Do You Want the Red Sox to Win Another World Series? [Promoted Diary]

1. He has failed to produce consistently in the postseason.  There's no evidence that'd change in Boston.
2. He'll be obscenely expensive.
3. He is, as far as I can tell, a jerk.  Aside from the fact that I like to root for a team full of good guys who I really love to watch succeed, it's also pretty clear to me that what goes on in the Sox clubhouse (e.g.: Ortiz's players-only meeting during the ALCS) is no small contributor to our success.
4. Why piss off 3/4 of sox fans for someone who may or may not give us much benefit come October?

I think we could probably win a World Series without Arod. In fact, I seem to recall it happening sometime sorta recently...

If we sign him, I'll root for his uniform, but I don't like the guy. The slap, the "mine," the gold highlights, the way he absorbs catcher's mitts with his face, that time he paid that kid $10,000 to tell the media that Arod rescued him on Newbury Street (as yet unverified, but I'm working on it...), the blue lips, etc., etc.

Before 2004, the Yankees beat the Sox in the playoffs consistently.  

Then ARod joined them.

Since ARod joined the Yankees, they have neither beaten the Sox in the playoffs nor have they gone to the World Series.

And your argument is that the Sox need ARod to win the World Series?

Let me restate that:

Your argument is that the World Champion Boston Red Sox need ARod to win a World Series?

I'm trying to think of the right name for this logical fallacy.  Oh, right.

"Flying in the face of the evidence to the contrary".

I've seen two diaries promoted that have endorsed, implicitly or explicitly, the idea that ARod should be signed by the Red Sox.  You say "there are two sides to every story", but you are only promoting pro-ARod signing diaries.  

That's not really "balance", is it?  Let's not confuse "running against popular opinion" with "being fair".  

1. If Lowell leaves, we need to make up the production and A-rod would definitely make that up.
2. You talk about A-Rod not coming through in the playoffs, well if he played his home games in Fenway his numbers would stagger a lot of people. Not just in the regular season.
3. In October, it takes pitching, along with an excellent 'pen to succeed. If you were to look at A-Rod's playoff stats before Game 4 of the '04 ALCS you would be hard to find anything wrong with his post-season production.

5. Yes the money maybe outrageous but these types of contracts in a few years will start to look better.
6. Once Miguel Cabrera hits the market in a few years what do you think he will be asking? A-Rods contract now seems a little bit justified.
7. For all the Mike Lowell lovers out there, I'm sorry to inform you but if it wasn't for that Green Wall out there in LF Mike Lowell's career in Boston would have been over.
8. A-Rod would, like I have said before, be ideally fit for Fenway Park.

My biggest issue though is the cost.  To sign him for 6 years or longer is insane.  I reckon if he'll take 5/140 then its fair value.  The big advantage we have is that we have won the series twice in the last 4 years and no other team has been as successful in the last 5 years overall.  Any player seeking that elusive title would surely sacrifice a few million for a yearly chance at a title in the most efficiently run system in baseball.  I know I would.  

He opted out of three years at 27 per, I think he wants a bigger raise than 5 years at 28 per.

My guess is that 8/240 is the bare minimum.

It gives him an average of 33.75 mill a year and the years aren't exactly nice for the Sox but they are better then the 10+ year contracts.

I think there are only four teams that have interest and are capable of affording him.

1. The Sox
   
2. Angels
   
3. Mets
   
4. Dodgers

  The Red Sox need not only team leaders, but someone who can mend rifts in the clubhouse like Ortiz and Varitek do, and know how Manny operates with his devil may care attitude.  I don't  think Varitek and Rodriguez will get along or Rodriguez will be humble that this team is run by Ortiz and Varitek.

  Second, all these young players are going to demand more than salary arbitration in the future, they are going to demand hefty contracts when they file for free agency like Youklis,  If something goes wrong with a long term A-Rod deal, then it can backfire big time with the Red Sox, much like how the White Sox thought that getting Thome and signing Kornerko to a long term deal, put them with some golden handcuffs.

  Lowell is a good third baseman, he may have A-Rod numbers, but I think he would have a better influence in the clubhouse than A-Rod.  

  I would seriously pursue A-Rod if the contract would be around 4 years/$20million, but the Red Sox are not going to do some sort of insane deal of 10 years/$350 million, which is the delusions of Boras, than the reality of the market.  The Red Sox were never keen for huge long term contracts, given that Manny Ramirez contract has always been a headache, given they could never move him.

   My guess is that A-Rod will play for the Angels, who seems the only team who would really want him, and he played well at Anaheim stadium, (2005 playoffs excluded)  I still think the Yankees are still in the picture, there has to be amends on both sides, but they both need each other more than they will admit, given the Yankees are having problems finding another marquee  free agent third baseman.  

Call me naive but I don't get the hoopla - teams can & have won without that freaking albatross. Some teams had him & still didn't win.

Blah blah blah - it wasn't just Arod's fault --it's pitching; its managing, postseason stats aren't enough, etc-- the thing is - why pay that much & for so long...he'll have worn out his welcome well before October let along 4 years into his contract.

5/140, maybe 5/150 would be the absolute max I'd offer.  If someone else is willing to go more and he takes it, then so be it.  Whilst we are still winning championships, he'll be questioning the decision to go elsewhere.  Personally I don't see how he could not consider coming to us at a discounted price.  We all know he can rake, he needs to prove that he can win....and we can provide that.