Yankees Won't Extend A-Rod's Contract

The New York Yankees don't intend to offer star Alex Rodriguez a contract extension. This will leave A-Rod with the option of opting out of his deal after this season to become a free agent.

"Alex has a significant contract. The most significant in baseball history," Yankees general manager Brian Cashman said Wednesday. "He has a decision to make. It's in his contract. It's a right he's earned."

Rodriguez currently has four seasons left on the record 10-year, $252 million dollar contract he signed with the Texas Rangers before the 2001 Season. He is now owed $27 million in each of his final three seasons. The Yankees are responsible for $50.7 million leaving the Rangers owing $30.3 million. $9 million of that is in deferred money.

Under the terms of his contract, A-Rod has the option of terminating it after this season. He could also stay with the Yankees for 2008 and opt out of the final two seasons of the contract if the Yankees aren't willing to raise his salary to $32 million per year during the final two years.

"He's under contract; he can opt out of it if he wants," Cashman said. "That's really his decision. It has nothing to do with us. There's nothing we can do about it. It's something he negotiated. If it becomes a distraction, it's because it's part of his deal. He controls that and no one else."

According to the Yankees, they do not intend to negotiate extensions during the 2007 season, and Cashman's statement regarding Rodriguez is consistent with that.

Rodriguez told reporters Thursday that he was not surprised by Cashman's comments and decision.

"It can come up every day of the year, I'm going to give you the same answers," Rodriguez said. "You guys ask the questions, I'm going to answer you the same way. It's really not a big deal."

Rodriguez said recently in a March 14 radio interview that he would like to remain in New York for the rest of his career, but wants to make sure he has the support of the fans and management of the club.

"One-hundred percent, I want to stay in New York City," Rodriguez said. "Period, that's it. I don't know how many more ways I can say that."

Closer Mariano Rivera and catcher Jorge Posada are also among the Yankees players who are in contractual "walk years." But as Cashman has said, the club is not willing to engage in any extension discussions during the season.

Sources:
http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=2807727
http://www.forbes.com/feeds/ap/2007/03/21/ap3540223.html
http://newyork.yankees.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20070321&content_id=1854036&vkey=spt2007news&fext=.jsp&c_id=nyy