Mind Games

The A-Rod news makes for a really nice banner headline on the top of SI.com's site, but "Alex Rodriguez will opt out of his contract with the New York Yankees" seems like irresponsible reporting.

Look at what the article actually says (emphasis not mine):

"Rodriguez's agent, Scott Boras, said he sent word of the opt-out decision in writing Sunday to the Yankees and expected the club to receive it by Monday."

That's some unbiased source right there. Will he opt out? Yeah, probably. Is he sending in the papers now? Maybe, although that doesn't really make sense to me- seems like he should wait until the last minute, hoping Cashman comes in with an absurd offer to take advantage of the $21MM the Rangers will be paying over the next three years if he signs an extension. But should anything Scott Boras announces publicly really change our opinion of the situation?

Everything that both Boras and Cashman say is simply a negotiating ploy at this point. Of course Cashman is going to say that they won't negotiate if he opts out, in an attempt to get a deal done in the next 10 days, which would allow them to keep the Rangers' money.There's no reason not to say that, and then just go back on his word when it actually happens- it's not like Boras is gonna hold it against him.

As for Boras- do remember that this is the same guy who said this:

"One of the other things that Alex has that some of the other things that Alex has that few players have is he has network value," Boras said. "That means for a regional sports network he has an impact on in that may allow that regional sports network to increase by a half-a-billion to a billion dollars over a 10-year period because of the ratings increase that he will bring. His fan base will subscribe to that network to watch him play and they will sell more advertising. This has certainly been evidenced in New York."

Scott Boras is a very smart guy. As absurd as it may be, he doesn't say this stuff accidentally. Now he says that A-Rod is in the process of opting out, hoping Cashman will slip up and say they'll continue to negotiate anyway, giving away what little leverage he currently has.

The media eats all of this up, of course. But it's really meaningless information. It's just two guys doing their jobs, leaking things that are beneficial to their side of the story.

Photo: Red Sox Times.