By Geoff Walter / SNY.tv

 

 

Controversy can't seem to help but attach itself to Yankee third baseman Alex Rodriguez. He has already shown what he can (and can not) do on a baseball field, but you never knew he was such a master strategist. Adding his name to the players who have asked for contract extensions, A-Rod went to GM Brian Cashman to ask for a contract extension during Spring Training. Cashman, of course said no way, deciding to wait and see what Rodriguez does this season rather than give up what leverage he has. A-Rod hasn't exactly fully lived up to his part of the deal either, as the Yankees have still not won a World Series since 2000, or even gone to the Fall Classic since A-Rod's arrival in the Bronx in 2004. Here's your chance to see my take on running A-Rod's option, and respond with some thoughts of your own.

The Yankees are not the Tampa Bay Devil Rays. Their policy has almost always been to go out and get the best player(s) and to lock them up for as long as possible. Until the next great one comes along or the player they first got didn't turn out the way they'd hoped. See examples: Randy Johnson, Carl Pavano, Jaret Wright. You cannot expect to win a championship if there isn't at least some comfort level the players have with each other, or some basic familiarity with how everyone else works. Love him or hate him, A-Rod is a familiar face at third, and it would take some time for everyone else in the clubhouse to get used to a new guy.

If A-Rod does decide to opt-out, which is highly unlikely, they will be forced to fill the resulting hole at third base. After the 2007 season ends, the list of potential free agent third-basemen isn't pretty. The only one whom the Yankees could possibly consider from that list is Red Sox Mike Lowell, a Gold Glove winner in 2005. Rather than go out and spend huge piles of money, their behavior of late shows that the Yanks would like to fill the position internally. Let us consider the possibilities as they have presented themselves this Spring: Andy Phillips, Miguel Cairo, and Chris Basak.

Last season Phillips had a 1.000 fielding percentage at that position but only played 10 games out of 110 there, and had a .240 average. After coming back to the Bronx from Queens, Cairo posted a .239 in 81 games, but for the most part is a second baseman, having only played eight games at third and acquiring a 1.000 fielding percentage there. Basak was a Spring Training invitee, and has never played a game in the Majors before. He spent last year in the Mets' Triple-A Norfolk, and accumulated a .267 average in 119 games. Spring Training this year has garnered the 28-year old righty a .343 average in 35 at-bats in 20 games. He's also "gotten our attention," according to manager Joe Torre, but chances are Basak will not be a full-time position player, relegated to a utility infielder.

Cashman has been exercising his control over the team by not exercising his wallet. A-Rod is already one of the team's highest paid players behind Derek Jeter. The third-baseman has already taken heat from fans, the media, and other players for his seemingly sky-high contract, complete with more escape clauses than even Harry Houdini could think up. This is one of the reasons why many simply detest A-Rod: his contradictory behavior. He is considered by many to be the best player in the game today, a sure-thing to be voted into the Hall of Fame, yet hasn't won a World Series ring. In New York he was named MVP in 2005 yet made a career-record number of errors the following year. He talks about money and insinuates that he may leave New York after this season if his demands aren't met, after he said repeatedly that he wants to be part of the solution here and to win a World Series here.

Contracts for both Mariano Rivera and Jorge Posada expire this year as well, so they are in the same boat as A-Rod. The only one who hasn't made a sound (yet) has been Posada, as Mo piped up a couple of weeks ago as Spring Training got underway. Maybe A-Rod was taking a cue from Rivera's playbook, or even the other way around. Now that's a scary thought: Rivera taking after A-Rod.

This is A-Rod's last season before he can opt-out for free-agency. Like all free agents should, and try to, he will have a good year in 2007 in order to remind the Yankees how valuable he can be, even if he has been more Mr. May than Mr. October in the past few seasons. Cashman wants A-Rod to stay, while the fans still have mixed feelings. If A-Rod still struggles, the fans still won't respond, and if there isn't a beautiful playoff picture, A-Rod will test the waters elsewhere. If another run can be made deep into October, the fans will be happy, A-Rod will be happy, and so will the Yankees. But Alex has to play his part, if not, happy trails and don't let the door hit you on the way out.

Wanna argue with the Ref? Don't like the call? Go ahead and make your own!