enough to take it.

Also, I might be wrong, but didn't MLBPA say that they wouldn't let the 50/100/150 program (that 'follows the rules') be a reason for voiding a contract? If A-Rod gets a suspension for some other behavior that isn't part of the JDA, then the Yankees might have a better shot at voiding the whole thing.

I'd be impressed if the Yankees were to tell A-Roid, "You can collect the money but you won't play again until the contract expires, or you can take a settlement and whatever suspension MLB hands out, then maybe find a yutz to sign you and let you play again." That's my idea of a negotiation, like the "Law & Order" Assistant DA bit of "This offer is valid for the next 30 seconds".

The question is whether a buyout passes muster with the Players' Association. They've scotched A-Roid deals before, and it would be, uh, interesting to see what their position would be on this one.

eld--Your point is valid, but as we've seen time and again where A-Roid is involved, his decision-making process seems to be a bit flawed.

[Bob Kohm]

....and now this, from the always excellent RiverAveBlues.com ...http://riveraveblues.com/2013/07/a-r...ntent=FaceBook

It seems that Rodriguez' doc went on the air of WFAN and said there is no quad injury and that Alex could play tonight. Maybe the Yanks are working with Park Ave. to flush this guy.

[Don Quixote]

....and now this, from the always excellent RiverAveBlues.com ...http://riveraveblues.com/2013/07/a-r...ntent=FaceBook

It seems that Rodriguez' doc went on the air of WFAN and said there is no quad injury and that Alex could play tonight. Maybe the Yanks are working with Park Ave. to flush this guy.

Thanks for the great link, Bob. The comments come across as not only somewhat logical but also very PISSED about this.

My favorite lines in the comments--

"This whole thing is becoming dumber than a football bat" and

"They should call in a centaur specialist to view the MRI."

[TranaGreg]

Thanks for the great link, Bob. The comments come across as not only somewhat logical but also very PISSED about this.

My favorite lines in the comments--

"This whole thing is becoming dumber than a football bat" and

"They should call in a centaur specialist to view the MRI."

brilliant. my new sig.

[joncarlos]

The Yankees were exploring the possibility that Rodriguez was in violation of baseball's Collective Bargaining Agreement by seeking a second medical opinion without notifying the club first, a source said.

Please let this whole mess just go away. http://espn.go.com/new-york/mlb/stor...piring-slugger

[revo]

The perfect ending would have A-Rod never playing again AND the Yankees eating all of that stupid contract they stupidly gave his stupid ass.

Yeah, I'm not sure who's the bigger brat here, ARod for all this nonsense or the Yanks for looking under every rock to get out of his contract.

[Pogues]

I selected he won't play again. It's not that I don't want to see him never play again, I just feel I'm playing the odds that he'll be suspended, carry out the suspension, and he'll go the way of Bonds and others who never could get another contract.

[Judge Jude]

buckle up, fellas

Yankees beat guy tweet:

McCulloughSL 4:27pm via Web

Heard that Brian Cashman is expected to shake down some thunder later today. Or, at least, give a statement about the latest with A-Rod.

[madducks]

What about restructuring ARod's contract into deferred money? Yankees owe him $86 million for 2014-17. They could pay him something like $5 mil per year over 20 years to include interest. It would knock $15-20 mil off their payroll the next four years. And surely they can handle the "small" payments later.

[Lucky]

I'm no lawyer, but it seems to me that if a ballplayer (or any employee) loses his ability to legally practice his craft due to misconduct, the employer shouldn't be on the hook anymore.