The MLBPA seems to use value and benefit interchangably. As in the "We rejected that restructuring beause it devalued the amount of the contract" while at the same time saying "Any [downward financial contract] change would have to add some benefit to the player."

Wouldn't going from an also-ran to a perrenial contender qualify as a "benefit". Shouldn't it? Also I willing to bet the MLBPA doesn't consider additional (by the boatload) promotional and advertiser income as an added "benefit" either which is also crap.

You make an interesting point, although there is obviously a difference between a signed contract and free agent status.

The main reason that Pettitte went to Houston was quality of life. Everybody understood and accepted it and, indeed, endorsed it.

Now ARod wants to do something to improve his personal and professional situation and the union blocks it because of dollar value. Obviously the union has its own goals in mind, and are trying to look out for the well being of all its members, but you would think that they could stop being such an pain in the ass for one second.

Also, think about the terrible press that the union will get if they kill this deal --- a deal that is so obviously good for MLB as a whole and may well wind up creating more dollars for the whole league and everybody involved. I mean, why do you think Selig is backing it?

Spoken like a true Dirt Dog. I guess now that he's leaving you'll never see the irony of it. Too bad, because Nomar Garciaparra is the player who epitomizes that outlook more than any other.

I guess "BostonHandShakers.com" doesn't have quite the same ring to it though.

This is killing me. This deal on deal off karate kid sequel is going to be the end of what little sanity i have left after Grady.

I really don't understand why he wouldn't want to do these events? I mean it's an easy way to get people to like you and he was probably getting paid to do it anyway, plus he makes good with the media. Give me 7 million a year and I'll jump into the Charles River naked!!! ...

A-Rod should ditch the union.

Elaborate. Media. Ruse.

Great choice regarding your movie selection. If you really want to take your mind off it, get the uncut versions of LOTR 1 & 2...that should take you right to spring training! .......Also, I don't know how many of you watch Around The Horn....Our beloved Bob Ryan was on there and called the people going to see LOTR "pathetic". I take great exception to that. He later recanted, surprise surprise, saying he was referring to the people who camped out overnight for tickets. Some can argue that the ones who dress up as hobbits, etc, take it a bit to far-but that is what they like to do.. .You know what's pathetic Bob? You saying you'd hit a woman after she had been assaulted by her husband!!! (no mulligans from me Bob). It's time he got less airtime, he becomes more and more offensive each time I hear him.

Now what's all this about Zito coming over?

DD, I hope your right, do us a favor and keep us in the loop....

Why? To save the MLBPA face because they were on the outside of this process all along?

JD

I agree. Can you check your sources for the latest DD please.

Pettitte refused an offer from the Yankees, he was not under contract. Arod wants to restructure an existing contract. Players/Owners are not allowed to devalue an existing contract according to the CPA. The reason for this is so players who sign big deals, then have a bad season or get hurt don't loose the money they were promised (like in the NFL). However I think this rule should be re-written so that it can be done if the devaluing is initiated by the player. Guys like A-Rod sign these megadeals but are locked bad situations because of their initial greed.

Done. Done. Done.

Everyone says this is too far gone to turn back, so it's a stare down to see who blinks first - TH or JH. Someone has to eat some cash. Pay the extra money for the insurance and ship BK to TX to cover the cost.

DD,

Is what Dan Patrick saying holding it up? If so, is it 5 million for 1 year or the length of the contract?

Ladies and gents, I do believe the venerable Dirt Dog was releasing a bit o' steam...

The next time Zito comes to Fenway, it will not be as a Bostonian, but, rather, as a severe whiplash victim as ARod and Maggs go back-to-back off the Coke bottle...

I heard it was the insurance policy that held it up? Is that right?

DD, you are the man. No one ever questions your sources. We just get frustrated because it took so long. We don't know the magnitude of the situation.

Keep up the good work.


And please don't pull any Zito pranks on us again....that wasn't nice.

Sorry, I didn't see your post until I was done typing my last post.

I think the DD is just messin with you guys... some people are veeeeery gulible though.. wow.

No, if you want to 'cover the cost', you ship Ramiro Mendoza to Texas. BK actually does have some value, even if some folks here fail to believe it.

Jim D.

I was getting very little done at work today, now you got me daydreaming.

Thanks a lot

DD, I rely on your site for humor and valid info. So far you pretty damn good. Please update the site often as most of us get frustrated with ESPN's lack of speedy updates in this situation...

DD, hope you're right. Like others, can't take much more of this.

i feel like an idiot keep refreshing this thread B)

Crap. Sliding. Off. Wall.


Sorry; couldn't resist. Even if this does happen (and I think it probably still will), bdd.com claiming a scoop on this is a stretch. Does bdd.com have good info/sources? I don't doubt that it does.. It's just funny how it makes itself out to be the super-insider site at times...


Keep up the (sometimes) amusing work...

Now this is getting silly

I just got an email from WSCR in Chicago asking if it was ok to quote the board.

Are you making a toast or just drinking yourself stupid over all this ???

If drinking to make yourself stupid I gladly join ya

sucks!!!

