[新聞] 30 SOMETHING
30 SOMETHING
A-ROD WILL TOP $30M REGARDLESS OF OPT-OUT; BORAS READY FOR BATTLE
By JOEL SHERMAN
http://0rz.tw/3a2Nj
July 12, 2007 -- Alex Rodriguez is assured of soon becoming the first-ever
$30 million-a-year baseball player. His agent, Scott Boras, yesterday
told The Post that even if Rodriguez does not opt out of his contract
after the season, stipulations exist in the pact that all but guarantee
that Rodriguez's salary will climb to a minimum of $32 million for both
the 2009 and 2010 seasons.
The language in Rodriguez's record-breaking contract says that for the
2009 and 2010 seasons, A-Rod will receive $27 million plus the higher of
$5 million or $1 million greater than the annual average value of the
non-pitcher with the largest annual average value package. Thus, Boras
explained, even if Rodriguez does the minimum and agrees to give up his
free-agent rights to stay with the Yankees for the next three seasons, he
would be guaranteed $32 million in each of the final two of those years.
So Boras had the ultimate insider information when he recently told Los
Angeles Magazine he anticipates the first-ever $30 million player coming
soon.
"The way the provision operates, he either gets that or he can become a
free agent after any of those seasons again," Boras said yesterday by
phone.
And Boras might be able to secure even more than $32 million annually on
the free-agent market should Rodriguez invoke his opt-out, which is his
right to trigger 10 days after the conclusion of this year's World Series.
Over the past 24 hours, sources told The Post, the Yankees made overtures
that they wanted to keep A-Rod from invoking that opt-out by extending his
contract as soon as possible. But that is not happening, Boras said.
"We are not going to be negotiating during the season," Boras said. Boras
insisted he could see no way that strategy will change, saying "This is
Alex's decision. This has been his policy, and I fully expect this to
continue to be his policy."
In spring training, Yankees general manager Brian Cashman said the club
did not plan to negotiate with Rodriguez or extend his contract after the
season. But A-Rod then went out and had the best first half of his career,
with a major league-leading 30 homers and 86 RBIs. He was clutch at the
plate, outstanding in the field and proved in the strongest way yet he
can excel in New York by thriving despite sordid details of his personal
life becoming public. That has motivated members of the organization to
see if Rodriguez would be interested in re-upping long term or, at the
least, trying to gain public-relations points by letting Yankee fans know
they are ready now to negotiate with A-Rod.
"I have been asked a lot about this since spring training, and I have had
no comment on it and I will continue to no comment it," Cashman said.
Boras said he spoke last week to Cashman, but not about Rodriguez, and the
agent indicated he does not expect the two sides to discuss this matter.
Boras acknowledged that A-Rod performs best when his mind is uncluttered,
which is another reason in-season talks are so unlikely. "These are not
simple negotiations," Boras said, dismissing the possibility an
extension could be forged quickly.
As part of the trade after the 2003 season to the Yankees, Texas agreed
to pay about 25 percent of A-Rod's contract. That includes $21 million
over the next three years. Yankee officials have stated if the team loses
that discount by Rodriguez opting out, the club will not pursue him as a
free agent.
So if A-Rod does not accept an extension of his current pact with the
Yankees, he is gone. And Boras' history is to go free agent to maximize
dollars by seeing just how much he can get when multiple teams bid on a
star player. On Old-Timer's Day, when it was suggested that Rodriguez
could reach $30 million annually as a free agent, Yankee executive and
Rodriguez confidant Reggie Jackson said, "I think you are on the short
side." He quoted $30 million-$40 million as the probable range.
Boras also knows he has leverage on the Yankees, especially if the team
fails to make the playoffs for the first time since 1993. Rodriguez is a
star attraction and the club's best player. With their own TV network, a
new stadium opening in 2009 and a struggling club, the Yanks run a
tremendous risk if they lose the star attraction/best player. Boras
recognizes that, for sure.
joel.sherman@nypost.com
JUST CLAUSE
The opt-out player may terminate the contract after the 2007, 2008 or
2009 seasons. The team must increase salaries for 2009 and 2010 by the
higher of $5 million or $1 million greater than the annual average value
of the non-pitcher with the highest annual average value.
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最後一段的just clause有解釋一下這個opt-out條款
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