Torre: A-Rod to Dodgers a 'possibility' By Anthony DiComo / MLB.com NEW YORK -- Joe Torre may soon have some unexpected company in Los Angeles. Torre spoke openly on Friday night about the possibility of Alex Rodriguez signing with the Dodgers, citing his improved relationship with the third baseman as a strong potential selling point. "All I know is it was very comfortable for both of us," Torre said of his relationship with A-Rod, which was once admittedly strained. "I think my being uncomfortable came from the fact that I didn't think he was as comfortable. This year, he just seemed to be a different guy in Spring Training. I was surprised that he opted out, I really was. But you have to do what you think you need to do." Torre was back in New York on Friday for his annual Joe Torre Safe at Home Foundation gala. He said he has not spoken directly with A-Rod about the prospect of teaming up in Los Angeles, but the two have left each other phone messages. When asked directly whether or not he expected to manage A-Rod next season, Torre repeatedly offered only, "it's a possibility." "As far as Alex, you've got four or five clubs maybe that figure to be in the sweepstakes," Torre said. "There aren't a lot of clubs that are going to be able to pay the money to get him." The Dodgers are reportedly one. Not two weeks after A-Rod opted out of the final three years remaining on his contract with the Yankees, most Major League teams have publicly said they won't pursue him on the open market. The Dodgers -- along with the Angels, Giants and Mets -- have not. All other things being equal, Torre's Dodgers would seem to have an inside track. Aside from the improved relationship between manager and player, A-Rod already has an existing relationship with two of Torre's coaches, Don Mattingly and Larry Bowa. So it's no surprise that the Dodgers -- and owner Frank McCourt -- are plenty interested. "The only thing I can say is the McCourts are certainly dedicated to putting the Dodger franchise on the right track," Torre said. "They understand the pride factor, and we talk about that a lot. Again, they're business people, and they're certainly going to take into consideration what they can do that makes sense." A-Rod posted a career year in 2007, finishing with a .314 average, 54 homers and 156 RBIs. He is the odds-on favorite to win the Most Valuable Player Award in the American League, and on Friday, he earned his ninth Silver Slugger Award. Yankees general manager Brian Cashman and senior vice president Hank Steinbrenner have repeatedly confirmed that they do not plan to pursue A-Rod as a free agent. The Yankees do plan on offering A-Rod salary arbitration, cracking open the window that he could return under a one-year contract. But Cashman said this week that the team is doing so only to receive compensatory draft picks from whichever club ultimately signs him. The Yankees do not expect him to accept the arbitration offer. And so regardless of what coast A-Rod calls home next summer, the Yankees are overwhelmingly likely to press forward without him. Derek Jeter, who was also present at Torre's gala, said he's not the least bit surprised at that prospect -- or the least bit worried. "There aren't too many people in the game that can do the things that he does," Jeter said. "But we're trying to win. Like I've said time and time again, it takes more than one person to win. We've had teams that have won, and we haven't had numbers like that put up. So you don't necessarily need those types of numbers to win." Anthony DiComo is an associate reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs. --

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