JD, your right BK has value, I am just stuck on his maturity issues. At least Mendoza refrains from using the digits to salute the fans...not that is an endorsement.

Best players who spent their best years in B unis:
#1 Ted Williams
#2 Tris Speaker
#3 Pedro Martinez

A-Rod probably won't be as good as those three, but he'll give Yaz a run for 4th.

edit: Whoops, forgot Clemens. Give him a tie for #3.

Just let me know what happens... Ill be in line on the Tobin.

----------

"Uh-oh, Rexie, I don't think this one's got the distance."

mass, i think this will go down, so I am not that upset about all the stuff going around...but an opportunity to hit the kegger is an absulote must

Man, this is driving me crazy...no work is being done today.

Anyone know the exact hold up on the deal from the union?

ESPNNEWS/J.Stark just that the sox and texas are just working on how much cash will be sent to texas. Stark says it looks like manny, cash, and pitching prospect to texas for a-rod, nomar & williamson to chisox for ordonez and pitching prospect. But he did say that the red sox and the dodgers are still talking about nomar and the dodgers are still talking to the chisox about ordonez which seems hard to believe if the deal is pretty much done.

Someone get John Henry over here!! I want to hear from our fearless leader. It's time they talk to the rest of the fans and not just the members of the SoSH!! ...

...... here we go again.

That's awesome!

Did they tell you what they were using?

Well, looks like we've arrived as well. Lovely...no wonder I've had trouble getting in here today

We all need to relax. Believe that it will get done, but be tempered with the thought that if the deal does not go through, we're forced to take our chances with Manny hitting behind Nomar, Schilling on the hill every 5th day, and Foulke loosening in the bullpen. Things could be worse.

Now if you'll excuse me, I heard that the DC area Sox fans were gathering on the American Legion bridge to wait this thing out...

RKH, how old is that info?

I just saw J.Stark live on ESPNNEWS about 5 minutes ago.

Come on Dog - you have got to be kidding. I can't believe Art Martone would post that info about the union rejectin gthe deal if the deal were done. He is not a liar, and why would he, or any other reporter for that matter, go along with a ruse? Nor is he stupid enough to believe something that is clearly being fed to him by uninformed sources. I usually agree with you, but this is too much. It still may get done, but it is not a ruse.

So, what did he say the hang up was?

if Art reported it...you can bet the ranch it's true.

If Mendoza had BK's talent, I wouldn't care if he 'saluted' every time he stepped off the mound!

JD

Ya I just listened to Stark myself... he mentioned nothing of a rejection.

I dont know what to think anymore... I feel like I'm waiting for my results from a blood test or something. God im losing it.

He didn't say exactly; but said that it had to do with the money. I've heard the hold up has something to do with the insurance of the contract.

*sigh* We always get stuck on this. If we finally show that BK has value, it's his inexcusable immaturity. Then we show them it's not that immature, and it's his value again.

BK Kim has value. BK Kim has immaturity issues. BK Kim's behavior is not something you throw him away for. Ask me if BK Kim's value outweigh's his one middle finger, I'll say 'yes' anyday of the week. Conversely, ask me if I'll take Mendoza's value over his 'maturity' and I'll say 'no' everyday of the week. If one acknowledges that BK Kim is a talented pitcher and can potentially pitchin Fenway given a proper opportunity under someone other than Grady Little, then the middle finger is not an issue. NOT AN ISSUE.

Latest update from rotoworld regarding Ronnie Belliard has that interesting tidbit regarding Walker. If the Indians are moving away from signing Walker, maybe that's an indication this deal could go through? Maybe? Bueller?

EDIT: Spelling

Why are they torturing us? All parties want this to be done, just do it and let us all get on with our regularly scheduled lives.

Is it spring training yet?

Time to lighten things up with a little parody:

Karl Ravich: And now for the latest on the Alex Rodriquez negotiations, we go to ESPN's Peter Gammons in New York. Peter, what have you got for us?

PG: Well, Karl, all the parameters are in place for this to get done, and if it does get done, it will be a done deal regardless of what the parameters are. There's no way the Red Sox can not do this deal, but you have to remember, this is a deal that the Red Sox do not have to do. In addition to Manny Ramirez, Rangers owner Tom Hicks is now asking for 5 million dollars, 4 prospects, 3 Rule 5 picks, 2 bags of balls and a partridge in a pear tree. A source close to the negotiations said this afternoon, that if this deal doesn't get done, there's no deal. Within the last hour, we've heard that the MLBPA has conditionally approved a restructuring of A-Rod's contract, conditional on the MLBPA approving such a restructuring. And just now, I'm hearing that the Yankees have traded Derek Jeter to the White Sox for Nomar Garciaparra, with Chicago sending Jeter to Boston in exchange for Alex Rodriguez, all of course, depending on whether this deal goes through - as I think it now appears to be ready to. Or not.

KR: Wow. Excellent work, Peter.

Think about it, this latest news from the Projo is probably true, or should we say was probably true as of last night. Put this latest news in context with a trusted verified insiders post on Sosh complaing about the Union and it seems kind of clear. Today the Union probably came back with an alternate contract solution, and now they are just ironing out the insurance numbers.