David Pinto, of Baseball Musings, pens an article in The Sporting News regarding how to appraise the true value of Alex Rodriguez.

Pinto uses Value Over Replacment Player (VORP) to determine A-Rod’s worth and comes up with $216 million over eight years.

For a full breakdown of Pinto’s evaluation, head over to The Sporting News.

The bottom line is, A-Rod is worth whatever someone is willing to pay him. I don’t think he will settle for less than $29 million a season, but with the Yankees out of the bidding, it will be interesting to see if he can find a suitor.

Okay, first and foremost if you read this, then you are going to have to do so with a grain of salt. I know that there are more pressing issues that the Mets need to address, but if we all believe in those “In Omar We Trust” T-shirts, then sit back and trust him. Imagine that whether we go after ARod or not, that the other needs will be filled. At least for the duration of this post. I know the nitpickers will say that the signing of ARod will determine just how many of those other issues we can attend to, but like I said, just sit back and relax and let me speak for a moment.

The Mets apparently claim that it is not a money issue with deciding to go after ARod, that it is strictly a baseball decision. So let’s take a look at just that, temporarily ignoring the money side wherever we can.

One last thing, before we continue. This post will come off as being very pro-ARod but that is just because it is far too easy to be anti-ARod. I wanted to shed some light on the possible positives. In the name of disclosure, I want to inform you all that I am as 50-50 on the fence about this as anything I can remember in the recent past.

The Chemistry Effect

Much will be made about how ARod would infect the Mets chemistry and kill the organization from the inside. While stopping short of calling this completely untrue, I have very high doubts about this. I can’t really think of a single Mets player that has a problem with sharing the spotlight and even though ARod has been portrayed as someone who will simply not share it, I believe this is blown out of proportion. Just look to anything ever covered by the New York media. Surely you don’t believe that all the “ARod Hates Jeter” headlines just happened to coincidentally pop up on slow news days, do you? Now I am not claiming to know whether ARod is a clubhouse cancer or not, but I believe that your clubhouse might have something to do with how you behave. Is there any doubt that the Mets clubhouse is “looser” then that of the cross town rivals? Not really. Add to this the fact that ARod probably doesn’t want to hurt his image anymore and he would almost certainly welcome a more relaxed and friendly environment to help prove that he isn’t the giant prick that the media (and quite frankly the Yankees) have made him out to be.

The New York Effect

Obviously people are going to point to this at some point. Well, I think the whole concept is complete garbage. Seriously, how do you put up numbers like ARod did while here in NY, especially this year, and still get called out for not being able to perform on the big stage? It is stupid. Plain and simple. Besides, if he ever does want to shake that false portrayal of himself, then he has to “succeed” in New York. If he comes to the Mets and wins a title, then all those questions will shift from “ARod Can’t Prosper in NY” to “How Did The Yankees Ruin ARod”. Not exactly fair, but still how it will play out.

The October Effect

Sure, he bombed in each of the postseasons. Oh well. He was still a MAJOR factor in the team getting to the playoffs. That often gets overlooked. Sure you want your big guy to be hot in the postseason, but if the rest of the team picks that guy up then it is a moot point. Or at least you hope it is a moot point. I am not naïve enough to think that your best hitter stinking it up won’t drastically hurt your chances to win a playoff series, but I do know this… One player can’t lose playoff games for you. He might not win them for you, but he can’t lose them. Not all of me, but a part does believe that the ARod postseason slumps were a coincidence. While many of you are rolling your eyes right now, just think about other coincidences that seem more far fetched. Really, the fact that a player sputters at the end of a long season and dealing with the pressure that people will be in your face about it constantly is not that hard of a concept to grasp. But a happy and productive season might detract from some of that pressure. Especially if, you know, the REST OF THE TEAM still plays well and gets some wins in October. Or did we forget that it was the New York Yankees in the postseason the past few years and not ARod by himself?

The Yankee Effect

If ARod was to sign a contract with the Mets today, he would instantly become the biggest Yankee hater in all of our ranks. No body in the giant Mets family could compete. Fans, players, team brass? He would trump all of them. Look at what ARod did this season when he wanted to shove his numbers in the Yankees faces since he know LONG AGO that he was going to opt out. Now imagine having that same chip on his shoulder AND proving that it was the Yankees that was the problem. Wow. He might very well hit 112 home runs. Okay, that is clearly an exaggeration, but you get the idea. If you don’t believe this, then just ask a Yankee fan how they would feel if ARod went to either the Mets or Red Sox and won a title. They probably wouldn’t even give an answer. That is how you know how mad they would be. And how correct you are.

