Alex Rodriguez still hoping for chance to stay with Yankees Alex Rodriguez's career in pinstripes came to an end when he opted out of his contract on Sunday night. Or did it? The Yankees have made it clear that they have no plans to bid on Rodriguez when free agency gets underway, but a source with knowledge of the situation said Rodriguez is hoping that the Bombers reconsider their stance. "Alex wants the Yankees to be a part of this, because the opt-out was not done with the intention of saying goodbye to the Yankees," said the source. "Alex wants to see what his market value is, but that doesn't mean he necessarily wants to leave the Yankees." The Yankees have held the same position since the middle of the season, telling anybody who would listen that they would not pursue Rodriguez if he opted out of the final three years and $91 million of his contract. By opting out, Rodriguez took the Rangers off the hook for $30 million they would have paid for the final three years of the original pact, one that had allowed the Yankees to spend roughly $16 million per year for the past four years for A-Rod's services. "Why is it that Alex is the only Yankee who can't become a free agent?" agent Scott Boras told the Associated Press yesterday. "That question was not answered, and we think it's a question that's going to be asked for years to come." Brian Cashman reiterated the Yankees' stance again on Tuesday, indicating that the Bombers were proceeding under the premise that A-Rod would be playing elsewhere in 2008 and beyond. "We really would have appreciated having a chance to go forward with him, but that can't happen," Cashman said. Still, whether it's with the idea of driving up his market value or wanting to remain in pinstripes, Rodriguez apparently hasn't given up on the idea that the Yankees will change their mind. "He hasn't shut the door," the source said. "Whether the Yankees feel that way is a whole other story." One Yankees official said last night that the Yankees had no plans to change their position, leaving the other 29 teams to fight it out for the two-time (soon to be three-time) MVP. Assuming the Yankees stand by their word and let Rodriguez walk without a fight, there are a number of teams that will likely make a run at the 32-year-old. The Angels, Tigers and Giants are considered to be three of the frontrunners, but the Dodgers could also be primed to make a push to sign Rodriguez, according to a Los Angeles source. The Dodgers used a plethora of players at third base last season, including Wilson Betemit, Nomar Garciaparra, Andy LaRoche and Tony Abreu. Betemit was traded to the Yankees last summer for Scott Proctor, and the Dodgers do not consider the other three worthy candidates to start next season. Even before the Dodgers and Joe Torre began talking, the team had internal discussions about pursuing A-Rod if he opted out of his contract. "They're going to be players for A-Rod," the source said. "I don't know if they'll get him, but they're going to try." Should Torre become the new manager as expected, it is likely that the Dodgers will try to make a big splash to give him some more talent to work with. Rodriguez would certainly fit that bill, though the team is also said to be interested in signing a center fielder, possibly Torii Hunter or Andruw Jones, and either trading Juan Pierre or shifting him to left field. Torre and A-Rod had an interesting relationship in New York, one that reached rock bottom during the 2006 postseason when the manager batted Rodriguez eighth in the final game of the division series in Detroit. But the pair seemed more comfortable with each other last year, with Torre even attending a barbecue at Rodriguez's home on Labor Day. "There's no doubt that their relationship made huge strides this year," said a source who knows both parties. "The kind of year (A-Rod) had probably opened the doors for that, but how genuine was it? I don't know." Torre's presence in Los Angeles would not prompt Rodriguez to accept less money to play for the Dodgers, but the hiring of the former Yankee also won't preclude A-Rod from donning Dodger blue if the money is right. "I think he would go there if it was the right opportunity," the source said. "The manager wasn't the reason he opted out of New York and it won't be the reason he signs somewhere." http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/baseball/yankees/ 2007/11/01/2007-11-01_alex_rodriguez_still_hoping_for_chance_t-2.html Arod真的有想要當洋基人嗎?? 還是只是為了那一年3000萬? --

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