Should "E"Rod Leave NY

If you were New York Yankees GM Brian Cashman, would you trade Alex Rodriguez? No, of course not. Unless you are swayed by the unjustified notion of “clutch” you wouldn’t dream of trading the player with the most realistic chance of eclipsing Barry Bonds’ home run record (or Hank Aaron’s if indeed MLB manages to force Barry’s hand into retirement). After weeks of being booed by the largely gut motivated Yankee fans, ARod committed three errors last night; while the Yankees still won, the third baseman woke up this morning to tabloids claiming it was time for the Yanks to part with the beleaguered third baseman. While a trade may be in the best interest of ARod, it obviously isn’t in the best interest of the Yankees. Unless they are sending Rodriguez across town to the Mets for David Wright, there is not another third baseman who reasonably can help them over the next four years as much as the 25 million dollar man. Of course, therein lies the problem: ARod will always be held to some unreachable and absurd standard because of his contract and because he ended up in New York, where the shadow of Derek Jeter shrouds everything he does. The summer ARod arrived in New York, he almost landed in Boston where he would have been replacing the beloved Nomar Garciapara at short. Yet, despite the love bestowed by the Fenway faithful upon Nomar, ARod would have been revered. That’s how things are in Boston where despite their extreme, Sox fans love their players. Manny Ramierez botches a play in the field, claims the because of the adoration (not booing, adoration) of the fans he wants to be traded, well that’s just Manny being Manny. In New York, the fans are either rabidly loyal, or rabidly not. There’s little rhyme or reason for this, other than a perception of someone being a true “Yankee.” Paul O’Neil who played most of his career for the Cincinnati Reds was a true Yankee, Roger Clemens, who played all of his pre-Yankee life with New York’s two biggest division rivals was a true Yankee, Derek Jeter, who is from Michigan is a true Yankee, ARod who is a native New Yorker, played in Seattle and Texas isn’t a true Yankee. So, should the Yanks trade ARod? Of course not, should ARod ask to be traded? Perhaps. Leaving New York might seem like a defeat; no championship, vilified by the fans and press, he would be leaving with his tail between his legs, but with three or four great years left (potentially at shortstop), does it make sense for Rodriguez to move on, forget this experience and get a fresh start somewhere else?

Realistically any move by/for ARod would have to occur in the offseason, but just for fun lets look at three possible trades for the erstwhile shortstop:

ARod and Bubba Crosby to Toronto for Vernon Wells, A.J. Burnett, and Eric Hinske – I have no idea whether ARod would agree to cross the border (some guys are weird like that), but all things considered it would be a great fit for him. Canadian fans are far more laid back than New Yorkers, the Rogers Center is a friendly park for a right hander and in 19 games a year he can try sticking it to the Yankees. For NY the trade isn’t terrible, Vernon Wells is a MVP caliber player and he would fill the outfield hole of the departing Gary Sheffield. Burnett is a risk, but the Yanks are desperate for pitchers and can afford to take Pavano-like risks, and Hinske is a great bench player who’s 5 million salary is too much for the Jays, but fine for someone coming off the Yanks’ pine. For the Jays talent wise the trade makes sense, because Vernon is likely leaving after next year and Alex Rios seems quite capable of playing center. ARod would fill the gaping hole at short and give the Jays a spectacular infield. But, the trade leaves them short a number two pitcher, which is harder to replace than anything except a number one pitcher. While the money in the deal is pretty close on a per year basis, ARod’s remaining salary dwarfs that of the Jays’ three and replacing Burnett in the rotation would be costly. No doubt the Yanks could toss in some cash, but they don’t really have a reason to do so, which is a shame, because an infield of Overbay, Hill, ARod, and Troy Glauss would be worth a LOT of wins.

ARod to the Cubs for Mark Prior and Felix Pie (AAA) – The Cubs need to do something, but seem incapable of admitting that the Prior-Wood experiment is over. While blowing the whole thing up and starting over makes a lot of sense, letting Wood walk and trading Prior for ARod would eliminate their dependence on the injured duo, while keeping the fans believing that next year is THE year (which, like the hundred previous ones, it isn’t). Prior could be perfect for the Yanks, the ace going forward to replace Randy Johnson and Mike Mussina and Felix Pie starts in the outfield for them next year. The Cubs never have to play Neifi Perez again, ARod goes to a high profile, but forgiving market and the Yanks improve themselves long term, seems like a winner for everyone; if, of course, Prior can stay healthy…

ARod to the Angels for Garret Anderson, Darrin Erstad, Dallas McPherson, Brandon Wood, and Ervin Santana – Perhaps the best spot for ARod, the low key LA fans will cheer him, Vladimir Guerrero will protect him in the lineup, and the Angels will be perennial contenders. The Angels farm system is deep and there are any number of great players from whom the Yanks could ask. Wood, a shortstop who would be the Yanks starting third baseman next year and Santana who’s already a VERY good Major Leaguer would likely be the Yanks choice. To help with the cost, the Yanks also take two costly declining players off the Angels hands. Anderson is still reasonably useful, at least as the left handed bat in a platoon situation (although it should be criminal at this point to leave him in against lefties) and Erstad is (wink, wink) a great clubhouse guy, and ahhh, uhmm a good defender at first…? Whatever, Santana and Wood make it a decent deal for New York and the Yanks are the one team who can afford to have Anderson and Erstad on their roster. For the Angels, losing Santana hurts, bad, but pitching is a strength, even without Santana, and they desperately need somebody besides Vlady in that lineup. They’ll be better next year, simply because Howie Kendrick and Kendry Morales will be with the team full time, but ARod would push them head and shoulders above the competition in the AL West.