The Wright/Reyes/Kaz Masui Effect

Some will point to the Kaz Matsui/Jose Reyes fiasco from a few years ago. Do not get pulled into this nonsense. ARod is not Kaz Masui. Wright will adjust to second base and the Mets would have the most feared infield as far as offense goes. Even with a struggling Carlos Delgado, if he is still struggling by then. And on the defensive side of things, I don’t see us being any weaker with ARod at 3^rd and Wright at 2^nd. I don’t know how anyone would make that argument.

Honestly, there are worse things that can be done then signing ARod. As I said in the opening to this post, I am not in favor of it, nor am I against it. If the Mets are being truthful and this is just a baseball decision, then I have faith in them. I think for us to sign ARod, he would have to impress the brass and convince them that he would be a good fit here*. If the team thinks he will work with the team, then I will stand behind both them and him. I really do trust in Omar that much.

And I don’t even own one of those shirts.

*Maybe he should print out this post and bring it with him

In an article in today’s New York Daily News, Mets brass has told David Wright to be tight lipped regarding the prospects of Alex Rodriguez in Queens.

While Wright has expressed a willingness to switch positions if the Mets could land A-Rod, he wants to be kept in the A-Rod loop. Mets VP Jay Horwitz called Wright Monday and asked the third baseman to stay mum.

Mums the word. Sounds like prudent advice, the Mets don’t want to show their hand and while there will be tons of speculation, theres no need to have David being in the eye of the storm.

Scott Boras, Alex Rodriguez’s agent, issued this statement to the Associated Press regarding the third baseman’s decision to opt out of his Yankee contract.

Alex’s decision was one based on not knowing what his closer, his catcher, and one of his statured pitchers was going to do. He really didn’t want to make any decisions until he knew what they were doing.”

Could be a chilly winter for the Yankees.

The Boston Red Sox completed a sweep of the Colorado Rockies tonight to earn their second World Championship in three years. What was once a 86 year drought, their cup now runneth over, and a new dynasty could be in the making with the great young talent on their roster.

The most compelling question of the night ties in with the other story of the evening. Mike Lowell, the 2007 World Series MVP, whom many in Red Sox nation have come to hold dear, is set to become a free agent in 10 days. Alex Rodriguez declared that he will opt out of his $242 million dollar, 10 year contract with the Yankees. The Red Sox will have a tough decision to make as they are one of the few teams in baseball who could possibly afford the two time MVP. It is entirely possible the Red Sox could put A-Rod back at shortstop, and resign Lowell as well.

With the World Series complete, so begins the Hot Stove season. The champagne is still being poured in Colorado and things are already getting interesting. Stay tuned.

According to the Yankee’s website and numerous other sources, Alex Rodriguez has opted out of the 3 years left on his contract. According to the article :

“Rodriguez’s decision was first reported by Sports Illustrated’s Web site on Sunday evening. According to the report, agent Scott Boras sent word of the opt-out in writing and left phone and text messages for general manager Brian Cashman on Sunday.”

A-Rod’s agent, Scott Boras later confirmed the opt-out in an e-mail sent to the Associated Press. The decision was made public during Game 4 of the World Series.

Also, the article reminded us that the Yankee’s front office has said if he opts out they will not pursue him.

Say what you will, I don’t want him, we don’t NEED him as much as we need a starting pitcher. If we didn’t have a shortstop or a first baseman…then MAYBE I would want him. But I can’t see paying his ridiculous contract when we don’t have a place for him.

Wright isn’t going to first base, Reyes isn’t be traded. Ugh I can’t wait for pitchers and catchers to start so the annoying pipe dreamers can shut up. Resign Castillo, leave Green (because you need a back up first baseman when Delgado get hurt) and Alou on the bench, sign Paulie for one year since no one else is available, then find a gosh darn left fielder and maybe start Milledge or Gomez.

My goodness it’s not rocket science, find a damn number one starter (and pipe dreamers, it will most likely not be Santana).

Sorry, I’m on edge, I just really miss baseball….and oh yea… Red Sox win the World Series.

Bill Price, in an article in the Daily News that resembles the kind of hyperbole only found on message boards and blog comment sections, pens an article about how the Mets must get Alex Rodriguez at all costs.

Citi Field would be sold out forever. Met jerseys and T-shirts would be selling better than “Joba Rules” merchandise. SNY ratings and ad revenue would go through the roof. The city’s back pages would be all Mets, all the time. New York, as it was in the mid-80’s, would be a Mets town again.

