[新聞] A-Rod could be back on radar

[leddy (耿秋)]

A-Rod could be back on radar

By Paul Sullivan
Tribune staff reporter

October 10, 2006, 10:47 PM CDT


When Alex Rodriguez first was said to be available three years ago, the Cubs
privately discussed bringing him from Texas to Wrigley Field.

It turned out to be all whispers and no action. Rodriguez still had $179
million and seven years remaining on his contract, putting him well beyond
the Cubs' budget parameters. He eventually wound up in New York as one of
George Steinbrenner's prized possessions, a move that has yet to pay
dividends for Steinbrenner or Rodriguez.



Now that the Yankees have decided to retain manager Joe Torre, Rodriguez's
name will pop up on the Cubs' radar, even if it's just a blip.

As general manager Jim Hendry continues his managerial search and attempts to
rework Aramis Ramirez's contract, he also might address the possibility of
Rodriguez being available for the right price. Multitasking seldom has been
so fascinating.

Hendry has targeted a middle-of-the-order hitter this winter, and early
speculation has centered on Cubs killer Carlos Lee, a free-agent slugger. But
Rodriguez's atrocious postseason could lead to an early escape from New York,
and now that he's owed "only" $66 million over four years—with Texas paying
the rest—he fits within the Cubs' price range.

Whether the Cubs would be willing to meet the Yankees' asking price is
another question, especially if the Angels and Dodgers enter the picture. For
starters, the Cubs probably would have to give up prized left-hander Rich
Hill, who appears to be No. 2 in the starting rotation behind Carlos
Zambrano. Others the Yankees might covet are top outfield prospect Felix Pie
and left-handed setup man Scott Eyre.

Yankees GM Brian Cashman said Tuesday that Rodriguez would remain a Yankee.

"I fully expect him to be here," Cashman said.

Cashman said he received an e-mail right after the Yankees were eliminated
inquiring about Rodriguez.

"I wanted to message back: 'Buzzard,'" Cashman said.

He added he expects to get more offers during the off-season and plans to
reject them.

Mark Prior's name also could surface in trade talks, though with all his arm
problems the last few years, it's hard to imagine Prior as the centerpiece of
any deal.

Why would the Cubs give up pitching for Rodriguez?

Because if Derrek Lee returns to his 2005 form and Ramirez lives up to his
word and remains a Cub, the addition of Rodriguez would give the Cubs a
foolproof heart of the order with instant marketability: "D-Lee, A-Rod and
A-Ram."

Rodriguez, of course, would have to approve a trade, and it would be much
easier to persuade him if the move involved a return to shortstop and a
chance to play for his former manager with the Mariners, Lou Piniella.

Piniella, Joe Girardi, Bruce Bochy, Bob Brenly and in-house candidates Mike
Quade and Pat Listach remain in the managerial mix, which is Hendry's
priority for now.

Torre's return to New York puts Piniella back in the spotlight. He has met
with Hendry but hasn't received the official "tour" Girardi was given Monday
afternoon and evening.

"I enjoyed my time talking to Lou Piniella," Hendry said. "He's an
outstanding baseball person and for all the things he has accomplished in the
game he certainly deserves to be a candidate."

Hendry met with Quade on Tuesday and will meet with Listach and Brenly in
Arizona the next two or three days.

Girardi, after an interview and a walk through the Cubs' offices at Wrigley
Field where he got reacquainted with people he knew from his playing days,
had a three-hour dinner meeting Monday night with Cubs brass and flew back to
his Miami home Tuesday.

Between watching his children and feeding the dog, Girardi caught up on the
Torre saga while learning his managerial peers had voted him The Sporting
News' National League Manager of the Year.

Girardi is to meet with Nationals management next week.

The Padres' Bochy remains a possibility, though he's currently under contract
in San Diego for one more year. But Padres CEO Sandy Alderson gave Arizona
permission to talk to Bochy last off-season, which can be a sign that a
manager is not long for an organization.

"Right now Bruce Bochy is our manager," Padres general manager Kevin Towers
told the San Diego Union-Tribune. "We expect him to be our manager."

Of course, the operative words from Towers are "right now" and "expect."

The Cubs might not be interested in Rodriguez "right now," but things could
change quickly in the evolving landscape.

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◆ From: 61.225.146.237
※ 編輯: leddy           來自: 61.225.146.237       (10/11 21:05)
→ leddy:吵完Torre, 似乎換A-Rod了
推 bounds:除了一些優質洋基迷，其他隊都對A-ROD有興趣吧
推 kenichi2005:優質洋基迷？XDXDXD
推 upsnet:ESPN認證嗎
推 fizeau:A-Rod是很了不起的球員 但是如果他無法適應洋基隊
推 lovecmgirls:我沒有看錯吧~Hendry在嘗試交易A-ROD過來嗎??
→ lovecmgirls:哈哈~如果他能用合理價碼轉來那真是太棒啦
推 steo:這...至少要交出大Z喔,樓上 XD
推 eigawa:如果老虎有興趣拿V少年跟ZUMAYA應該給換吧XD