Alex Rodriguez - Where Will He Go?

The best baseball player in the MLB is a free agent, and is looking to get a historical paycheck for the tune of about $30 million per year for ten years.

Is he worth that much money? My answer is yes. Roger Clemens, who was average at best this past season, got a $28 million prorated deal with the Yankees. And without A-Rod, the Yankees would not have made the playoffs.

Here is the look at the highest salaries in the MLB last year (not including Clemens):
1. A-Rod - $27.7 million
2. Jason Giambi - $23.4 million
3. Derek Jeter - $21.6 million
4. Manny Ramirez - $17 million
5. Todd Helton - $16.6 million
6. Bartolo Colon - $16 million
7. Andy Pettite - $16 million
8. Jason Schmidt - $15.7 million

Is he worth $30 million a year? Yes. If Jason Giambi is making $23 million, then you can pay A-Rod the money his agent is requesting.

Colon and Schmidt were scheduled to play once every five games, and both were unable to do that for a full season. A-Rod plays in 150+ games a year, and will be taking his stats with him, wherever that may be.

Another reason this guy should be paid that much is the revenues he will be taking to a team. The media coverage, merchandise sales, ticket sales, and marketibility are all intangibles that make him worth that money.

And now to my list ranking from worst shot to best shot at landing this big fish:

Mariners
I have heard that they may be in the running, but raise my eyebrows at that one. Yes, he has played there before, but why would he go back? They are not a big market team and is not a city that his family would enjoy. Fat chance.

New York Mets
How to stick it to the Yankees further? Join the Mets in their new stadium and put the spotlight on the other baseball team in the Big Apple. They have a better chance than the Mariners because of their location. A-Rod's wife loves New York because she is able follow her ventures in the city. But, they already have all-star players in the two positions A-Rod would play, with third baseman David Wright and shortstop Jose Reyes (although I heard the Mets would be willing to part with Reyes). The looming question: is A-Rod willing to deal with the media scrutiny that comes along with playing in New York, again? I say no.

San Francisco Giants
A-Rod has gushed about playing in San Francisco at AT&T Park, and he could replace Barry Bonds as the "worth the price of admission" player with the Giants. He likes the city and can break the home run record in the same place it was broken. But are the Giants willing to pay him? This is a one of my two sleeper picks, but there is a big reason I have my doubts (*see Dodgers explanation).

Chicago Cubs
Like San Francisco, A-Rod likes Chicago and the history of Wrigley Field. Plus, they have a manager he loves in Lou Piniella. Problem is the Tribune Co. may never let it happen because the sale of the team is still pending. A-Rod is not going to sit around waiting for the team to be sold to its new owner.

Boston Red Sox
You have to throw the Red Sox into the mix because they are the new evil empire in the MLB. But I think the Boston have too much pride to swallow (yes, they swallow) his contract especially with the feuds they have had with him when he was with the Yankees. If they do not re-sign Mike Lowell, they may be a player in the sweepstakes.

Detroit Tigers
My other sleeper pick. They have the money and a squad A-Rod would like to play with. Also, the Tigers have dealt with his agent, Scott Boras, who represents all-stars Magglio "The Perm" Ordonez and Ivan "Pudge" Rodriguez. Jim Leyland is a manager he would like as well.

Los Angeles Dodgers
Now we are getting to the big boys; the teams who can only blow the chance at getting A-Rod. The Dodgers have only given themselves a better chance at A-Rod with the signing of Joe Torre. The familiarity of Torre and his managing might make it a smooth transition for Rodriguez to head out West. It is Hollywood, he can be on the big stage with less media scrutiny (but there will be some) than in New York. They are a storied franchise that appeals to a player like A-Rod, and have a chance to take make a splash in the playoffs next year.

Two glaring factors that make them the number two team:
1. Dodgers Stadium is not a hitter's ballpark. It will not be fun chasing the home run record in his later years in that stadium. Ah, his later years, which brings me to my next point (*the one that applies to San Francisco and the other NL teams)...

2. They are in the National League. Why would he change leagues now? And more importantly, why minimize the days he can get out on the diamond in the later stages of his career? Did you see Barry Bonds play left field with the Giants this past year? It was painful to watch, and I bet he would have given anything to DH for the whole season. In the American League, A-Rod can. No more errors at third base, just getting into the batter's box everyday. He can preserve himself by being a DH in the AL and chase down every record he dreamed of breaking.

Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
Now, this is not a biased pick. This is real, and once you read why, you will understand.

• When Arte Moreno bought the Angels he had a vision of making them as big as the Dodgers. He started putting up Angels billboards in Los Angeles county and asking those who live in that county to give the Angels a look. He is enamored with A-Rod, not only as a player, but at his marketibility. Moreno once talked of starting an Angels television channel, and with A-Rod he could start it.
  
  
• The Dodgers may have just blown their own chance at A-Rod by hiring Joe Torre; not regarding A-Rod's willingness, but based on Moreno's pride. What better way to steal the Dodgers mojo by signing the biggest fish on the pond? The spotlight is currently on the Dodgers and Moreno does not like that. He has worked so hard to get the team to be recognized nationally, and now this is his opportunity to take it to that next level. Dodgers recognition level.
  
  
• Moreno can market the (expletive) out of A-Rod and make money back from the signing. He would love to be the owner of the team when A-Rod breaks the home run record, and be able to say "I signed the home run king."
  
  The media around Anaheim would not be as harsh on A-Rod as they would be in New York and down the freeway in Los Angeles. A pleasing environment for A-Rod and his family. His wife is in Southern California and can continue her ventures down the way in Los Angeles or in Orange County.
  
  
• Mike Scioscia. A-Rod showered Scioscia with praise last year, more so than any other manager (source NY Daily News):
  

  A-Rod couldn’t have enough nice things to say about Mike Scioscia, first throwing some love his way in an on-field interview with Kim Jones on YES, then telling reporters by his locker that Scioscia should be credited with making the Angels into the gritty team they are.
  
  Asked about the Yankees’ huge 14-9 win, A-Rod replied, “It just tells you how tough and competitive a team those guys are over there; that’s a tribute to Mike Scioscia. They never stop.”

  
  He wants to play for him. He has the wheels to run in Scioscia's offense.
  
  
• Angels Stadium. He kills it at Angels Stadium. In three games in 2007, he hit .417 with three home runs and six RBIs in Anaheim. His slugging percentage? 1.167. He has a .332 lifetime average in 77 games at the stadium.
  I have seen it live, he loves to hit the ball into the bullpens of both the Angels' and visiting teams' in left field.
  
  
• He would be welcomed with open arms. Rarely do Angels fans "boo" their own players, and he is what they have been waiting for. They have an open third base position for him to take, and a smiling Vladimir Guerrero who would sigh a breath of relief at his arrival. The pressure will not be as high as in New York, Boston or Los Angeles.
  
  
• His agent, Scott Boras' office is located in Newport Beach and he regulary sits in the Diamond Club behind home plate when A-Rod plays in Anaheim. Him and A-Rod could wine and dine together all they wanted, year round.
  

All signs point to Anaheim, the ball is in Moreno's glove.

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So there you have it... it will probably be a couple months until we know where he will be going, but at least you have these thoughts on your mind.