CitiField is going to be sold out anyway considering the dearth of seating, and the combination of Wright, Reyes, and Beltran for the foreseeable future. I’m not against having A-Rod on the Mets, but I would rather spend that money on a pitcher like Johan Santana. The Mets need a stud pitcher and some bullpen arms way more than they need another bat right now.

If the Mets can afford it, with the contracts of  Carlos Delgado ($16 million), Pedro Martinez ($11), El Duque ($6.5M) and Guillermo Mota ($3.2M) coming off the board after this year, along with the $20 million a year from Citibank for naming rights, by all means go get him, but make sure you leave some money for Johan.

Buster Olney on ESPN reports, according to league sources, that the Yankees are prepared to make an offer to Alex Rodriguez that will exceed, in average salary, the $27 million per year that he is scheduled to make over the next three seasons. The Yankees have not yet been granted the meeting they have requested with their third baseman.

Olney believes the offer could be in the neighborhood of 5 years at $30 million a year, the highest per workday salary in baseball history.

Rodriguez must inform the Yankees within 10 days after the conclusion of the World Series if he intends to opt out of the remaining 3 years on his currenty contract, which is valued at $27 million per year on average. If he does so, the Yankees have said they will compete in an open market for Rodriguez’s services.

…i'll just let the picture do the talking…

Bob Klapish of NorthJersey reports that David Wright said that he is willing to give up third base to make room for A-Rod should the Mets sign him before the 2008 season.

After 2007, A-Rod has a opt-out clause in which would give him the ability to sign with another team.

“Are you kidding me? As great a hitter as Alex is, I'd definitely do it,” Wright said. “Tell him to come over, tell him to do it.”

When asked where would he play if A-Rod is playing third base….

“Anywhere,” he said matter-of-factly.

“What other player hits 30-something home runs, drives in 100, hits .280 and calls that an off year?”

“Case closed,” Wright said.

Honestly, im actually for bringing A-Rod to the Mets should he opt-out of his contract after 2007. Think about how great of a lineup and infield that would be with Reyes at the top of the order and Beltran, Delgado, A-Rod, Wright in the midde of the lineup. Im not sure i really like the idea of moving Wright, maybe to second, but if he is serious about switching positions then the Mets might have to think about going after A-Rod.

Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports has a crapload of nuggets this morning:

The Mets are still interested in White Sox P Javier Vazquez, but he views the Rangers as the most likely trade partner. Rosenthal suggests the Sox trade Vazquez and OF Brian Anderson to Texas for some of Texas’ pitching prospects, namely Thomas Diamond and John Danks.

The Dodgers are close to signing 1B Nomar Garciaparra to a 2-year deal.

With the departure of DH Frank Thomas to the Blue Jays, expect the A’s to inquire about C Mike Piazza, OF Cliff Floyd, OF Aubrey Huff, OF Frank Catalanotto and 1B Shea Hillenbrand. The alternative route would be to acquire a bat by trading P Esteban Loaiza.

The Giants, Rangers, Orioles and Astros are the four teams most interested in OF Carlos Lee. Lee is a fallback option for the Giants if they fail to re-sign OF Barry Bonds.

If the Devil Rays move either OF Carl Crawford or OF Rocco Baldelli, they will be moved for a young pitcher with ace-like potential. Possible targets include Angels P Ervin Santana, Dodgers P Chad Billingsley and one of the Marlins young pitchers.

Astros.com reports Astros GM Tim Purpura denies having discussions with the Red Sox about P Brad Lidge.

Newsday reports Yankees 3B Alex Rodriguez has no plans to waive his no-trade clause.

The Boston Herald is reporting that the Red Sox and Scott Boras plan to keep the Daisuke Matsuzaka contract negotiations “as quiet as possible”.

The Philadelphis Inquirer is reporting that free agent OF-2B Alfonso Soriano has said he prefers to stay on the east coast.

The Denver Post reports that the Cubs, Rangers and Astros are all showing interest in P Jason Jennings.

Joel Sherman of the NY Post reports that the Rockies have told the Yankees they will take on half of the $23 million still owed to P Carl Pavano.

USA Today reports that Staten Island Little League president Bob Johnson went after George Steinbrenner and Alex Rodriguez for what he felt was some kind of hand out he and his team were entitled to simply because they play little league in the same city as the Bombers.

But Johnson reserved ire for Rodriguez, baseball's highest-salaried player, too.

“Everything
counts, don't get me wrong, but it's disappointing. And A-Rod, he plays
$1,000 a hand in poker, he might as well throw $1,000 in our dugout. I
don't want Steinbrenner's money. I want A-Rod's money. He's making $20
million a year,” Johnson told the paper.

Johnson contacted the Mets as well, but received no response.