An era will end Friday
The New York Yankees have announced that Alex Rodriguez will play his final major league baseball game this coming Friday, August 12, 2016. Statistically, he has had an amazing career.
3-time Most Valuable Player
14-time All Star selection
10 Silver Slugger awards (best batting average at his position)
2 Gold Glove awards
He led the major leagues in RBIs twice, won a batting title and one World Series ring. His 696 career home run puts him 4th on the all-time list. His 25 career grand slam home runs is the all-time record. He is the only non-outfielder to join the 40/40 club (40 or more home runs and 40 or more stolen bases in a single season).
But those aren't the things that A-Rod, as he was nicknamed, will be best remembered for. On December 12, 2000, the Texas Rangers signed Alex Rodriguez to a ten year contract worth $252 million. On that day many (including me) began referring to him derisively as "Pay-Rod." It was not just the largest baseball contract in U.S. history. It made him the highest paid athlete in any team sport, at a total salary of double the previous record contract. NBA great Kevin Garnett had signed a six year $126 million contract three years earlier.
To put the size of his contract in perspective, for the 2001 season A-Rod was paid $21 million. The entire 25 man opening day roster of the 2001 Minnesota Twins was only $24.4 million. During the 2001 season, ten of the MLB teams had opening day rosters with a payroll of less than $50 million. It was an amazingly gamble of a contract.
Did it pay off? A-Rod lasted three seasons in Texas. The Rangers had won loss records of 73-89, 72-90 and 71-91 during those three seasons. To be fair that wasn't A-Rod's fault, he had three great seasons. But his oversized contract kept the team from addressing other needs. Worse yet, attendance fell. 2.8 million the season before A-Rod got to Texas, 2.83 million his first year and then a drop to 2.35 million in 2002 and down to 2.09 million in 2003.
The New York Yankees became A-Rod's team before the 2004 season in a trade with the Rangers. The Rangers agreed to pay $67 million of the $179 million remaining on his ten year deal. Think about that for a second. The Rangers paid him $73 million for the three seasons he played for them and another $67 million to play elsewhere. That's $140 million for three seasons. A horrible investment, in spite of how well he played.
The Yankees signed A-Rod to a new ten-year deal in 2007 worth $275 million. That is the contract he's being given his unconditional release from, so he can sign a new deal to be a special advisor and coach for the team. A-Rod had to move from shortstop to third base, which reduced his defensive ability. What I find striking is that in the 100 years prior to their acquisition of A-Rod, the Yankees had won 26 championships. Since A-Rod joined them in 2004, they've won only one.
Will A-Rod wind up in the MLB Hall of Fame? I suspect that when a player with his stats is considered, even though he was suspended for an entire season for use of performance enhancing drugs over multiple years, some will believe he deserves enshrinement there. Maybe if they open a PED wing, but otherwise, no. Roger Clemens and Barry Bonds were both on the HOF ballot for the 4th time this year. Neither got more than 50% of the vote and it takes 75% to get in.
3-time Most Valuable Player
14-time All Star selection
10 Silver Slugger awards (best batting average at his position)
2 Gold Glove awards
He led the major leagues in RBIs twice, won a batting title and one World Series ring. His 696 career home run puts him 4th on the all-time list. His 25 career grand slam home runs is the all-time record. He is the only non-outfielder to join the 40/40 club (40 or more home runs and 40 or more stolen bases in a single season).
But those aren't the things that A-Rod, as he was nicknamed, will be best remembered for. On December 12, 2000, the Texas Rangers signed Alex Rodriguez to a ten year contract worth $252 million. On that day many (including me) began referring to him derisively as "Pay-Rod." It was not just the largest baseball contract in U.S. history. It made him the highest paid athlete in any team sport, at a total salary of double the previous record contract. NBA great Kevin Garnett had signed a six year $126 million contract three years earlier.
To put the size of his contract in perspective, for the 2001 season A-Rod was paid $21 million. The entire 25 man opening day roster of the 2001 Minnesota Twins was only $24.4 million. During the 2001 season, ten of the MLB teams had opening day rosters with a payroll of less than $50 million. It was an amazingly gamble of a contract.
Did it pay off? A-Rod lasted three seasons in Texas. The Rangers had won loss records of 73-89, 72-90 and 71-91 during those three seasons. To be fair that wasn't A-Rod's fault, he had three great seasons. But his oversized contract kept the team from addressing other needs. Worse yet, attendance fell. 2.8 million the season before A-Rod got to Texas, 2.83 million his first year and then a drop to 2.35 million in 2002 and down to 2.09 million in 2003.
The New York Yankees became A-Rod's team before the 2004 season in a trade with the Rangers. The Rangers agreed to pay $67 million of the $179 million remaining on his ten year deal. Think about that for a second. The Rangers paid him $73 million for the three seasons he played for them and another $67 million to play elsewhere. That's $140 million for three seasons. A horrible investment, in spite of how well he played.
The Yankees signed A-Rod to a new ten-year deal in 2007 worth $275 million. That is the contract he's being given his unconditional release from, so he can sign a new deal to be a special advisor and coach for the team. A-Rod had to move from shortstop to third base, which reduced his defensive ability. What I find striking is that in the 100 years prior to their acquisition of A-Rod, the Yankees had won 26 championships. Since A-Rod joined them in 2004, they've won only one.
Will A-Rod wind up in the MLB Hall of Fame? I suspect that when a player with his stats is considered, even though he was suspended for an entire season for use of performance enhancing drugs over multiple years, some will believe he deserves enshrinement there. Maybe if they open a PED wing, but otherwise, no. Roger Clemens and Barry Bonds were both on the HOF ballot for the 4th time this year. Neither got more than 50% of the vote and it takes 75% to get in.
posted by me at 12:43 PM
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