10/26/2007 9:24 PM ET Yankees want to meet with A-Rod Team plans to offer A-Rod an extension to remain in New York By Bryan Hoch / MLB.com NEW YORK -- The Yankees will eventually name a new manager, as well as try to persuade Alex Rodriguez to remain in New York. Both could happen soon. While the Yankees remain in a holding pattern trying to determine who will be named as Joe Torre's successor, they are trying to set up a meeting with the All-Star third baseman and his agent, Scott Boras. Rodriguez, 32, led the Major Leagues with 54 home runs, 156 RBIs and 143 runs scored in 2007, and seems to be a lock to earn honors as the American League's MVP -- the third time in his career he would have won that award. A .314 hitter in 2007, his fourth year since being traded to the Yankees from the Texas Rangers, Rodriguez put up a monster season at a financially fortunate time. He holds the right to opt out of the remaining three years and $81 million on his contract until 10 days after the World Series; the Yankees plan to offer him an extension to remain in New York to dissuade him from doing so. "The fact of the matter is, obviously we want him to stay," Hank Steinbrenner told the Associated Press. "And I think he wants to stay." The opt-out clause a topic of discussion even before he reported to Spring Training, Rodriguez said numerous times during the season that he loves New York and would want to continue playing in the city. A-Rod did his best to downplay his contract situation after the Yankees' eliminating loss in Game 4 of the American League Division Series -- the last time he was available for public comment. "I don't want to talk about that right now," Rodriguez said then. "I'm trying to digest what just happened. There will be a time and a place for that." Boras has been quoted as speculating that Rodriguez could be the Major Leagues' first player to earn $30 million annually, though the Yankees may not be willing to go quite that high. Rodriguez and his wife, Cynthia, have spent time at Boras' headquarters and estate in Newport Beach, Calif., since the season ended, going through information that relates to Rodriguez's financial future. The Yankees have stated in no uncertain terms that if Rodriguez opts out of his contract, they will not pursue him as a free agent -- a stance that general manager Brian Cashman has taken dating back to the regular season, and confirmed by Hank Steinbrenner after two days of organizational meetings last week in Tampa. Meanwhile, the club continues to internally debate whether Joe Girardi, Don Mattingly or -- to a lesser extent -- Tony Pena should be the next manager. All three candidates interviewed this week at the club's Tampa headquarters, though Steinbrenner has said that -- complying with Commissioner Bud Selig's wishes -- an official announcement will not be made until after the World Series. Mattingly is considered to be a slight favorite, though Girardi interviewed well and is said to be drawing serious consideration. --

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