A-Rod re-writing his 2007 script?

I’ll admit it — I feel sorry for Alex Rodriguez right now. In fact, I’ll go so far as to say I hope he continues doing poorly this off-season so the Yankees and their fans will push to trade him somewhere else. Now, he does have a no-trade clause that means he has to approve any moves, and he stated specifically that he wouldn’t approve any trades, but I imagine the pressure could get bad enough to make that desire moot.

Again, this is sheer speculation on my part, but as I pointed out back in August, A-Rod’s supposed $25 million salary would be more like a $15 million salary since the Rangers are still paying a portion of the original deal. That’s still a big number, but not so much for a player of his abilities. I would imagine that the combined factors of a budget large enough to handle him, a team that could contend immediately (making them attractive to A-Rod), and being outside the AL East would limit his potential destinations. Say, the Dodgers, the Angels, or the White Sox (maybe the Cubs too, if they could make the right other moves this offseason). Most likely? Probably the Angels, given their need for a big bat to protect Vladimir Guerrero, as well as owner Arte Moreno’s publicized desire to make a huge splash before 2007. But wouldn’t it be something for Ned Colletti and Frank McCourt to pull off a deal of their own?

The playoffs are still in progress, and a breakout game (even if it is from the 8th spot in the lineup now) from Alex would make all the speculation meaningless. But if he goes 0-4 again today or the Yankees are eliminated, all bets are off. He could succeed tremendously any place other than New York City. Seems to me the more laid back environs of Southern California would suit him fine.