Too expensive, too shy, too expensive, no room in the OF.

Who of the brass in their right mind would take on the A-Rod contract with the thought of signing another $15+ Million per year guy to take the place of the departed?

Think Jose Guillen.....

It's like I said before A-Rod's just saying that so the gun crazy lunatics in Texas don't shoot him before he can move to Boston. Do you people always believe everything you hear on ESPN? I distinctly remember Peter Gammons saying something about how Pettite would never leave the Yankees last week.

i really wouldnt put too much stock into what he says. hes not working the deal out, first of all, and whats he gonna say? "Yea, i think itll happen." hed be crucified if it feel through. I dont know, Im just not taking an athlete saying what he usually says to spare his neck too too seriously. It could mean its dead, yes, but my guess is that it doesnt mean its irrevocable.

Thank you- Can we end that discussion or any other that has Millar or Kapler in the outfield. Ridurous.....absowutely ridurous.

How many times do I have to say that the Contract Nomar would've signed next year would wash the one we'd sign with Vlad this year, does anyone listen?

Edit: to -> do typo

its not really that i think its such a dumb i dea, its just that im almost positive it wont happen. its too out there- baltimore or florida will get him. i think if we get Arod, were done as far as big name players are concerned.

This gets us back to the Manny+Nomar for A-Rod problem.

John- No, no. It's dumb. It's not plausible, possible, realistic.

Austere- yeah, you were trying to let it go-- <_<

MAYBE we run at him if we lose Nomar but dont get ARod, but not both. The deal we would ahve given nomar doesnt take into consideration arod's dollars AND schilling's. i think that +17 mil more than before canels it out. maybe im missing something.

Obviously this all hinges on the A-Rod deal.

But I think the most likely situation is Nomar to the Dodgers for Perez and Edwin Jackson, then sending Perez to the Black Sox for one of their corner outfielders.

Take your pick

Manny+Nomar

A-Rod+Magpipes.

Don't know about you but I know which one makes me happy in the pants.

see, in theory, i think this is a great idea, and it DOES make sense- but do you guys think were getting a little crazy here? I mean, were almost setting things up for a let down. We're getting like, a little player-happy. ARod and MAggs? It does make sense, I'm not saying that, but a TON of things have to happen for that to come top pass- i dont know. i just feel like were expecting a bit much here. im rambling, sorry

That's why I think the deal for A-Rod is stalled, because the big boys don't want to sign in triplicate unless they're sure they'll get top dollar for Nomar. When teams see you with two of the top 3 (or top 2) SS's on your team, they're less likely to give up their top guys for it.

that's sounds like a deal to me. how open are the white sox to shopping mags? (assuming we land A-Rod, btw i hope you guys are all right about him coming)

what's his contract like? same as nomar's?

Ok I am getting restless....this is driving me insane. I do feel that I am setting myself up...I'm getting excited and then one minute I feel let down. This is a roller coaster ride in my opinion.....I just hope it doesn't leave me feeling sick. I think getting Schilling has turned me in to a greedy gal....now I keep on wanting more and more....when we got Schilling I was ecstatic...but I guess it has driven me more mad for more players and more great things for the Sox. So if some of these things do not happen I think I'm going to feel let down....I admit I want Arod badly...I really want him to come to the Sox....(thats because I think that if we don't get Arod I don't see Sox coming to a deal with Tellum...and so if I can't have Nomar then I want Arod)....

I don't know...I just feel I have lost my mind...and I'm exhausted too...its been a long week! So lets try to be reasonable...try not to fight guys...I know we are all restless and want stuff to happen...but just hang in there!!

My cousin lives out there and is a big White Sox fan. He's saying that they are definately shopping Mags and Carlos Lee, looking to offload some salary at the corner OF positions.

The latest from the gasbag...1 in 3 chances of happening. If anyones cares, there is a Sports Center WM's special on ESPN now.

Loebel has it at 95% done....Dirt Dogs sources tell him its at 99%...A-Rod himself wouldn't bet on it...Gammons says its 1 in 3, this after declaring it officially dead last night.

Yeah...I'm gettin' sick of this.

And Foulke. Now we hear a decision within hours...yeah, right.

rsb

The only people who no if this is going to happen are JWH, Tom Hicks and Boras. When we hear from them, we will know. Disregard anything else you hear.

Next up on ESPN: Red Sox rumors.

The only theory I like is John's. We get A-Rod by playing SiaS like a fool.

wow, talk about up in the air. where is gammons coming with this stuff? kirkjan said it was dead today on espn radio. now 1 to 3. i'll take those odds

Pozo, what's the update on the Sox rumors from SportsCenter?

Something that will make Val happy, Gammons reports that the Red Sox have sweetened their offer to Keith Foulke. After running off a litany of reasons why Foulke would leave Oakland (e.g. dont' know how long Beane will remain; the team is always in flux; etc., etc.), it wouldn't be surprising to see him sign with the Sox.

