Who would have thought that giving 25 Mil to 1 player would be something they would regret? Now its very difficult to improve their roster via free agency b/c Arod is a huge chunk. Should have stayed with the Mariners. http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/print?id=1587617&type=story -------------------------------------------------- Wednesday, July 30, 2003 Frustrated A-Rod tired of losing with Rangers -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Associated Press ARLINGTON, Texas -- Frustrated by the constant losing, Alex Rodriguez is willing to consider being traded. "If the Rangers found they could be better off without me, whether now or a year or two down the road, I'd be willing to sit down and talk,'' Rodriguez said before Texas' game against Boston on Wednesday night. Rodriguez had never before indicated publicly that he would consider such a move. The All-Star shortstop is in the third year of his record $252 million, 10-year contract given to him by owner Tom Hicks. The Rangers, meanwhile, are headed for their fourth straight last-place finish in the AL West and have committed to a youth movement. "When I signed here, I thought we'd make a hard turn toward improvement,'' A-Rod said. "Obviously, we're in a very tough division. I want what's best for Mr. Hicks, if it were down to the Rangers improving or me being happy.'' Going into Wednesday's game, Rodriguez was hitting .291 with 24 home runs and 65 RBI. He led the majors with 57 homers and 142 RBI last season. Rangers general manager John Hart said he was surprised by Rodriguez's comments but hadn't had time to speak to the star about them. "It's hard for me to respond,'' Hart said. "Alex is a foundation piece. It would be unfair for me to comment on that at this moment. At this juncture right now, we're not even thinking about that.'' Hicks often refers to the Rangers as "A-Rod's team.'' The owner, who wasn't at the game, wasn't immediately available for comment. Rodriguez turned 28 on Sunday, and started his third straight All-Star Game earlier this month. He was also an All-Star from 1996-98 while in Seattle and missed the 2000 game because of an injury. Despite Rodriguez's personal accolades and him playing in all 431 games since arriving, the Rangers have remained in last place. "It's just something that, being my third year here, you want to see improvement, and I don't know if we have improved over three years,'' Rodriguez said. "It may be a year or two down the road. And obviously, I don't want to be the one that handicaps this team.'' At the same time, Rodriguez said he didn't feel like his contract was a liability to the team. The Rangers were 43-63 and 21 games behind AL West-leading Seattle. "This has frustrated everybody,'' Rodriguez said. "Losing is something you never want to get used to. At 28, I'm very young. I want to see improvement, and I'm not happy.'' In addition to leading the majors in homers and RBI last season, Rodriguez won his first Gold Glove. He finished second to Oakland's Miguel Tejada in the AL MVP voting. Rodriguez hit .309 with 109 homers and 277 RBI in his first two seasons, the homers being the most ever by an AL player in consecutive seasons. And he's played all 108 games this season despite a herniated disc in his neck that forced him to miss part of spring training. Rodriguez said the injury and the losing haven't diminished his play. "I think my game has been better than ever, considering the pain I've played with,'' he said. Texas on Wednesday made another move that emphasized their youth movement. Outfielder Doug Glanville traded to the Chicago Cubs for a minor leaguer and cash. The Rangers previously traded outfielders Ruben Sierra and Carl Everett, along with closer Ugueth Urbina, getting prospects in return in each of those deals. Rookie outfielder Ryan Ludwick was also traded. Two-time AL MVP Juan Gonzalez, who is on the disabled list with a strained right calf, used his no-trade clause to block out a deal Texas had reached with Montreal. Hart indicated Wednesday that there was still a possibility of Gonzalez being moved before Thursday's non-waiver trade deadline.
Arod also has had a ton of influence when it comes to the rangers signing free agents. The team is basically full of Scott Boras contracts which doesn't help out the team financially
At least he can play. I would venture to say that giving big money to guys like Chan Ho Park and even, at this point, Juando hurts the team more.
At $22 million this year, Texas Rangers shortstop Alex Rodriguez makes more money than any other baseball player. He makes more money than the entire Tampa Bay Devil Rays team, too. -Team---------W-L Tampa Bay-- 38-66 Texas---------40-63
If he really wants to win, he should walk into the GM's office and actually restructure that contract.
Exactly. I love seeing this. He went to Texas because he felt they could win over Seattle...yeah, right, A-Rod. Just goes to show, once again, that money can't buy you happiness.
My question is.....what was he thinking? You're getting paid the GNP of Nigeria to play baseball and the owner can afford to put a team around you? Sure.....if he's Bill Gates. I'd be mighty happy making that money to play a game I loved, win or lose.
If the Yankees got A-Rod they might as well just close the league down. That would be the last straw and a total joke for the league.
As a Mariners fan, I love this. A-Rod unhappy, Griffey unhappy, Mariners gonna win the World Series. Life is good.
Tom Hicks should never have signed him for that much. The next best offer was like $150 million over 9 years I think. Second dumb move was signing Chan Ho Park to $13 million/year. It's hard to fathom that the Rangers have $35 million committed to these two players.
Imagine if A-Rod were an Astro. wow. The whole world knows he screwed his team. They never learn. I love guys like Steve McNair and Eddie George who restructure to get players signed. They are hungry. A-Rod wanted money so that's exactly what he got. Nothing more.
Is it against a rule somewhere to post something along the lines of "baseball is run like a bad joke" twice in 5 minutes? Just curious.
I was joking. There's no possible way A-Rod will be on another team before 2011 A-Rod and Griffey are unhappy, but there is no way that the Mariners will win the World Series. They simply don't have the hitting to win in the playoffs. I remember how the media was heavily celebrating their trade of Johnson and how badly they burned the Astros. Where are those players now? Sucking it up in the rotation? Inflamed pelvis? The Halama guy, god knows where he is?
Watch out man. You might insult Buck Turkinstan. I made some off the wall comments about the state of baseball yesterday, and I think I hurt his feelings.
The stress if finally getting to him...Of course his contract is a liability, however, Hicks is the one that gave it to him... but A-Rod knows he's destined for another losing season and I would want to bail too... He would have to rework his contract b/f he was traded as no one would pick it up as it currently exists...
