Yankees, A-Rod discussing new deal
After opting out of the final three years of his contract with the Yankees, it appears Alex Rodriguez has had a change of heart.
In a startling turn of events, Alex Rodriguez and his wife met with New York Yankees executives Hal and Hank Steinbrenner on Wednesday in Tampa, Fla., and the star third baseman told the team he wants to stay in pinstripes.
The two sides are currently working toward a 10-year, $275 million contract, a source with knowledge of the talks told FOXSports.com's Ken Rosenthal. The deal also would include incentives that could push the total value higher.
Rodriguez's longtime agent, Scott Boras, wasn't involved in the talks, though he spent time with A-Rod in Miami the past four or five days. Boras said he's trying to work out a deal with the Yankees. New York officials sounded confident the negotiations could lead to an agreement.
"The past is the past. I don't know what brought about him approaching us," Yankees senior vice president Hank Steinbrenner said in a telephone interview. "I guess you could say things didn't go the way before that he intended on and weren't handled properly or whatever.
"But the bottom line, the only thing that really matters, is he wants to stay a Yankee. And it could be very well that he's always wanted to stay a Yankee and we just didn't know it."
Said Boras: "Alex and Cynthia Rodriguez visited with the Steinbrenners and Yankees officials. Following that meeting, Alex has instructed me to discuss contract terms with the Yankees."
Rodriguez, likely to win his third AL MVP award next week, had not made any public statements since the Yankees lost to Cleveland in the first round of the playoffs. After consulting with his wife and family, Rodriguez reached out to Hank and his brother, Hal, through a third party.
"It became clear to me that I needed to make an attempt to engage the Yankees regarding my future with the organization," Rodriguez said in a statement. "Prior to entering into serious negotiations with other clubs, I wanted the opportunity to share my thoughts directly with Yankees' ownership. We know there are other opportunities for us, but Cynthia and I have a foundation with the club that has brought us comfort, stability and happiness."
When first contacted, the Yankees wondered whether the message was serious. Before Rodriguez terminated his record $252 million, 10-year contract on Oct. 28 — forfeiting $72 million over the final three seasons — Boras told the Yankees they would have to make a $350 million offer just to get a meeting with the third baseman.
New York was notified of A-Rod's decision to opt out during Game 4 of the World Series, and the timing angered commissioner Bud Selig and his staff.
Hank Steinbrenner and general manager Brian Cashman said talks were over because the Yankees lost the $21.3 million subsidy the Texas Rangers agreed to at the time of the 2004 trade that sent A-Rod to New York.
But after A-Rod hit the open market, the Los Angeles Angels were the only team that expressed a public desire to explore signing him.
Ill will was plentiful.
New York let A-Rod know that giving up the $21 million was pretty much a precondition for any talks.
"I also understand that I had to respond to certain Yankees concerns, and I was receptive and understanding of that situation," Rodriguez said. "Cynthia and I have since spoken directly with the Steinbrenner family. During these healthy discussions, both sides were able to share honest feelings and hopes with one another, and we expect to continue this dialogue with the Yankees over the next few days."
Said Steinbrenner: "He's willing to make certain sacrifices. It certainly appears that way."
"Part of it is obviously him proving he really wants to be a Yankee, and I think he's doing that," Steinbrenner said.
New York had begun initial explorations with the agent for Mike Lowell, who is a free agent, and had expressed interest in acquiring Florida's Miguel Cabrera, who is available on the trade market.
Recently, however, the Yankees have been talking to Lowell not just about replacing Rodriguez at third base, but also about playing first, major-league sources tell Rosenthal.
Lowell, 33, has been unable to reach an agreement with the Red Sox, who offered him a three-year deal believed to be in the range of $38 million to $40 million. After Lowell became a free agent, a source said the Yankees were "all over" Lowell. The Red Sox would lose two options at third if the Yankees signed Lowell to play first and kept Rodriguez, perhaps leading them to increase their pursuit of Cabrera in a trade.
One other team that might have been an option for Rodriguez was the Los Angeles Dodgers, owned by Frank and Jamie McCourt.
"I think definitely we would have been involved," new manager Joe Torre said Wednesday evening at a charity event in New York after learning about A-Rod's chat with the Yankees. "The McCourts are committed to helpi
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