Boras interviewed by Gammons now. Says the possibility of the trade is still possible. Boras has yet to receive any proposals from the Sox about restructuring contract. They have to hear what the owners work out, in their hands before Alex decides what he's going to do.

The other rumor I put in hot stove, Stark said that Sox are meeting with Foulke as we speak, and momentum seems to be leaning in Red Sox favor.

Boras said that the Sox have not proposed anything as to how they might ask Alex restructure the deal. Also, hinted that Nomar complicates things, so maybe they are waiting for Nomar to move first, which would make a fair amount of sense leverage wise. Hopefully we deal with Foulke, Nomar, then Manny/ Arod in that order and somewhere along the line we get a second baseman. Then sign Guillen to play right, and move to Trot to left.

Interesting, an interview with Boras by Gammons. After what's transpired this week can we believe either one of them? Pozo, Embeer thanks for the updates on Foulke.

Does Karl wear a rug?

Gammons is reporting the A's are going to make a strong run at Mike Cameron — a guy I would love to see the Sox make a run at.

BTW, Dean and Rog — a morning show in Houston — was told tongue-in-cheek that Roger Clemens wouldn't unretire because he would have to give up a Hummer that the Yankees gave to him. So Dean and Rog had a Hummer dealership send over a burnt orange (U of Texas colors) Hummer to Clemens' house. They spoke with Clemens on the air and told him they would give him the Hummer if he came out of retirement to pitch for the Astros. They gave him until Monday to make a decision. He said he'd think about it.

For those who have never heard Dean and Rog, they quite possibly have the best morning show on radio — and I've lived in several, several states.

I'm pretty sure he does.

I don't hear any fat ladies singing yet.

Was it over when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor? Huh? Hell no, and it ain't over now (apologies to Bluto)

Some of you just don't have the stomach for this I can see. I suggest you cuddle up under an afghan and watch the Cowboy Up DVD over and over if that's your attitude.

(but did I mention that the 1% is a bitch? Like the last 3 miles of a marathon... just as hard as the first 23)

Dirt Dog....I want to believe you with everything that I am. I really do.

Is it possible that John Henry asked Hicks to act like the deal is dead?

This would give the Sox more leverage as they shop Nomar around.

I am in a position to know. A friend is married to his brother. It is rather extensive hair plugs.

He needs to work on the tell tale sign of all men who wear rugs/plugs — fill in the area above the temple.

As I said earlier

nathan, I do think your on to something here.

I like it!

And I like beer.....and yep....as I expected it's Beer Thirty!

Yabba dabba DOO!!!!!!!

Well, it's funny you think that. I'm not speculating on what Nomar would bring from the Phillies, only that a good second baseman would be part of the package. How do you extend that to "I don't think you're getting enough for Nomar in this situation"? You need to work on that reading comprehension...

It looks like nothing happened on the 1st day. The odds of keeping Nomar have improved a little.

One hundred homers? Your saying nomar and manny will avg 50 home runs a piece over the course of a season?60-75 is a more accurate number and a rod makes up about 40-45 of those plus whoever comes in for nomar.

What is A Rod supposed to say, "Yes I'll be in a Red Sox uni next season." Or even, "Most likely I'll be with the Sox next year." He can't say that because if the deal falls through he just alienated himself in Texas even further and looks like a moron in the process. Curt Schilling didn't think he'd be here either but Theo and the trio got that done. Relax it's day one of the meetings and everyone is settling in. Vlad would be a possible addition if A Rod comes because he isn't going to command 12-14 million per because of the market so it's possible. And I like Vlad/A Rod better then Nomar/Manny truthfully. We will all know the big moves by monday. Until then it's all speculation.

Any word on whether Dean and Rog are willing to pay Roger's salary
for the year?

That would make it much easier for the Astros to decide.

Hey people...Before we start jumping, either for joy or off the Tobin Bridge, what else do you expect anybody whether it be Hicks, A-rod, Theo or anybody else to say ??? Any time you are in negotiations with anybody ( especially in the public eye like pro atheletes ), they know to keep their mouths shut all together or at the very least, say only what they want you to know figuring that every dot of the eye and crossing of a T is going to be scrutinized and gone over with a fine tooth comb. Remember, it's not as if we are privy to what is going on behind closed doors, nor do they owe us an explanation as to what is going on no matter how much we think we expect one. Don't forget that they are under enough stress as it is with all the $$$ being bandied about that they don't need our " help " in making the deal for them. We seem to forget that it's not our money that we are spending here, but John Henry's, Tom Hicks, Tom werner's, etc.

I may be in the minority but I am still not convinced this Nomar/Manny/ARod trace is the best for the team. The Yankees lost a 23 game winner, O.K. Brown may be good 15 wiins, we only need two things, a good closer and most importantly good chemistry in the clubhouse. We have one now and other maybe later tonight (although I doubt it) Lets not go crazy regardless how good ARod is. Manny leaned his lesson and Nomar is now ready to talk extension.

i wont be jumping off the tobin.......but i might be jumping off the zakim....sure wish something would happen soon......I NEED A FIX!!!

I believe Sgt. Friday refers to that as "A System".

I have to agree with you. While Manny has his moments, it seems that he isn't as bad in the clubhouse as the media would have you believe. I am hoping this deal dies, and Nomar signs an extension. Would still love to see Foulke.

Theo Speaks

more grist for the mill. interesting article, on redsox.com.

Herald - Horrigan: Arod

A-Rod talks off, for now: Sox put focus back on Garciaparra
By Jeff Horrigan
Saturday, December 13, 2003

NEW ORLEANS - The Red Sox [stats, schedule]' proposed trade for Alex Rodriguez is off.

At least for now.

Texas Rangers owner Tom Hicks confirmed last night that he and Boston counterpart John Henry have decided to shelve talks on a blockbuster deal that would lead to the swap of Manny Ramirez [stats, news] for Rodriguez. The owners agreed to explore other options over the weekend at baseball's annual winter meetings and then speak again early next week if their respective needs aren't filled.

By all indications, the trade has been shelved in order to permit the Sox to make one more stab at signing current shortstop Nomar Garciaparra [stats, news] to a contract extension. Even though Henry and agent Arn Tellem exchanged harsh words during the week, sources said last night the sides had re-opened dialogue and that the Sox had presented or were preparing to make another contract offer that would keep Garciaparra in Boston beyond next year, which is the final year of his current contract.

If the effort fails and the Sox continue to get signals the sides can't reach a middle ground, it appears that Henry and Hicks - who have conducted the trade negotiations themselves - will talk again after the completion of the meetings on Monday. Boston may also attempt to sign free agent shortstop Miguel Tejada [stats, news].

``We're both going to work on other things right now,'' Hicks told the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. ``It's off the front burner. I'll say it again, I think Alex will be our shortstop (in 2004).''

The decision reduces the glare of the spotlight focused on the Sox, who were considering trading their two highest-profile position players, while acquiring the 2003 American League Most Valuable Player and his contract, which is the richest in baseball history.

Henry did not respond to a request for comment on the matter, while general manager Theo Epstein would not discuss any prospective deal out of respect for his current players.

``We're going to meet with a lot of teams,'' Epstein said. ``I think it's not the right thing to get into who we met and when.''

The GM acknowledged, however, that he hadn't spoken with Henry, which may have been an indication that all A-Rod action was dead for now.

``I haven't talked to him, (but) I think we e-mailed once,'' Epstein said.

The holding pattern appears to signal that the Sox realize A-Rod, while being the best all-around player in the league, is not worth the $186 million that he is owed over the final seven years of his 10-year, $252 million contract. With Hicks insisting that Henry kick in an estimated $5 million annually over the next five years to be used toward the remaining $99.5 million owed Ramirez, the Sox may have decided it made little sense to essentially pay an average of $30.5 million annually for their shortstop. That figure is exactly what the Milwaukee Brewers plan to use for their entire payroll in 2004.

Even if the Sox were to restore their spring training offer to Garciaparra, which was believed to be $60 million over four years, the two-time batting champion would be playing for less than half of what it would cost to have A-Rod on an annual basis. Boston is believed to have reduced its offer to Garciaparra in October to $48 million due to the changing economic climate in baseball. The reaction they got from Tellem prompted them to begin searching for alternatives, hence the start of the Rodriguez trade talks.

Boston had hoped to have Rodriguez restructure his contract, either by deferring more money or voiding option year(s), but the odds of him doing so (and the union allowing it) are extremely slim.

Sources in the Texas and Boston organizations adamantly denied there was any substance to a rumored three-team trade involving the Philadelphia Phillies [stats, schedule]. That deal, which apparently originated on a Web site run in Philadelphia, supposedly would have seen Garciaparra and Trot Nixon [stats, news] traded to the Phillies for Bobby Abreu and Jimmy Rollins. The Sox then would have traded Rollins and Ramirez to Texas. Everyone involved said the rumor was rubbish.

If contract talks with Garciaparra fall through this weekend, the Sox may elect to refocus on Oakland shortstop Tejada. The 2002 American League MVP, however, is believed to be the focus of Seattle, Baltimore, Anaheim, Detroit and, possibly, Los Angeles and may make up his mind as early as this weekend. Tejada would come even cheaper than Garciaparra, judging by the three-year, $24 million deal reportedly offered by Seattle.

this is the first time ive said this- i dont think itll happen now.